cdc travel guidelines senegal

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CDC in Senegal

At a glance.

CDC Senegal works closely with the Government of Senegal to strengthen health systems and prevent communicable diseases. Key initiatives include the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI).

CDC began working in Senegal in 2001, with an initial focus on supporting the HIV sentinel surveillance program. The launch of PMI in 2006 and PEPFAR in 2010 expanded CDC’s support.

In 2015, CDC established an office in Senegal in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Action (MOH), World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners. CDC helps strengthen Senegal's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks and other public health threats.

Additional partners in Senegal include:

• Africa Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET)
• Institut de Recherche en Santé de Surveillance Epidémiologique et de Formations
• Association of Public Health Laboratories
• Catholic Relief Services
• Institute Pasteur Dakar
• PATH International
• Centre National Hospitalier d'Enfants Albert Royer

Global health security

Strategic focus.

CDC Senegal implements activities to support global health security through MOH and partners. CDC provides technical and financial support to MOH in the four core GHSA action packages. These include laboratory systems, surveillance, workforce development and emergency operations.

Disease surveillance

Senegal's Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system reports on 52 diseases. As many as 16 diseases are reported on a weekly basis.

Since 2017, CDC has supported Senegal in expanding IDSR to the community level. CDC has trained over 1,000 community health workers on disease reporting.

CDC supported Senegal with developing its inaugural five-year surveillance strategic plan, in close collaboration with key stakeholders. CDC continues to support MOH in disease case-based surveillance through the national information system (DHIS2). This system is actively being deployed across the country.

Emergency management

CDC, with support from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, helped Senegal establish its Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC). Since its launch in 2017, Senegal's PHEOC has serviced as the hub for coordinating preparedness and response activities. Activities have included outbreak investigations for dengue, Rift Valley fever, yellow fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, acute flaccid paralysis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health and medical professionals trained through CDC's Public Health Emergency Management Fellowship have been instrumental in supporting these activities. CDC continues to provide support through trainings, mentorship, and technical collaboration.

Laboratory systems

A network of laboratories has been established across Senegal, spanning national, regional, and district levels. Samples collected are analyzed in these designated laboratories to ensure effective patient management and to inform surveillance system.

CDC helps ensure accurate and timely detection of pathogens. CDC collaborates with MOH to enhance testing capabilities and strengthen laboratory systems, including biosafety and biosecurity. With CDC support, laboratory data management and notification capabilities have been enhanced. CDC helped upgrade and deploy the laboratory information system, LabBook, in regional and district laboratories.

Workforce development

Since 2015, CDC strengthens the capacity of Senegal's workforce to investigate and respond to disease outbreaks through the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) . FETP trains a workforce of field epidemiologists to identify and contain outbreaks before they become epidemics.

CDC collaborated with AFENET and Senegal's PHEOC to launch the Surveillance Training for Ebola Preparedness (STEP). STEP was a 5-week FETP designed as surge training to strengthen the country’s ability to quickly respond to the outbreak. Since then, MOH has taken over program and has successfully trained 376 frontline FETP trainees and 34 intermediate FETP trainees.

FETP graduates focus on animal health, environmental health, and human health and are from all levels of the health structure in Senegal. Senegal has sent 10 medical and surveillance officers to the West Africa Regional advanced FETP program in Burkina Faso. The country is currently exploring the launch of its own advanced program.

Key achievements

• There is at least one FETP frontline graduate in every district.
• An electronic data collection platform (DHIS2) was established at all levels in the country.
• All regional hospital laboratories received mentorship in biosafety/biosecurity to improve biological risk management.

Under the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) , CDC has assigned a resident advisor to the malaria-endemic country of Senegal. The focus is to support the implementation of malaria prevention and control interventions. The advisor supports developing and implementing demographic and health surveys to monitor the burden of disease and impact of interventions.

CDC provides technical assistance for:

• Operations research
• Diagnostics
• Case management
• Malaria in pregnancy
• Malaria surveillance
• Program evaluation
• Vector monitoring and control

CDC also assists with research to help Senegal progress from malaria control to elimination, including:

• Longevity of insecticide-treated bed nets
• Malaria case management
• Therapeutic efficacy studies
• Development and assessment of new tools

HIV and tuberculosis (TB)

CDC is a key implementer of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) . CDC works with Senegal to build a sustainable, high-impact national HIV response program to accelerate progress towards the UNAIDS global targets to control the HIV epidemic.

