Regional travel health guide

    Africa travel vaccinations

    Africa covers an enormous range of trips, from safaris in Kenya and Tanzania to beach holidays in Cape Verde and Zanzibar, city breaks in Marrakech and Cairo, volunteering placements and visits to family. Travel-health guidance differs widely between countries, and often between regions of the same country, so an individual assessment matters more here than almost anywhere.

    Newcastle Travel Clinic provides personalised travel-health consultations from Northumbria Way Pharmacy & Clinic in Cramlington, serving travellers across Newcastle upon Tyne and Northumberland.

    Clinically reviewed by Hoa Thu Hang, Superintendent Pharmacist (Reg 9012444) · August 2026

    One region, many different risks

    Why an individual assessment matters

    Recommendations can vary between neighbouring countries and within the same country. Your pharmacist will consider your exact itinerary, length of stay, accommodation, planned activities, age, medical history and previous vaccination record.

    Official country-by-country guidance is published on TravelHealthPro and in the GOV.UK foreign travel advice.

    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.

    Existing country guides

    Compare travel-health considerations

    These are vaccines commonly considered during an individual travel-health assessment, not a definitive prescription.

    Country, vaccines commonly discussed, and other key considerations
    CountryVaccines commonly discussedOther key considerations
    KenyaTyphoid, Hepatitis A&B Combined, Rabies, DTPMalaria prevention — tablets and bite avoidance
    TanzaniaTyphoid, Hepatitis A&B Combined, Rabies, DTPMalaria prevention on safari and in Zanzibar
    ZanzibarTyphoid, Hepatitis A&B Combined, Rabies, DTPMalaria prevention across the whole island, including resort areas
    UgandaTyphoid, Hepatitis A&B Combined, Rabies, DTPMalaria prevention on every itinerary; antimalarial tablets are recommended countrywide
    South AfricaTyphoid, Hepatitis A&B Combined, Rabies, DTPMalaria tablets for Kruger and low-altitude Mpumalanga and Limpopo, during the September to May transmission season only
    GhanaTyphoid, Hepatitis A&B Combined, Meningitis ACWY, Rabies, DTPMalaria prevention nationwide, including in cities
    NigeriaTyphoid, Hepatitis A&B Combined, Meningitis ACWY, DTPMalaria prevention nationwide, including in cities
    GambiaTyphoid, Hepatitis A&B Combined, Rabies, Meningitis ACWY, Cholera, DTPMalaria prevention nationwide, including resort areas
    Cape VerdeHepatitis A&B Combined, Typhoid, DTPFood and water hygiene, especially outside resorts
    MoroccoHepatitis A&B Combined, Typhoid, DTPFood and water hygiene, especially street food and rural riads
    EgyptHepatitis A&B Combined, Typhoid, DTPFood and water hygiene, particularly on Nile cruises

    Recommendations depend on your exact itinerary, length of stay, accommodation, planned activities, age, medical history and previous vaccination record.

    Route-specific assessment

    Malaria and mosquito-borne illness

    Malaria risk is not uniform across Africa. Whether antimalarial medicine is considered depends on the countries, regions, season and style of travel in your itinerary.

    Bite precautions remain important because mosquitoes can transmit illnesses for which tablets or vaccines may not be available.

    Read our malaria prevention guide

    Practical protection

    Food, water, mosquitoes and animal bites

    • Take care with food and drinking water where hygiene standards are uncertain.
    • Use an appropriate insect repellent and follow local bite-prevention advice.
    • Avoid contact with animals and seek urgent medical advice after a bite or scratch.
    • Arrange suitable travel insurance and carry regular medicines correctly.

    Allow time where possible

    When to arrange an appointment

    Travellers should ideally seek travel-health advice around four to six weeks before departure, as some vaccinations require more than one dose.

    If your departure is sooner, contact the clinic anyway. Useful vaccination, advice or accelerated options may sometimes remain available, although accelerated schedules are not suitable or available for every vaccine.

    Common questions

    Africa travel health FAQs

    Explore country guides

    Kenya

    One of the most popular safari destinations from the North East, combining wildlife holidays with coastal breaks — malaria prevention is a central part of preparation.

    Read guide

    Tanzania

    Home to the Serengeti, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar — a hugely varied destination where preparation depends on which of these three very different trips you're taking.

    Read guide

    Zanzibar

    Often combined with a Tanzanian safari, Zanzibar's beaches and spice tours carry a similar health profile to the mainland coast.

    Read guide

    Uganda

    Known for gorilla trekking and diverse wildlife, with health preparation needs similar to neighbouring East African safari destinations.

    Read guide

    South Africa

    A popular combination of safari, wine country and coastal cities, with malaria risk concentrated in specific game reserve areas.

    Read guide

    Ghana

    A common destination for visiting family and heritage travel, requiring comprehensive malaria prevention and thorough preparation.

    Read guide

    Nigeria

    A frequent destination for visiting family from our local Nigerian community, requiring thorough preparation including malaria protection.

    Read guide

    Gambia

    A popular winter-sun destination from the North East, with malaria prevention among the main preparations for most trips.

    Read guide

    Cape Verde

    A growing winter-sun island destination in the Atlantic, generally lower risk than mainland West Africa but still worth a proper travel-health check.

    Read guide

    Morocco

    A popular short-haul destination for city breaks, desert trips and Atlas Mountain trekking, generally lower risk than sub-Saharan African destinations.

    Read guide

    Egypt

    One of the most popular sun and history destinations from the North East, from Red Sea resorts to Nile cruises and Cairo's ancient sites.

    Read guide

    Related vaccine guides

    Based in Cramlington

    Africa travel advice for Newcastle and Northumberland

    Newcastle Travel Clinic is operated from Northumbria Way Pharmacy & Clinic in Cramlington. We provide pharmacist-led travel vaccinations and personalised travel-health advice for patients travelling from Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland and surrounding communities.

    We also welcome travellers from

    Morpeth · Blyth · Whitley Bay · Killingworth · Wideopen · Seaton Burn · Ponteland · North Shields · Tynemouth · Wallsend · Longbenton · Benton · Heaton · Sandyford · Great Park · Kingston Park · and surrounding communities

    Clinic address
    Pharmacy Unit 1, Northumbria Health & Care Academy, Northumbria Way, Cramlington, NE23 6NZ
    Free parking
    40 minutes free parking immediately outside.
    Open seven days a week
    Including Saturday and Sunday appointments.