South Africa offers everything from Cape Town and the Winelands to safaris in Kruger National Park. Health risks vary a lot by region, especially malaria, so your itinerary shapes what you need.
Key points
- Malaria is present in Kruger National Park and parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, especially near the borders with Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
- Cape Town, the Garden Route and most other areas have no malaria risk, according to the CDC.
- You need a yellow fever certificate to enter South Africa if you arrive from, or transit through, a yellow fever risk country.
- Get medical help immediately after any animal bite or scratch.
- Private hospitals are generally better equipped than public facilities.
Travelling soon? A TMA travel doctor can tailor your vaccines and advice to your itinerary.
Which vaccinations do I need?
The right vaccines depend on your itinerary, length of stay, activities, age and health. These are the vaccines most often discussed.
Routine vaccines, including measles
Check your routine vaccines are up to date before any overseas trip. The Australian Immunisation Handbook advises that Australians born in or after 1966 who have not had 2 doses of a measles-containing vaccine should generally have MMR before travel. See our measles and travel checklist.
Hepatitis A
The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends hepatitis A vaccine for travellers aged 1 year and over going to countries where hepatitis A is common, unless they are already immune. It is spread through contaminated food and water.
Typhoid
Typhoid vaccine may be recommended depending on your itinerary, particularly for rural travel or visiting friends and relatives. Your travel doctor will advise.
Rabies
Smartraveller advises getting medical help immediately if you are bitten or scratched by an animal. Pre-exposure rabies vaccination can be given over two visits a week apart. It does not remove the need for treatment after a bite, but means you need fewer doses and do not need rabies immunoglobulin, which can be hard to find overseas. Wash any bite or scratch thoroughly with soap and water and get medical care the same day.
Yellow fever certificate
South Africa does not have yellow fever transmission, but Smartraveller advises you need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter South Africa if you are travelling from, or transiting through, a country with yellow fever risk. You cannot get vaccinated on arrival. Many safari itineraries combine South Africa with Kenya, Uganda or other risk countries, so check carefully. See our yellow fever vaccine guide.
Do I need malaria tablets for South Africa?
It depends where you go. The CDC lists malaria in Kruger National Park, the Mopani and Vhembe Districts of Limpopo, the Ehlanzeni District of Mpumalanga and the Umkhanyakude District of KwaZulu-Natal, and recommends tablets for those areas. Smartraveller notes the 90 km area along the border with Mozambique and Zimbabwe is a designated malaria risk zone. Other areas, including Cape Town, need mosquito avoidance only. See our malaria tablets guide.
Other health risks
Smartraveller notes the rate of HIV infection in South Africa is very high, so take steps to reduce your risk of exposure. Cholera mainly occurs in rural areas, with occasional larger outbreaks, so take care with food and water outside major centres.
Medical care
The standard of medical facilities varies. Private hospitals are often better equipped than public ones, there is no reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia, and evacuation by air may be needed from remote areas. Make sure your travel insurance covers safari activities and evacuation.
When should I see a travel doctor?
Healthdirect recommends seeing your doctor or a travel clinic 4 to 6 weeks before you travel. Every TMA member clinic offers pre-travel consultations and is an approved Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need malaria tablets for Kruger National Park?
Yes, the CDC recommends malaria tablets for Kruger National Park and the surrounding districts. Your travel doctor will help you choose an option.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccine for South Africa?
Only if you are arriving from or transiting through a yellow fever risk country. Then you need a valid certificate to enter.
Is there malaria in Cape Town?
No. The CDC lists malaria only in the north-east of the country, including Kruger.
Find a TMA travel doctor near you.
This article provides general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Recommendations change, so speak with your doctor before you travel.