CDC works with Senegal's MOH to:

• Strengthen the national HIV surveillance system
• Prevention of mother-to-child transmission
• On-site HIV rapid testing

Vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs)

CDC provides technical and programmatic support to eradicate or control VPDs through immunizations. Currently, Senegal’s Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) targets 13 diseases:

• Polio (poliomyelitis)
• Pertussis (whooping cough)
• Yellow fever
• Hepatitis B
• Pneumococcal disease
• Meningococcal disease
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Vaccines are provided free of charge through EPI to children and vulnerable populations.

CDC has also supported other EPI activities, including:

• Improving measles-rubella campaigns.
• Evaluating delivery strategies and cost of HPV vaccination.
• Supporting a COVID-19 Post-vaccine Introduction Evaluation.

Success stories

Related links

Global health.

CDC's Global Health Center works 24/7 to reduce illness and respond to health threats worldwide.

Senegal Travel Restrictions

Traveler's COVID-19 vaccination status

Traveling from the United States to Senegal

Open for vaccinated visitors

COVID-19 testing

Not required

Not required for vaccinated visitors

Restaurants

Not required in public spaces, enclosed environments and public transportation.

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Can I travel to Senegal from the United States?

Most visitors from the United States, regardless of vaccination status, can enter Senegal.

Can I travel to Senegal if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from the United States can enter Senegal without restrictions.

Can I travel to Senegal without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from the United States can enter Senegal without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter Senegal?

Visitors from the United States are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering Senegal.

Can I travel to Senegal without quarantine?

Travelers from the United States are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in Senegal?

Mask usage in Senegal is not required in public spaces, enclosed environments and public transportation.

Are the restaurants and bars open in Senegal?

Restaurants in Senegal are open. Bars in Senegal are .

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Business Customs

Senegal’s business customs are like French business customs.  Americans should expect a high level of sophistication among Senegalese businesspersons.  

The official business attire is suit and tie, even during the hottest months of the year (June-October).  

The Senegalese concept of “Teranga” is very important in business dealings and contacts.  The concept centers on a philosophy that welcomes other nationalities to share the Senegalese culture.  In a business environment, Senegalese are welcoming and don’t usually say no, even though they may not be able to deliver what they have promised.  

Travel Advisory

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State’s Internet web site at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html .   Messages for U.S. citizens traveling to Senegal are flagged on the U.S. Embassy website at https://sn.usembassy.gov/services/.  For the latest COVID-19 information affecting U.S. citizen travelers to Senegal, including COVID-19 testing requirements, please consult https://sn.usembassy.gov/covid -19- information/ .  

Short-term visas are available upon arrival in Senegal for U.S citizens.  U.S. citizens must present a passport valid for at least 90 days.  Please see the Centers for Disease Control Traveler Information for Senegal regarding recommended vaccines and malaria prevention: 

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/senegal.  

U.S. companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States are advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process.  Visa applicants should go to the following link(s):  State Department Visa Website.

Senegal is a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) which uses the CFA Franc, a convertible currency pegged to the Euro. 

Transportation

The country code for Senegal is +221.  

Air:  Transportation: Dakar’s Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) is Senegal’s main airport.  28 airlines are operating out of Blaise Diagne.  Dakar is linked to numerous African cities by air, and daily flights go to Europe.  Delta Airlines and Air Senegal fly nonstop from New York to Dakar.

Port:  Dakar has one of the largest deep-water seaports along the West African coast.  Its deep-draft structure and 640-foot-wide access channel allows round-the-clock access to the port.  Current infrastructure includes tanker vessel loading and unloading terminals, a container terminal with a storage capacity of 3000 20-foot-equivalent units, a cereals and fishing port, a dedicated phosphate terminal, and a privately-run ship repair facility.  Senegal Minergy Port (SMP) was awarded a 35-year concession for the design, build, operation, and ownership of a multicommodity dry and liquid bulk port in Bargny-Sendou, Senegal.  The facility will be a deep-water port that will be able to handle petroleum products as well as dry bulk volume and will relieve pressure from downtown Dakar’s port. 

