SOUTH AFRICA TRAVEL HEALTH

Travel Vaccinations for
South Africa

Heading to Cape Town, the Garden Route or a Kruger safari? Get expert travel health advice and vaccinations for South Africa from Bromley's official Yellow Fever Centre — including your yellow fever certificate where your route needs one.

Book Consultation Call 020 8460 0377

6-8

Weeks Before Travel

Official

Yellow Fever Centre

Full

Protection Available

Protect yourself in South Africa

Which vaccinations you need depends on where you are going and what you will be doing. Your pharmacist confirms exactly what is right for your trip at your consultation.

Hepatitis A

Most travellers

Food & water safety

Spread through contaminated food and water. Recommended for most travellers to South Africa.

Tetanus

Most travellers

Routine booster

Check your routine UK tetanus vaccination is up to date — a booster may be advised before you travel.

Typhoid

Most travellers

Food & water safety

Spread through contaminated food and water. Recommended for most travellers to South Africa.

Cholera

Some travellers

Food & water safety

Considered for travellers at higher risk, such as aid and relief workers, or those with limited access to safe water and medical care.

Hepatitis B

Some travellers

Blood & body fluids

Considered for longer stays, and for anyone who may need medical or dental treatment or have other exposure to blood or body fluids.

Measles

Some travellers

Check your MMR

Make sure you have had two doses of the MMR vaccine — measles still circulates in many countries and outbreaks can occur.

Rabies

Some travellers

Animal contact risk

Considered for travellers who may have contact with animals, are visiting remote areas, or will be far from prompt medical care.

Tuberculosis

Some travellers

Prolonged close contact

Considered for some longer-stay travellers, particularly those living or working closely with local communities.

OFFICIAL YELLOW FEVER CENTRE

Yellow fever: a certificate requirement, not a health risk

There is no risk of yellow fever in South Africa. However, under International Health Regulations, South Africa requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate from travellers arriving from — or who have spent more than 12 hours in transit through an airport of — a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission.

  • The certificate requirement applies to travellers over 1 year of age.
  • Since 11 July 2016 a yellow fever certificate is valid for the life of the person vaccinated — boosters are not required, and a valid certificate cannot be refused for being more than ten years old.
  • Travelling to South Africa directly from the UK, with no stopover in a yellow fever risk country, you will not need a certificate to enter.

As an official Yellow Fever Centre, we can check whether your route needs a certificate, vaccinate where it does, and issue your ICVP certificate.

SEASONAL & REGIONAL RISK

Malaria risk in South Africa

Malaria risk in South Africa is seasonal and confined to the northeast of the country. The main tourist regions — Cape Town, the Garden Route and the Western Cape — carry no malaria risk.

Low-altitude northeast, including Kruger

Risk in the low-altitude areas of Mpumalanga and Limpopo bordering Mozambique, Eswatini and Zimbabwe — including the Kruger National Park. Antimalarial tablets (atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine) are recommended in the transmission season, September to May. From June to August the risk here is very low.

Far northeast KwaZulu-Natal

A low to very low risk in designated areas during the September to May transmission season. Awareness of risk and mosquito-bite avoidance are recommended rather than tablets for most travellers.

The rest of South Africa

No malaria risk across the rest of the country, including Cape Town, the Garden Route and the Western Cape. Simple bite-avoidance is still sensible.

Some travellers — including long-term visitors, the over-70s, pregnant women, infants and young children, and those who are immunosuppressed — may be advised antimalarials even in lower-risk areas. We assess your personal risk at your consultation.

HEALTH ADVICE

Stay healthy in South Africa

Simple precautions for a safe, healthy trip

Food & Water

Food & Water

Tap water is generally safe in the cities, but bottled water is wise in rural areas. Eat freshly cooked food and wash or peel fruit.

Sun Safety

Sun Safety

The sun is strong year-round. Use a high-SPF sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, and keep hydrated on long game drives.

Insect Bites

Insect Bites

In risk areas, use a DEET repellent, cover up at dawn and dusk, and sleep under a net where one is provided.

BOOK ONLINE

Book your South Africa travel consultation

Choose a time that suits you. No GP referral needed — booking takes about a minute.

Prefer to talk it through first? Call 020 8460 0377 or see all services.

TRAVEL FAQS

Common questions

Only if you are arriving from — or have spent more than 12 hours in transit through an airport of — a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. Travelling directly from the UK, you will not need one to enter. If you are unsure about your route or a stopover, we can check it for you.

Antimalarial tablets are recommended for the Kruger National Park and the low-lying northeast during the September to May transmission season. Your pharmacist will confirm the right option for your trip and your medical history at your consultation.

We recommend booking 6 to 8 weeks before you travel so any vaccine courses have time to take effect — but come in even if your trip is sooner, as partial protection is often still worthwhile.

No. Cape Town, the Garden Route and the Western Cape carry no malaria risk. Malaria risk in South Africa is limited to the northeast of the country, and is seasonal.

Ready for your trip to South Africa?

Book your travel health consultation at our Bromley clinic and get expert advice, any vaccinations you need and your yellow fever certificate in a single visit.

Book Consultation Call 020 8460 0377
Travel Ready
Expert Advice
Yellow Fever Centre