Zanzibar is a stunning semi-autonomous region and island of Tanzania, separated from the mainland by 47 miles of Indian Ocean waters and popular with newlyweds going on their honeymoon safari.
Knowing which Zanzibar vaccines are required, latest health guidelines and what precautions should be taken is an important step in preparation prior to getting to Zanzibar. ZNZ airport is located three miles south of Stone Town, the main city and a Zanzibar visa may be required in addition to certain vaccines.
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Any compulsory vaccines in Zanzibar?
There are no mandatory vaccinations required for entering Zanzibar or Tanzania. This can change over time depending on government medical updates.
Some travelers may need protection against MMR and malaria protection tablets are recommended for travel for some parts of the country.
Recommended vaccines for Zanzibar/Tanzania
Some vaccines are recommend for Tanzania, the CDC and WHO note the following:
| Vaccine | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Covid | Recommended for everyone 5 years of age and older to get fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before travel. |
| Malaria | Travelers going to certain areas of Tanzania should take prescription medicine to prevent malaria many days before their trip, as well as during and after their trip. |
| Chickenpox (Varicella) | 2 doses of chickenpox vaccine for children, adolescents, and adults who have never had chickenpox and were never vaccinated. |
| Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis | CDC recommends diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) vaccinations for everyone. |
| Flu | CDC recommends use of any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine as an option for vaccination. |
| MMR | Two doses of MMR vaccine to prevent measles and protect against Mumps and Rubella. |
| Polio | CDC recommends that children get 4 doses of polio vaccine. Most adults do not need polio vaccine if already vaccinated as children. |
| Shingles | Adults 50 years and old should get two doses of the shingles vaccine called Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine), separated by 2 to 6 months, to prevent shingles |
| Rabies | Rabid dogs are commonly found in Tanzania. Visitors should consider a rabies vaccination before their trip. |
| Typhoid | Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas. |
| Yellow Fever | Required if traveling from a country with risk of YF virus transmission and ≥1 year of age, including transit >12 hours in an airport located in a country with risk of YF virus transmission. |
| Hepatitis A | Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Tanzania. |
| Hepatitis B | Recommended for unvaccinated travelers of all ages to Tanzania. |
| Meningococcal meningitis | Visitors should consult with their local doctor on meningitis requirements and vaccines prior to their trip. |
Malaria risk
There is a high risk of malaria in all areas of Zanzibar below 1,800m (anti-malarial vaccines for Zanzibar are also recommended): atovaquone/proguanil OR doxycycline OR mefloquine are recommended. There is no risk of malaria above 1,800m.
Bite avoidance and counter measures are recommended. Visitors can check with a travel vaccinations medicine specialist to see if antimalarials should be considered and understanding the best time to visit Zanzibar is useful to help prevent malaria contraction.
If travelling to a remote area remote away from medical facilities, it is recommended to carry standby emergency treatment. Malaria is present in the safari areas of the Serengeti and other areas of Tanzania that visitors may pass through en route to the Ngorongoro Crater.
Zanzibar health recommendations
Recommended visitor precautions
To help protect against mosquitoes, visitors should ensure to:
- Apply mosquito repellents on clothes to avoid mosquito bites
- Wear covered light clothing
- Use mosquito nets on the windows of your accommodation and in vehicles, use the air conditioning
Depending on the areas visited, preventive antimalarial treatment should be considered.
Food and water precautions that should be observed:
- Eat cooked food
- Wash and peel fruits and vegetables
- Avoid fresh fruit juices, ice creams, ice cubes, raw vegetables, reheated dishes
- Consume pasteurized or boiled milk
- Drink bottled or boiled water
Hygiene rules that should be followed:
- Wash hands regularly, before and after each meal and after using the toilet
- Don’t touch wild and stray animals to avoid animal bites and infection
- Don’t swim in lakes and non-running water
- Avoid any potentially contaminated food
There are many great beaches in Zanzibar and its nearby islands of Pamunda, Pemba island, Chumbe and Unguja Island. Visitors with medical conditions should make tour guides and food catering aware of this in advance.
Zanzibar vaccines
A Yellow Fever vaccine is recommended for guests visiting the island of Zanzibar. The vaccination should be acquired a minimum of 10 days before travel.
Tanzania has no recorded case of Yellow Fever and efforts to ensure this superb record mean that all visitors from countries that have a risk of Yellow Fever may have to present vaccination certificates upon entry.
Zanzibar Covid 19 information
In September 2022, the government introduced new regulations that applies to all passengers. Travelers who have received all of their vaccinations are not required to undergo any tests. Upon arrival, travelers are required to provide a current vaccination certificate that includes a QR code.
Travelers who have not received all of their vaccinations or who have not had any vaccinations at all are required to submit a negative RT-PCR or NAATs document with a QR code that was acquired within the previous 72 hours before departure.
A negative result on the COVID-19 test before departure from Zanzibar is not required of travelers, unless it is mandated by the airline or the country to which they are traveling. Please sign up at www.zanzibarcovidtesting.co.tz if you are obliged to do so.
It is strongly recommended that before to departure, each tourist check with their travel agent for information on the COVID-19 requirements of the country they will be visiting or the kind of transportation they will be using.
Carrying a small amount of Zanzibar currency, the Tanzania Shilling (TZS) is recommended as back-up when paying for any items or tests where credit card facilities are unavailable.
Specifications for the Health Surveillance Form
Before departure, all foreign travelers entering Zanzibar must complete an online Health Surveillance Form. International travelers entering Tanzania from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are required to submit an online Health Surveillance Form.
Before a domestic departure or upon arrival at a domestic destination on a flight originating in Tanzania, passengers traveling inside Tanzania may be required to complete an online Domestic Departure Health Surveillance Form.
Covid 19 documentation
Passengers who have received all of their vaccinations are exempt from the pre-departure testing requirements. At the time of check-in, passengers will be expected to provide a current vaccination certificate that includes a QR code for the purposes of verification.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate is recognized, and travelers are strongly encouraged to have a printed copy with them at all times. Only vaccinations that have been given the green light by Tanzania’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization may be used.
Those passengers who are not fully vaccinated, as well as those who have not been vaccinated and aren’t eligible for vaccination, will be required to show a negative COVID-19 RT PCR (Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) or NAATs (Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests) certificate with a QR code that was obtained within the previous 72 hours prior to departure.
Upon arrival in Tanzania, passengers who are not fully vaccinated or unvaccinated who do not have a negative COVID-19 RT PCR certificate will be tested for COVID-19 using a Rapid Antigen Test at a cost of USD10 for mainland Tanzania.
The only exception to this rule is children aged 12 years or younger. In the event that the first test is positive, a second RT-PCR examination will be performed at an additional cost of fifty dollars. In the event of a positive case, the situation will be addressed in accordance with the relevant bilateral and joint border agreements.
Unless specifically notified differently by their travel carrier or by the officials of the country to which they are ultimately traveling, travelers who are just in transit are not required to provide a vaccination certificate or undergo COVID-19 testing.
Useful links
FAQs
What are the compulsory vaccines for Zanzibar?
No vaccine is compulsory for Zanzibar. However, guidelines can change & it is recommended to be up to date with the various Yellow Fever and malaria vaccines and consider antimalarial prophylaxis.
What health precautions should I take to travel to Zanzibar?
To help protect against mosquitoes, visitors should apply insect repellents on clothing, wear covered light clothing and use mosquito nets on the windows of your accommodation. Travellers should also consult with their doctor prior to flying.