Additionally, a new port concession at Ndyane was granted to Dubai Ports World, who also manages Dakar’s container terminal.  The port’s location at the extreme western point of Africa, at the crossroad of the major sea-lanes linking Europe to South America, makes it a natural port of call for shipping companies.  Multiple shipping companies sail to Dakar from U.S. ports, usually by transshipment from Europe.  The main direct call U.S./West Africa carriers are Wilhelmsen Lines, Torm Line, America Africa Delmas Line, and Atlantic Container Lines.  In addition, Maersk Line offers weekly sailings from the United States to Dakar with transshipment in Algeciras in southern Spain.  Grimaldi offers bi-monthly sailings from the United States direct to Dakar.  Transit time from Houston, New Orleans, and Miami is 34, 36, and 40 days, respectively.  Total freight traffic averages 10 million metric tons.    

Ground Transportation:  Black-yellow taxis are cheap, numerous, and available everywhere in Dakar.  It is customary to negotiate the fare since most meters installed in the taxis are broken or missing.  For travel outside Dakar, public transportation is available but often unreliable and uncomfortable.  Unlike Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, Senegal has yet to open its market for Uber-type ride sharing solutions.

U.S. visitors who plan to stay in Dakar a few days may want to hire a car and driver.  Numerous car rental agencies offer first-class service and have a desk at the airport and in hotels.  Credit cards are accepted for payment.  Visitors should note that the charge for service from the airport is a flat rate, and the taxi driver will not use the meter. Check if your hotel has an airport shuttle, as this can be the most convenient means of transport to and from the airport. 

The official languages of Senegal are French and Wolof.  Additional local languages are also spoken.  English is not widely spoken.  Firms seeking to visit Senegal for market or partner research should consider deploying French-speaking staff and/or hiring an interpreter.

Medical Facilities

U.S. visitors are advised to consult the Center for Disease Control’s page on Senegal prior to their travels.  There are several hospitals and clinics in Dakar which can treat major and minor injuries and illnesses.  There is inadequate inpatient psychiatric care, though there is very good office-based psychiatry.  There are no facilities in Senegal that are at the level of Western European hospitals or U.S. community hospitals, but there are some that are good and can be used in case of an emergency.  The Embassy maintains a list of physicians and other health care professionals, although the Embassy does not guarantee their services or recommend physicians.  Medical facilities outside Dakar are limited. 

French medications are far more readily available than American medications, and the limited selection of American medications in stock are often listed under the French trade names.  Medications may be obtained at pharmacies throughout Dakar and in other areas frequented by tourists and are usually less expensive than those in the United States.  Travelers should carry a supply of any needed prescription medicines along with copies of the prescriptions, including the generic name for the medicine, and a supply of preferred over-the-counter medications. 

Medical Insurance 

Travelers should be strongly urged to purchase evacuation insurance prior to traveling abroad.  Medical facilities in Senegal will only accept cash and will not accept medical insurance or even credit cards.  U.S. medical insurance may cover overseas medical expenses on a pay-and-claim basis, but this is not guaranteed.  

Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page. 

Other Health Information 

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747), fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC Internet site at www.cdc.gov/travel.  For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s website at https://www.who.int/en . Further health information for travelers is available at https://www.afro.who.int.

Malaria is a serious risk to travelers in Senegal.  Chloroquine resistant P. falciparum malaria is a severe form of the disease that is found in many parts of West Africa, including Senegal.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that a traveler on an appropriate anti-malarial drug has a greatly reduced chance of contracting the disease.  Other personal protective measures, such as the use of insect repellents, help to reduce malaria risk.  Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area and up to one year after returning home should seek prompt medical attention and tell the physician their travel history and what anti-malarial medication they have been taking.  For additional information on malaria, protection from insect bites and antimalarial medication, visit the CDC Travelers Health website at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.  Other vaccines may be recommended for travel to Senegal.  Please visit the CDC’s website for additional information on COVID-19 travel.  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html

Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays

Dakar is on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), four time zones ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST).  Daylight Savings

Time (DST) is not observed in Senegal, thus there is a five-hour time difference during DST in the United States.  Business Hours are typically from 0800 to 1800, with a long lunch break (2 hours) typical for government offices.  

January 1 (New Year’s)

April 4 (Independence Day)

May 1 (International Labor Day)

August 15 (Assumption Day)

November 1 (All Saints Day)

December 25 (Christmas Day)

The following holidays are observed according to the religious calendars: Tabaski, Mawlud, Easter Monday, Ascension and Pentecost. 

Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings

Several types of items — including computers and computer parts, video cameras and players, stereo equipment, tape players, auto parts, and various tools and spare parts — can be brought into Senegal without clearance by Senegalese customs officials.

