Health Tips

Traveling Safely

One of the most common concerns for travelers headed to Africa is how to avoid getting sick. There is a misconception that Africa is loaded with awful diseases. You will be fine. The truth is – common sense and a few safety measures is the key to having a great experience.

Here is what you should do

• Wash your hands with soap and hot water
• Drink bottled, boiled or filtered water
• Eat cooked food and fruit and vegetables you have peeled
• Avoid mosquito bites at all costs, even though sometimes this is impossible. Here is the best advice on avoiding those buggers:
• Be extra careful from dusk to dawn
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, and hats
• Use repellent.
• Make sure to apply it to all exposed areas right before dusk.
• Sleep under a bed net
• Use condoms when having sex here

Here is what you should not do

• Don’t eat dairy products that aren’t pasteurized.
• Don’t drink beverages with ice.
• Don’t go out without taking the repellent with you

Common Sense

Much of your health depends upon your behavior and clothes. If you follow the basic rules above and bring few things along you should be fine:

Repellent

• Bed nets (can be bought in Tanzanian cities)
• Antidiarrheal medicine
• Basic aspirin
• Sun-block, sunglasses

Immunization

Visitors coming from countries infected with cholera and yellow fever must produce international certificates of vaccination. Recommended vaccinations are against hepathitis A, B, polio and typhoid. It is essential for visitors to be informed about malaria prophylaxis.

Modern medical services

Are available in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and other major centers. There are only a limited number of chemists in the country, so visitors are advised to bring their own medicines with them.