Travellers entering South Africa and other countries in Africa may be required to have specific vaccinations.​ 

If travelling with Sustain Safaris in Southern and East Africa we recommend taking a Hepatitis A vaccine (HAV) in addition to a typhoid vaccine (particularly those who are unvaccinated) due to our rural travel to smaller towns. These vaccines are recommended to ward against possible bacterial infections which may result from drinking local water and eating certain foods. Due to visitors from foreign countries not being accustomed to our local water, which is generally safe in most areas for locals to drink, they may be susceptible.

Sustain Safaris will supply you with 750ml stainless steel water bottles to refill, and recommend sticking to bottled and filter/purified water only. Being sustainably focused, we avoid repeatedly buying plastic water bottles every day, and will rather purchase and provide 5l spring water containers when required to recharge the stainless steel bottle throughout. Some lodges also supply filtered or purified water.

Generally the food quality in the sub-region is of a clean and high-quality standard.

Yellow fever and Ebola are not risk factors in Southern Africa. Please contact your travel medical doctor in your own country.

The following African countries require a yellow fever vaccination certificate for travellers older than 9 months (Source: Africa CDC):

• Benin 
• Burkina Faso 
• Burundi 
• Cameroon 
• Central African Republic 
• Congo 
• Côte d’Ivoire 
• Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) 
• Gabon 
• Guinea-Bissau 
• Kenya 
• Liberia 
• Rwanda 
• Sierra Leone 
• Niger 
• Togo

Countries that require vaccination for travellers from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission or transit for 12 hours in those countries: 

• Algeria 
• Botswana 
• Cabo Verde 
• Chad 
• Djibouti 
• Egypt 
• Ethiopia 
• Gambia 
• Ghana 
• Guinea 
• Lesotho 
• Libya 
• Equatorial Guinea 
• Eritrea 
• Madagascar 
• Malawi 
• Mauritania 
• Mauritius 
• Mozambique 
• Namibia 
• Nigeria 
• Papua New Guinea 
• Seychelles 
• Somalia 
• South Africa 
• Sudan 
• Swaziland 
• Tunisia 
• Uganda 
• United Republic of Tanzania 
• Zambia 
• Zimbabwe 

Southern African malaria risk summary for tourists:

On tour with Sustain Safaris within the Southern African region we recommend the following: 

• Malaria prophylaxis should be used, after consultation with your doctor, in the warmer months within these low- to moderate-risk malaria regions of:

  • South Africa: the north-eastern low-lying regions of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal. It is not a nationwide risk.

  • Botswana: the northern and eastern parts of the country. It is not a nationwide risk.

  • Namibia: the Caprivi Strip region in Namibia and along the northern border with Angola. It is not a nationwide risk.

  • The countries of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Eswatini. largely present a nationwide risk.

• No malaria prophylaxis needed in these malaria-free regions of:

  • South Africa: Cape Town, Johannesburg/Pretoria, Durban, Winelands, Garden Route, Drakensberg, southern KwaZulu-Natal, most non-northeastern areas, i.e. the whole Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, and North West provinces.

  • Namibia: From the Etosha latitude southwards.

  • Botswana: From the central zone south-westward.

  • Lesotho: Considered malaria free.

• Mosquito avoidance is essential in risk areas:

  • Insect repellent – it is often supplied at select lodges and can also be purchased at some of the camps’ shops or in the towns en route.

  • Suitable clothing – Long-sleeved shirts and long pants, socks and shoes are advised to be worn when outdoors from dusk to dawn.

  • Screened rooms/nets/fans – during the warmer months in particular, it is advisable to use the mosquito nets supplied in many lodges and fans, and to close the mesh screening on open doors and windows to reduce mosquito bite incidence.

• Take the malaria tablets recommended for the region you are travelling to and keep taking them until the course is complete. If you suffer from side effects, try taking your pills at night after dinner, as this usually minimizes the side effects.

• Public-sector guidance, chemoprophylaxis is recommended for eligible travellers going to moderate-risk endemic areas, especially during the main malaria season September to May, and it should be combined with bite prevention.

• Doxycycline is the main public-sector prevention option for eligible travellers: start 2 days before entering the malaria area, take it daily while there, and continue for 4 weeks after leaving. It is not suitable in pregnancy and not for children under 8.

• Urgently test for malaria if fever or flu-like symptoms develop during or after visiting a risk area, within four to six weeks, and seek your doctor’s advice immediately.​ 

South Africa malaria risk summary for tourists:

• Malaria risk in South Africa is limited to certain northeastern low-altitude areas of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal. It is not a nationwide risk.

• The greater Kruger National Park region is a low to moderate malaria-risk area, so tourists visiting these areas should treat malaria prevention seriously largely during the warmer summer season.

• Most common tourist routes, except Kruger, are non-malaria areas, for example: Cape Town, Winelands, Garden Route, all major cities.

Practical recommendation:

• No malaria prophylaxis needed: Cape Town, Johannesburg/Pretoria, Durban, Winelands, Garden Route, Drakensberg, southern KwaZulu-Natal, most non-northeastern areas, i.e. the whole Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, and North West provinces are malaria free.

• Prophylaxis + mosquito precautions recommended: Kruger, adjoining Lowveld reserves, and other malaria-endemic parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The following websites offer excellent information and advice on malaria prophylaxis, malaria in general and required inoculations: www.travelclinic.co.za and www.malaria.org.za 

Medical Insurance 

We highly recommend that you take out medical insurance before coming on tour with us. It’s crucial when travelling for several reasons: 

• You’ll have financial protection should unexpected medical expenses arise, which can be significantly higher in foreign countries. 

• Emergency medical evacuation is often covered, which can be very costly if needed. 

• Many countries require proof of medical insurance for entry, while some hospitals may even refuse to treat you without it. 

• Medical insurance offers you peace of mind so you can focus on enjoying your tour. 

Medical Declaration   

All our clients must complete a short Client Indemnity and Medical Declaration Form before to arrival/check-in/boarding/entering/pick-up, as appropriate, to ensure it’s up to date. We may also ask you questions on booking/reservation, suggest that high-risk individuals postpone their trip, and reserve the right to decline the reservation based on medical concerns. 

Personal Medical Kits 

Kindly make sure to pack your medication in your luggage before leaving home. Basic medication can be bought en route in all areas, and at some of the camps in the parks. Please let your tour leader/guide know if you need anything. Before the safari departs, inform your tour leader/guide of any medical conditions.