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Warnings and insurance

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide and any specific travel advice that applies to you:

• women travellers
• disabled travellers
• LGBT+ travellers
• solo and independent travel
• volunteering and adventure travel

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications  when this advice is updated.

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

Senegal travel advice

Latest updates: Editorial change

Last updated: June 5, 2024 06:24 ET

On this page

Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, senegal - exercise a high degree of caution.

Exercise a high degree of caution in Senegal due to levels of crime.

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Casamance and border areas

The conflict in Casamance is historically characterized by clashes between the military and rebel groups. Periods of relative calm are followed by periods of conflict fuelled by mine explosions, direct or indirect attacks, robberies and attacks on businesses or villages.

Rebel groups operate sporadically on roads (often closed at night) and in areas close to the borders with Gambia and Guinea Bissau. Anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, as well as unexploded explosive ordnance are found in many areas (North Sindian, Niassya, South Oussouye, Niaguis).

• Only travel overland during daytime
• Stay on the main roads
• Travel in a convoy when you can
• Hire reputable carriers or tour operators

Areas close to the borders with Mauritania and Mali, where jihadist groups are active, are at risk, as they may harbour external elements due to the porosity of the borders.

Demonstrations and strikes

Strikes and demonstrations are common in larger cities. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation.

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Senegal has not suffered any recent terrorist attacks. However, in the context of the regional terrorist threat to West African countries, including Senegal, attacks could occur at any time.

Targets could include:

• government buildings, including schools
• places of worship
• airports and other transportation hubs and networks
• public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets, hotels and other sites frequented by foreigners

Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places.

Hotel selection

Stay at hotels that have robust security measures, including:

• metal detectors
• security cameras

Keep in mind, however, that even the most secure locations are not completely free of risk.

Petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag snatching are sometimes committed by thieves on motorcycles. The Gorée pier is a favourite spot for pickpockets.

• Remain vigilant when travelling
• Ensure that your belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times
• Avoid displays of affluence

Don’t walk alone. Avoid walking along the Corniche road in the evening, especially on East Corniche (Petite Corniche) and on West Corniche. Avoid also lingering along the beach at the end of the day.

Home robberies and armed robberies occur frequently. In general, assaults take place early in the morning and after dusk.

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Identification

You must carry photo identification, as well as a certified copy of your passport, as authorities may conduct identity checks at any time.

Keep a photocopy of your passport in a safe place, in case it is lost or confiscated.

Road safety

Main roads are in good condition, but travel after dark can be difficult because of poor lighting. Most secondary roads require a four-wheel-drive vehicle, particularly in the rainy season.

Driving can also be dangerous due to:

• the presence of pedestrians and animals on the road
• bad driving habits
• poorly maintained vehicles

If you are involved in a road accident, stay at the scene and don’t move your vehicle until a police officer authorizes you to do so. However, if you do not feel safe or if there is a large crowd gathering, leave the scene and report to the nearest police station in order to avoid any conflict between the parties involved. The police may keep your documents for a few days, until the file is closed. It is therefore recommended that you carry certified photocopies that will be accepted by police.

• Avoid driving at night between cities
• Keep doors locked and windows closed
• Do not leave valuables in the vehicle

Taxis are often poorly maintained and the drivers may have poor driving habits.

• Use only officially marked taxis (yellow and black)
• Taxis do not have a meter. Negotiate fares in advance
• Avoid boarding a public transit vehicle if it appears to be overloaded or in poor condition

The Grand Magal of Touba

The Grand Magal of Touba is an annual pilgrimage that attracts a large number of pilgrims each year.

The next event should take place on August 22, 2024.

Before and during the pilgrimage, you can expect:

• higher volumes of traffic
• street closures
• transportation delays
• limited available accommodations

Be alert at all times if you travel to Touba during the pilgrimage.

Cases of Internet fraud are reported. Be extremely vigilant, especially if someone:

• sends you an electronic request for funds
• makes you an online job offer
• offers you a business opportunity by email

Overseas fraud

Women's safety

Women travelling alone may be subject to some forms of harassment and verbal abuse.

Advice for women travellers

Coastal waters can be dangerous. Follow the instructions and warnings of local authorities.

Water safety abroad

Wildlife viewing

Wildlife viewing poses risks, particularly on foot or at close range.

