General fitness
Physical and Mental strength
Kilimanjaro health precautions begin with ensuring your physical and mental readiness. Trekking the highest mountain in Africa is a formidable undertaking. Your overall health and fitness play a crucial role in determining your success. With the physical demands and the challenges of high altitudes, hiking up Kilimanjaro is a high-risk adventure.
Medical Check
Always make it a priority to consult with your family doctor, local GP, or physician 3 to 4 months prior to your Tanzania trip. Clearly convey the nature of activities you intend to engage in, especially the high-altitude trek. This will aid them in advising you about necessary medications and vaccinations.
Medication & First Aid
Essential to Kilimanjaro health precautions is to have all your prescribed medicines with you. Although we provide a comprehensive first aid kit during treks, having a personal one handy is always a good measure.
Those who are in prime physical and mental condition will undeniably have an edge in conquering the peak.
Essential Vaccinations for Tanzania
Although not mandatory, your Kilimanjaro health precautions should consider that travel to Tanzania / Africa may come with recommended vaccinations. Always consult your doctor for the best advice.
Commonly recommended vaccines
Polio: Booster for adults who completed childhood series.
Yellow Fever: Essential for those exposed to mosquitoes. (mandatory when arriving from an endemic country, see below)
Hepatitis A & B: For protection against contaminated food, drink, or blood products.
Typhoid: Against contaminated intake.
Rabies: Especially if engaged in outdoor activities with risk of animal bites.
MMR: Two doses for travelers born after 1956.
Tetanus – Diphtheria: Renew every 10 years.
COVID: As a general precaution.
When is Yellow Fever mandatory for entry to Tanzania?
For most there will be no mandatory Yellow Fever vaccine requirement however Yellow fever vaccination proof will be required for travelers who arrive via or transit in a endemic country (generally an African or South American country) for more than 12 hours.
- Countries from Africa considered endemic for Yellow Fever: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivore, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Maritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda
- Countries from South America considered endemic for Yellow Fever: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.
Travelers coming from countries not listed above and who have no transited via those countries (for 12 hours and more) are not required to prove Yellow Fever vaccination.
A Yellow Fever vaccine is accepted for life by our port health authority and it does not matter how long ago you have had your vaccine (as long as you have the proof where required).
Malaria & Insect Protection
Malaria protection is a top priority in Kilimanjaro health precautions. Malaria, transmitted by mosquitoes, is prevalent in Tanzania. Consult with your physician about protective measures:
- Altitudes below 1800m are risk-prone.
- Mosquitoes are most active during evenings and nights.
- Cover up with long clothing.
- Ensure rooms are mosquito-proof by dusk.
- Employ impregnated mosquito nets.
- Consider anti-malarial medication.
Traveler's Diarrhea
Among the Kilimanjaro health precautions, being aware of traveler's diarrhea is vital due to its prevalence from contaminated intake. This ailment, resulting from contaminated intake, features symptoms like frequent loose stools, nausea, or even fever. Usually, oral re-hydration solutions can treat mild cases. For severe instances, consult a physician for medications like Loperamide or Diphenoxylate.
Diamox – Should You Take It?
Diamox (Acetazolamide) can play a role in Kilimanjaro health precautions by potentially helping alleviate altitude sickness. However, it's essential to be informed:
However, it's essential to be informed:
- Diamox should only be prescribed by your doctor/GP.
- We are not advising for or against taking Diamox however anything that helps with altitude sickness can make your trek safer.
- We are no doctors or pharmacists but can tell from observing our guests, that side effects are usually minimal. You might feel a slight tingling in your fingers and your urge to pee is increased – as Diamox
is a Diuretic. - Diamox must not be taken when allergic to penicillin or other sulfur‐based drugs. Of course where allergies are present, it's best not to use.
- Your doctor/GP will tell you how to take Diamox, but based on our observations, guests usually take 125mg after breakfast and 125mg after dinner. They usually break a 250mg tablet in half. We observe that guests take it from the first day of climbing until reaching their last camp.
- For those who have never taken Diamox before we may recommend a half dose prior to starting the trek to ensure your body has no abnormal side effects.
Being prepared with the right Kilimanjaro health precautions can make your trek both safe and enjoyable. Consult with professionals and ensure that you're fully equipped for this extraordinary journey.
