Travel Vaccinations for Africa: Yellow Fever, Malaria and What Else You Need
"Which vaccines do I need for Africa?" is a question with no single answer. A trip to Marrakesh and a safari in Tanzania have very different health risks. This guide compares six popular destinations using the CDC's country pages and explains the two topics that matter most: yellow fever and malaria.
Yellow fever: recommendation and entry rule are two different things
Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne virus. According to the WHO, 27 African countries are classified as high-risk for outbreaks. About 15% of infected people develop severe disease, and around half of them die. The good news: one dose of the vaccine gives lifelong protection, and no booster is needed. Immunity builds up in 80 to 100% of people within 10 days, so do not get it at the last minute.
What confuses many travelers is that the CDC's recommendation and a country's entry requirement are separate:
| Country | CDC recommendation | Entry requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Ghana | recommended from 9 months | required for all arriving travelers from 9 months |
| Kenya | recommended from 9 months, except travel limited to Nairobi and some areas | required if arriving from a country with yellow fever risk |
| Tanzania | generally not recommended | required if arriving from a country with yellow fever risk, including airport transits over 12 hours |
| South Africa | not recommended | required if arriving from a country with yellow fever risk, including airport transits over 12 hours |
| Egypt | not recommended | required if arriving from a country with yellow fever risk, including airport transits over 12 hours |
| Morocco | not recommended | not required |
The trap is the transit rule. If you fly to Tanzania with a long layover in a yellow fever country, or combine Kenya and Tanzania on one trip, you can need the certificate even though Tanzania itself is low risk. Plan your whole route with a travel doctor, not just the destination.
Malaria
According to the WHO, 95% of all malaria cases and deaths worldwide in 2024 were in the WHO African Region, and the deadliest parasite, P. falciparum, is the most common one there. That makes malaria the most important health risk on many Africa trips.
The risk depends heavily on where you go. Some examples from the CDC:
- Ghana: transmission in all areas, preventive medicine recommended
- Kenya: all areas below 2,500 m including game parks, with rare cases in central Nairobi
- Tanzania: all areas below 1,800 m
- South Africa: along the borders with Mozambique and Zimbabwe
- Morocco and Egypt: no malaria section on the CDC pages
Malaria tablets usually have to be started several days before the trip, depending on the medicine. Your doctor will choose the right one. Tablets do not replace mosquito protection: use repellent, cover up in the evening and sleep under a net.
Other vaccines
Across all six countries, the CDC recommends hepatitis A for unvaccinated travelers from age one. For all six it also suggests a dose for infants aged 6 to 11 months. Typhoid is recommended for most travelers to Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, Egypt and Ghana. For South Africa, the CDC says to consider it depending on your plans.
Cholera is rare in travelers. The CDC notes active transmission in parts of Kenya and Ghana and widespread transmission in Tanzania. For Tanzania, it says vaccination may be considered for travelers to affected areas. Rabies, hepatitis B and other vaccines depend on your activities and length of stay. Your routine vaccines, especially measles, should be up to date in any case.
Keep your yellow fever certificate safe
If a country requires proof of yellow fever vaccination, you need the actual certificate at the border. Keep it with your passport, and save a photo as a backup. Journai stores vaccination records encrypted on your phone and reminds you of upcoming boosters.
Sources
- CDC Travelers' Health: Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana
- WHO: Yellow fever
- WHO: Malaria
Last updated: October 2026. This article does not replace advice from a travel health professional.