• Always maintain a safe distance when observing wildlife
• Only exit a vehicle when a professional guide or warden says it’s safe to do so
• Only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators
• Closely follow park regulations and wardens’ advice

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the Senegalese authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave Senegal.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Tourist visa: not required for stays of less than 90 days Business visa: not required for stays of less than 90 days Student visa: not required for stays of less than 90 days

Canadians can enter Senegal without a visa for stays of less than 90 days. A traveller arriving in Senegal without a visa who wishes to extend his or her stay will have to leave the country and re-enter afterwards or contact the Foreigner’s Bureau of the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security to obtain a long-stay visa.

Canadians planning on staying in Senegal for more than 90 days must apply for a visa at the nearest Senegalese embassy or consulate. The visa allows the holder to stay in Senegal for 90 days so that steps can be taken to obtain a “carte d’identité d’étranger” (foreign national identity card) before the end of the period.

Foreign national identity card

To stay in Senegal for more than 90 days, you must obtain a foreign national identity card from the Direction de la Police des étrangers et des titres de voyage.

Direction de la police des étrangers et des titres de voyage – Ministère de l’Intérieur et de la Sécurité Publique (en français)

• Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children .

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• Zika virus: Advice for travellers - 31 August, 2023
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024
• Dengue: Advice for travellers - 6 May, 2024
• Polio: Advice for travellers - 6 May, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever   is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is a risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is required if you are coming from or have transited through an airport of a country   where yellow fever occurs . 

Recommendation

• Vaccination is recommended.
• Contact a designated   Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre   well in advance of your trip to arrange for vaccination.
• Discuss travel plans, activities, and destinations with a health care professional.
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites .

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada

* It is important to note that  country entry requirements  may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest  diplomatic or consular office  of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise  safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

This destination is in the African Meningitis Belt, an area which has the highest rates of meningococcal disease in the world. Meningococcal disease is a serious and sometimes fatal infection. 

Travellers who are at higher risk should discuss vaccination with a health care provider. High-risk travellers include those living or working with the local population (e.g., health care workers) or those travelling to crowded areas or taking part in large gatherings.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease that is caused by parasites spread through the bites of mosquitoes.

Malaria is a risk to travellers to this destination.   Antimalarial medication is recommended for most travellers to this destination and should be taken as recommended. Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic before travelling to discuss your options. It is recommended to do this 6 weeks before travel, however, it is still a good idea any time before leaving.    Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times: 

• Cover your skin and use an approved insect repellent on uncovered skin.
• Exclude mosquitoes from your living area with screening and/or closed, well-sealed doors and windows.
• Use insecticide-treated bed nets if mosquitoes cannot be excluded from your living area.
• Wear permethrin-treated clothing. 

 If you develop symptoms similar to malaria when you are travelling or up to a year after you return home, see a health care professional immediately. Tell them where you have been travelling or living. 

In this destination, rabies is commonly carried by dogs and some wildlife, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. While travelling, take precautions , including keeping your distance from animals (including free-roaming dogs), and closely supervising children.

If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. In this destination, rabies treatment may be limited or may not be available, therefore you may need to return to Canada for treatment.  

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who are at high risk of exposure (e.g., occupational risk such as veterinarians and wildlife workers, children, adventure travellers and spelunkers, and others in close contact with animals). 

Polio (poliomyelitis) is an infectious disease that can be prevented by vaccination. It is caused by poliovirus type 1, 2 or 3. Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus 2 (cVDPV2) is present in this country. Polio is spread from person to person and through contaminated food and water. Infection with the polio virus can cause paralysis and death in individuals of any age who are not immune.

Recommendations:

• Be sure that your polio vaccinations are up to date before travelling. Polio is part of the routine vaccine schedule for children in Canada.
• One booster dose of the polio vaccine is recommended as an adult .

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Typhoid   is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among children, travellers going to rural areas, travellers visiting friends and relatives or those travelling for a long period of time.

Travellers visiting regions with a risk of typhoid, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation, should speak to a health care professional about vaccination.  

There is a risk of schistosomiasis in this destination. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by tiny worms (blood flukes) which can be found in freshwater (lakes, rivers, ponds, and wetlands). The worms can break the skin, and their eggs can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, or urinary problems. Schistosomiasis mostly affects underdeveloped and r ural communities, particularly agricultural and fishing communities.

Most travellers are at low risk. Travellers should avoid contact with untreated freshwater such as lakes, rivers, and ponds (e.g., swimming, bathing, wading, ingesting). There is no vaccine or medication available to prevent infection.

