In brief
The short answer
Malaria tablets are advised for trips to high-risk areas such as the Gambia, Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar, and Kruger in South Africa between September and May. Most other popular holiday destinations, including Egypt, Cape Verde, Turkey, Bali, Thailand's resorts and the Caribbean, need bite prevention rather than tablets. Your pharmacist checks your exact route, because risk can change within a country.
- Tablets are advised for most of sub-Saharan Africa, including safari areas
- Egypt, Cape Verde, Turkey and Bali do not need tablets for most trips
- Tablets start 1 day to 3 weeks before travel, depending on the type
- A fever within a year of returning needs urgent medical advice
Destination by destination
This table follows TravelHealthPro advice for UK travellers. Where a country has mixed risk, the region matters more than the country name.
| Destination | Malaria advice |
|---|---|
| The Gambia | Tablets advised, whole country, all year |
| Kenya | Tablets advised, including the coast and safari parks. Nairobi and the highlands are very low risk |
| Tanzania and Zanzibar | Tablets advised below 1,800m, including Zanzibar |
| South Africa | Tablets for Kruger and low-lying Mpumalanga and Limpopo from September to May. No risk in Cape Town or the Garden Route |
| India | Tablets for Mizoram, Odisha and Tripura. Bite prevention elsewhere, including Goa |
| Indonesia | Bite prevention in Bali, Lombok, Java and Sumatra. Tablets for Papua |
| Thailand | Bite prevention only. No risk in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Koh Samui or Koh Phangan |
| Vietnam and Cambodia | Bite prevention only. No risk in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Phnom Penh |
| Dominican Republic and Mexico | Bite prevention only |
| Egypt, Cape Verde, Sri Lanka | No risk |
| Turkey | Very low risk, tablets not recommended |
| Jamaica, Morocco | No risk |
The ABCD of malaria prevention
UK guidance sums up malaria prevention in four steps. Tablets are only one of them.
- Awareness: know whether your destination has malaria and when the risk is highest
- Bite prevention: use a 50% DEET repellent, cover up in the evening and sleep under a treated net where needed
- Chemoprophylaxis: take the right tablets, exactly as prescribed, when they are advised
- Diagnosis: get urgent medical help for a fever during or after your trip
The main types of malaria tablet
There are three main options for UK travellers. The pharmacist chooses with you based on where you are going, how long for, your medical history and any other medicines.
| Tablet | Start | Stop |
|---|---|---|
| Atovaquone-proguanil | 1 to 2 days before entering the risk area | 7 days after leaving |
| Doxycycline | 1 to 2 days before | 4 weeks after leaving |
| Mefloquine | 2 to 3 weeks before | 4 weeks after leaving |
Are malaria tablets free?
No. Malaria tablets for travel are not free on the NHS, even from a GP, and are supplied privately. We stock them and can supply them at your consultation once the pharmacist has confirmed which option suits your route. The price depends on the tablet and the length of your trip, so ask us for a quote.
Symptoms to watch for after you get home
Malaria usually starts with flu-like symptoms: a high temperature, sweats and chills, headache, aching muscles, sickness or diarrhoea. They normally appear one to three weeks after a bite, but can show up months later.
If you develop a fever within a year of visiting a malaria area, get urgent medical advice from your GP, NHS 111 or A&E and tell them where you have travelled, even if you took your tablets. No tablet is 100% effective.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Not usually. TravelHealthPro rates Bali as low risk and advises bite prevention rather than tablets. Tablets are advised if you are travelling on to Papua.
Yes, for most safari areas and the coast. Nairobi and the highlands above 2,500m are very low risk, but most itineraries pass through areas where tablets are advised.
No. Egypt is certified malaria-free and the risk in Turkey is very low, so tablets are not recommended for either.
No. Each type has to be continued for a set time after you leave the risk area, from 7 days to 4 weeks. Stopping early can leave you unprotected against malaria picked up in the last days of your trip.
Final vaccine and medicine recommendations always depend on your medical history, previous vaccinations, current travel health guidance, trip duration and planned activities. This page is general information, not a personal clinical recommendation — book a consultation so our pharmacist can assess your individual trip.