Do I Need Malaria Tablets in Zanzibar?

Do I Need Malaria Tablets in Zanzibar?

,

By

–> Updated:

Thousands of people

visit Zanzibar

yearly to quench their adventurous spirits, soak up the sun, or climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

  Coming to Zanzibar would change the way you see Tanzania from afar.

Do I need malaria tablets in Zanzibar?

 Yes, you need malaria tablets

before you hop on a plane heading to Zanzibar

.

My family took prescription medicine against malaria

before visiting Zanzibar

in 2019.

Zanzibar is a popular tourist destination that attracts visitors worldwide.

Whether you want to relax or chase your bucket list, you would have no dull moment here.

Do I need malaria tablets in Zanzibar?

CDC

recommends that before you head to Zanzibar

, you should take prescription medicine against malaria.

  If you are coming to Africa for the first time or have spent time before coming to Africa, you need antimalarial drugs.

I took medicine a few days before we came to Tanzania and during and after our summer holiday here.

What vaccinations do I need for Zanzibar?

I would advise you to seek medical advice from your doctor before coming to Zanzibar.

Ensure that you don’t miss any appropriate vaccination.

I took vaccinations for Diptheria, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Tetanus.

  In addition, the Yellow Fever vaccination is important; don’t forget to be updated with your vaccinations before coming to

Africa

.

Do I Need Malaria Tablets in Zanzibar?

Do I Need Malaria Tablets in Zanzibar?

Are there mosquitoes in Zanzibar?

Yes, you will find mosquitoes in Zanzibar.

The bite of the Anopheles mosquito has been a present danger to the locals and visitors.

The people living in Mainland

Tanzania is considered at risk for malaria

, although transmission varies significantly among and within regions.

Anti-malaria tablets for Zanzibar

At all times, Zanzibar is at a high risk of malaria.

Therefore, if you are visiting this paradise, you should use anti-malarias like Atovaquone/Proguanil, Doxycycline, or Mefloquine.

Here is what you should do when you visit:

  • Avoid mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and trousers.

  • Sleep under a mosquito net.

  • Cover in a strong insect repellent containing at least 50% DEET.

  • Seek medical help if you notice feverish symptoms within a year of visiting Zanzibar.

Is it safe to drink tap water in Zanzibar?

You have no problem with tap

water on the island

because it contains chlorine.

  The locals drink tap water without health issues.

  However, as a visitor, I don’t recommend that you take tap water because of strains like E.

coli that can affect you.

You should use bottled water if you want to spend few days here.

Areas of High Altitude in Tanzania

Tanzania has many things for you do, especially on Zanzibar Island, but the country has high attitude areas

around Burundi

, Rwanda, and Kenya.

You can decide to climb the Mount Kilimanjaro (5895m).

I must tell you that the treck is not for the faint-hearted.

  The treks are challenging to acclimatize and you may suffer from altitude-related illnesses.

In addition, you should know that high altitude can cause Acute Mountain Sickness (Altitude Sickness), severe High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE), High Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACE), and more.

While you may not battle while climbing the mountain, you may experience Acute Mountain Sickness.

Some symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbance.

You may suffer from complications that can lead to fluid collecting in the lungs or swelling around the brain.

You can avoid these situations by the slow ascent, which means you must not climb more than 500m per day once over 3000m.

In addition, you should ensure that you trek to high altitude areas from low altitude areas not done in a single day.

Are you at risk of suffering from Acute Mountain Sickness?

You should consider using drugs like Acetazolamide or Diamox.

Is Zanzibar a malaria area?

Zanzibar consists of islands that are prone to transmission of malaria.

  If you are coming to the island, you should take anti-malaria to prevent suffering from malaria.

Zanzibar is off the coast of Tanzania, which has reduced the amount of malaria cases on the island.

  It is my opinion that people coming to Zanzibar are at risk of suffering from malaria.

Therefore, you should come prepared with good clothing to keep you safe from mosquitoes.

While the government has helped reduce malaria cases in the country, you can suffer from malaria as a visitor.

  However, preventive medicine can help you

when you visit Zanzibar

.

As a visitor, you should be careful what you consume in Zanzibar.

For instance, your body may not accommodate some of the meals you eat here.

  To avoid getting sick, you should eat only meals from good places.

You should avoid poorly prepared food, especially fish or meat.

For instance, while street food may look appealing, eat only what you know.

Be careful when consuming drinks with ice or eating salads because they may upset your stomach.

In Conclusion

Zanzibar may be a tourist paradise, but you could fall sick if beaten by mosquitoes.

I recommend that you take a prescription from your doctor before coming.

We have different anti-malaria drugs that can save you.

In addition, you should cover up during dusk and use highly treated nets to sleep under on the island.

  However, you don’t have to be scared of coming here because the government has done more to eradicate the severity of malaria cases.

Is Tanzania

safe for tourists

?

Yes, Tanzania is safe for visitors.

In 2022, it will be one of the safest African countries for locals and tourists.

FAQs


Is Zanzibar good for families?

Yes, having a Zanzibar vacation will be great for families because of its safety and laid-back environment.

The kids have more to do around the island, while adults have enough activities to keep them rejuvenated.

Can I get malaria tablets in Zanzibar?

Yes, you can get malaria tablets in Zanzibar.

However, I recommend that you talk to a tropical diseases specialist.

In addition, you can find a number of anti-malaria drugs are OTC.

You can receive a malaria test without issues.

How likely is it to get malaria in Tanzania?

You can likely suffer from malaria on the mainland.

Therefore, you should be careful when coming to the country.


,

By

->Last Updated:

ABOUT ME

Born & raised amidst the gators and orange groves of Florida, I’ve waded through the Everglades and braved the dizzying heights of Orlando’s roller coasters.

About Us Jeff from TravelMagma

But FL is just the beginning of my adventures.

I’ve journeyed far and wide. Yet, it was the serene beauty of Japan that truly captured my heart.

I even wrote my own little
Caribbean Guide.

But…

My 2nd book “Things I Wish I Knew Before Going to Japan” became a bestseller, a guide filled with wisdom:

TravelMagma is where I tell the tales of the road, capture the essence of each destination, and inspire you to make your own footprints around the globe.

Follow me on FB!

Jeff