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

There is a risk of chikungunya in this country.  The risk may vary between regions of a country.  Chikungunya is a virus spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Chikungunya can cause a viral disease that typically causes fever and pain in the joints. In some cases, the joint pain can be severe and last for months or years.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times. There is no vaccine available for chikungunya.

• In this country, risk of  dengue  is sporadic. It is a viral disease spread to humans by mosquito bites.
• Dengue can cause flu-like symptoms. In some cases, it can lead to severe dengue, which can be fatal.
• The level of risk of dengue changes seasonally, and varies from year to year. The level of risk also varies between regions in a country and can depend on the elevation in the region.
• Mosquitoes carrying dengue typically bite during the daytime, particularly around sunrise and sunset.
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites . There is no vaccine or medication that protects against dengue fever.

Rift Valley fever is a viral disease that can cause severe flu-like symptoms. In some cases, it can be fatal. It is spread to humans through contact with infected animal blood or tissues, from the bite of an infected mosquito, or eating or drinking unpasteurized dairy. Risk is generally low for most travellers. Protect yourself from insect bites and avoid animals, particularly livestock, and unpasteurized dairy. There is no vaccine available for Rift Valley fever.

Zika virus is a risk in this country. 

Zika virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can also be sexually transmitted. Zika virus can cause serious birth defects.

During your trip:

• Prevent mosquito bites at all times.
• Use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact, particularly if you are pregnant.

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should discuss the potential risks of travelling to this destination with your health care provider. You may choose to avoid or postpone travel. 

For more information, see Zika virus: Pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Tuberculosis is an infection caused by bacteria and usually affects the lungs.

For most travellers the risk of tuberculosis is low.

Travellers who may be at high risk while travelling in regions with risk of tuberculosis should discuss pre- and post-travel options with a health care professional.

High-risk travellers include those visiting or working in prisons, refugee camps, homeless shelters, or hospitals, or travellers visiting friends and relatives.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)   is a virus that attacks and impairs the immune system, resulting in a chronic, progressive illness known as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). 

High risk activities include anything which puts you in contact with blood or body fluids, such as unprotected sex and exposure to unsterilized needles for medications or other substances (for example, steroids and drugs), tattooing, body-piercing or acupuncture.

Medical services and facilities

Medical facilities are adequate in the capital, Dakar, but are limited elsewhere. Medical evacuation is often very expensive and may be necessary in the event of serious illness or injury.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and heavy fines.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Photography

It is prohibited to photograph government buildings, airports or other official facilities.

Senegal River

It is illegal and dangerous to cross the Senegal River by private pirogue.

Child sex tourism

Canadians travelling to Senegal for the express purpose of having sex with children or prostitutes should know that such activities are punishable with fines and prison sentences of up to 10 years.

Child Sex Tourism: It’s a Crime

Pornography

Possession and importation of pornographic material is forbidden.

2SLGBTQI+ travellers

The laws of Senegal prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex.

2SLGBTQI+ travellers should carefully consider the risks of travelling to Senegal.

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

Dress and behaviour

To avoid offending local sensitivities:

• dress conservatively
• behave discreetly
• respect religious and social traditions

In 2025, the lunar month of Ramadan is expected to begin on or around February 28.

In public, between sunrise and sunset, be discreet when:

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is legally recognized in Senegal.

If you are a Canadian citizen, but also a citizen of Senegal, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited while you're there. You may also be subject to different entry/exit requirements .

Travellers with dual citizenship

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. It does not apply between Canada and Senegal.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Senegal by an abducting parent:

• act as quickly as you can
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Senegal to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children's Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country's judicial affairs.

• International Child Abductions: A guide for affected parents
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Request emergency assistance

Some items are subject to strict customs regulations, including:

• computers and computer parts
• stereo equipment
• tape players
• video cameras and players

These items cannot be brought into the country without clearance by Senegalese authorities.

You must carry an international driving permit.

International Driving Permit

The currency in Senegal is the CFA franc (XOF).

Avoid exchanging large quantities of CFA francs for foreign currency at other than reputable exchange bureaus.

ATMs are widespread and reliable in Dakar, although withdrawal limits may be quite low.

Rainy season

The rainy season extends from July to October. Seasonal flooding can hamper overland travel and reduce the provision of essential services. Roads may become impassable due to mudslides and landslides.

• Monitor local media for the latest updates, including those on road conditions
• Stay away from flooded areas
• Monitor weather reports

Local services

In case of emergency, dial:

• medical assistance: 15
• firefighters: 18

Consular assistance

Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania

For emergency consular assistance, call the Embassy of Canada to Senegal, in Dakar, and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

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Tanzania, including Zanzibar Traveler View

Travel health notices, vaccines and medicines, non-vaccine-preventable diseases, stay healthy and safe.

• Packing List

After Your Trip

Be aware of current health issues in Tanzania. Learn how to protect yourself.

Level 2 Practice Enhanced Precautions

• Global Polio May 23, 2024 Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Destination List: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, including Zanzibar, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

⇧ Top

Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. If you or your doctor need help finding a location that provides certain vaccines or medicines, visit the Find a Clinic page.

Routine vaccines

Recommendations.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Immunization schedules

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see  Your COVID-19 Vaccination  for more information. 

COVID-19 vaccine

Active cholera transmission is  widespread  in Tanzania. Cholera is rare in travelers.  Certain factors  may increase the risk of getting cholera or having severe disease ( more information ). Avoiding unsafe food and water and washing your hands can also help prevent cholera.

Vaccination may be considered for children and adults who are traveling to areas of active cholera transmission.

Cholera - CDC Yellow Book

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Tanzania.

Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.

Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.

Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis A - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep A

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to Tanzania. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to Tanzania.

Hepatitis B - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep B

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Tanzania take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.

Find  country-specific information  about malaria.

Malaria - CDC Yellow Book

Considerations when choosing a drug for malaria prophylaxis (CDC Yellow Book)

Malaria information for Tanzania.

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to  CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel .

Measles (Rubeola) - CDC Yellow Book

In Tanzania poliovirus has been identified in the past year.

Travelers to Tanzania are at increased risk of exposure to poliovirus.

Vaccine recommendations : Adults traveling to Tanzania who received a complete polio vaccination series as children may receive a single lifetime booster dose of inactivated polio vaccine; travelers who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated should receive a complete polio vaccination series before travel. Children who are not fully vaccinated will be considered for an  accelerated vaccination schedule .

Polio - CDC Yellow Book

Polio: For Travelers

Dogs infected with rabies are commonly found in Tanzania.

Rabies is also present in some terrestrial wildlife species.

If rabies exposures occur while in Tanzania, rabies vaccines may only be available in larger suburban/urban medical facilities.

Rabies pre-exposure vaccination considerations include whether travelers 1) will be performing occupational or recreational activities that increase risk for exposure to potentially rabid animals and 2) might have difficulty getting prompt access to safe post-exposure prophylaxis.

Please consult with a healthcare provider to determine whether you should receive pre-exposure vaccination before travel.

For more information, see country rabies status assessments .

Rabies - CDC Yellow Book

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

Typhoid - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Typhoid

Yellow Fever

Required for travelers ≥1 year old arriving from countries with risk for YF virus transmission; this includes >12-hour airport transits or layovers in countries with risk for YF virus transmission. 1

Generally not recommended for travel to Tanzania.

Yellow Fever - CDC Yellow Book

• Avoid contaminated water

Leptospirosis

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)

• Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis
• Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud
• Drinking water or eating food contaminated with animal urine
• Avoid contaminated water and soil
• Avoid floodwater

Clinical Guidance

Schistosomiasis

• Wading, swimming, bathing, or washing in contaminated freshwater streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, or untreated pools.

Avoid bug bites

African sleeping sickness (african trypanosomiasis).

• Tsetse fly bite 
• Avoid Bug Bites

African Trypanosomiasis

African Tick-Bite Fever

African Tick-bite fever

Chikungunya

• Mosquito bite

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever

• Tick bite 
• Touching the body fluids of a person or animal infected with CCHF
• Mosquito bite
• Avoid animals

Rift Valley Fever

• Touching blood, body fluids, or tissue of infected livestock

Rift Valley fever

Airborne & droplet

• Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents
• Bite from an infected rodent
• Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus (only occurs with Andes virus)
• Avoid rodents and areas where they live
• Avoid sick people

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.

Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Tanzania, so your behaviors are important.

Eat and drink safely

Food and water standards around the world vary based on the destination. Standards may also differ within a country and risk may change depending on activity type (e.g., hiking versus business trip). You can learn more about safe food and drink choices when traveling by accessing the resources below.

• Choose Safe Food and Drinks When Traveling
• Water Treatment Options When Hiking, Camping or Traveling
• Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
• Avoid Contaminated Water During Travel

You can also visit the Department of State Country Information Pages for additional information about food and water safety.

Prevent bug bites

Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in Tanzania. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites.

What can I do to prevent bug bites?

• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below).
• Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
• Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms.
• Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.

What type of insect repellent should I use?

• FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours.
• Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin)
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone
• Always use insect repellent as directed.

What should I do if I am bitten by bugs?

• Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching.
• Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks properly.

What can I do to avoid bed bugs?

Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs .

For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites .

Some diseases in Tanzania—such as dengue, leishmaniasis, and African sleeping sickness—are spread by bugs and cannot be prevented with a vaccine. Follow the insect avoidance measures described above to prevent these and other illnesses.

Stay safe outdoors

If your travel plans in Tanzania include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip.

• Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
• Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
• Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities.
• If you are outside for many hours in heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating.
• Protect yourself from UV radiation : use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
• Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.
• Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

• Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.
• Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.
• Do not dive into shallow water.
• Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor.
• Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.
• To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste.

Climbing Kilimanjaro is one of the most popular outdoor activities for travelers visiting Tanzania. The high altitude may lead to altitude sickness. Talk to your doctor about ways to prevent and treat altitude sickness.

See Travel to High Altitudes .

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection that can be spread in fresh water, is found in Tanzania. Avoid swimming in fresh, unchlorinated water, such as lakes, ponds, or rivers.

Keep away from animals

Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

• Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.
• Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.
• Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.
• Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.
• If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see.

All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

• Wash the wound with soap and clean water.
• Go to a doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.

Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly, and treatment may not be available in some countries.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

• Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
• If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen.

Protect yourself:

• Use latex condoms correctly.
• Do not inject drugs.
• Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.
• Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.
• If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while traveling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

• Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination.
• Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance.
• Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take.
• Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call Tanzania’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
• Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website ( www.jointcommissioninternational.org ).

In some countries, medicine (prescription and over-the-counter) may be substandard or counterfeit. Bring the medicines you will need from the United States to avoid having to buy them at your destination.

Malaria is a risk in Tanzania. Fill your malaria prescription before you leave and take enough with you for the entire length of your trip. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the pills; some need to be started before you leave.

Select safe transportation

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.

In many places cars, buses, large trucks, rickshaws, bikes, people on foot, and even animals share the same lanes of traffic, increasing the risk for crashes.

Be smart when you are traveling on foot.

• Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
• Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.
• Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.

Riding/Driving

Choose a safe vehicle.

• Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.
• Ride only in cars that have seatbelts.
• Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans.
• Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.)
• Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable.
• Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes.

Think about the driver.

• Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.
• Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area.
• Arrange payment before departing.

Follow basic safety tips.

• Wear a seatbelt at all times.
• Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis.
• When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.)
• Avoid driving at night; street lighting in certain parts of Tanzania may be poor.
• Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries).
• Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas.
• If you choose to drive a vehicle in Tanzania, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork.
• Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times.
• Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance.
• Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft.
• If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections.
• Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather.

Medical Evacuation Insurance

If you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards. Trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas. Having medical evacuation insurance can be helpful for these reasons.

Helpful Resources

Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources.

The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee.

Traffic flows on the left side of the road in Tanzania.

• Always pay close attention to the flow of traffic, especially when crossing the street.
• LOOK RIGHT for approaching traffic.

For information traffic safety and road conditions in Tanzania, see Travel and Transportation on US Department of State's country-specific information for Tanzania .

Maintain personal security

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Before you leave

• Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture.
• Monitor travel advisories and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) .
• Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.
• Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace.

While at your destination(s)

• Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate .
• Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel.
• Follow all local laws and social customs.
• Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry.
• Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas.
• If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors.

To call for emergency services while in Tanzania, dial either 112 or 999. Write these numbers down to carry with you on your trip.

Learn as much as you can about Tanzania before you travel there. A good place to start is the country-specific information on Tanzania from the US Department of State.

Healthy Travel Packing List

Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for Tanzania for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you.

Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?

It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic . Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

If your doctor prescribed antimalarial medicine for your trip, keep taking the rest of your pills after you return home. If you stop taking your medicine too soon, you could still get sick.

Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the doctor about your travel history.

For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel .

Map Disclaimer - The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on maps do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement are generally marked.

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