Fodors is a wonderful site for advice, but not medical advice. I would suggest you contact your MD with that question.

I will guess your MD will follow the CDC if & when appropriate. If you havent had your boosters, between the shots and boosters you will feel like a pin cushion...but that part of the cost of going on safari

btw: You better call right away, there might be some procedures that require multiple shots spread across several months

Yes, this is not the place for medical advice...but...ask your doc about rabies injection. None of my family, me, and friends who have gone on multiple safari had this shot. The others everybody should have even if staying home IMO.

Well, I'm sure some readers will say I shouldn't, but I feel relatively qualified to advise on this, having been visiting and writing about Kenya for more than 30 years. Partly I feel somewhat qualified because so few general medical practicioners have any idea about health issues in Kenya and frequently go for the belt and braces approach, which fills you with shots you don't need and costs an arm and a leg.

Right: bottom line, you only *need* malaria protection. It's essential.

Otherwise, it's a good idea to be up to date with childhood vaccinations, as you suggest. But you don't need hepatitis, rabies, yellow fever or anything else. And nobody on arrival in Nairobi will have the slightest interest - there's no health inspection for arrivals from Europe or North America.

Have a great trip!

As noted above, none of the vaccinations mentioned is required for entry to Kenya. I agree with RT that it's wise to make sure you're current with the standard shots (e.g., tetanus). I think it's a good idea to get the Hep A jab, not because you're going to Kenya, but because you can get that disease anywhere. CDC generally has a reputation for exaggerating risks, but where rabies and typhoid are concerned I believe those recommendations are for people who will actually handle animals or be in areas where typhoid is prevalent---that won't be the case for Nairobi and the Mara.

With respect to malaria, in addition to taking prophylaxis, spray exposed areas with repellent (if you get a DEET-containing product, you don't need to exceed 30%) at dusk and before dawn. It's especially important to spray around legs and ankles as malaria mosquitoes tend to hunt low.

I would doubel check on Yellow Fever, as certain countries may ask for it when you are leaving Africa.

If you're returning directly back to the US or even stopping over in Europe, you won't need proof of yellow fever vaccine. If you're continuing on to another African country or elsewhere, that country may require it since you'll have been in Kenya which is considered an endemic country.

Thank you for all your responses. I do understand that it's not a medical forum, but I was seeking personal experiences from past travelers. I called a travel clinic and they generally follow CDC recommendations but let the patient make the final decision. I just felt it may be unwarranted to get all these shots if they are not really necessary if I'm staying at reputable camps and only for a few days. Based on your responses I think I will just get malaria prescription, hepatitis and tetanus. Do you think it's sufficient? Also, which DEET products do you recommend? Are there any preferred brands? Shall I spray my skin or clothing? Any special precautions while sleeping at night? Even though the camp is treated, should I spray the tent myself as well? Thank you.

I'll share what the travel docs have told me and my experience as a traveller but not a medical professional.

Rabies--if you are going into caves or where there are packs of dogs. That's not typical of most Kenya safaris. I've encountered neither in Kenya. I never got a rabies shot for Africa, but did for a different kind of trip.

Tetanus--keep that up to date absolutely, even if you stay home.

Hepatitis--Get the A vaccine.

Typhoid--I've gotten the oral vaccine that lasts 5 years, as recommended, but I'm in areas that recommend typhpoid 1-2 times per year.

Malaria--good, take that, even though Oct will likely be dry and you may see no mosquitoes.

Insect spray--I took small bottles that contained DEET, not sure what %. Don't think I ever sprayed myself or clothes. No mosquitoes.

Have a wonderful 5 days!

All of the above, malaria meds, Tetanus and Hep-A (both good for 10/years) and to top that off consider a Polio Booster (this disease is rearing it's ugly head around the world... and good for rest of your life).

Repellent, no higher than 30% Deet. Apply to exposed skin, but not face or rear of neck and do wash off before retiring for bed. If you choose (room attendent can also do this) to spray your room/tent before heading for dinner, be sure not over your bed linens.

Now, you're set to go. Safari njema!

It is rather difficult to recommend a DEET product because there are over 100 of them.

Also some countries have banned a DEET concentration higher than 30%, not because of side effects, but because the government wants a wider margin of safety.

The only advantage of having DEET concentration higher than 30% is that it lasts longer.
( The 30% has a maximum effect for 6 hours.)

Don't spray DEET under your clothing.

( It is rather funny but DEET works by forming a vapour barrier on your skin ,so the insects cannot smell you !!!... and not because they land on you and then do not like the taste of DEET !!

I understand your apprehension about receiving all those vaccinations!!

I cannot really comment on my experience because when I went to Nairobi for my Safari, I already had all my shots and booster from previous travels.

Your MD may or may not follow the CDC guideline.

Besides your Hepatitis A and Malaria medication ,I would take along some Cipro (antibiotic) and some Immodium

You can get Immodium over the counter , but get the "Quick Dissolve " type.

I think I read somewhere that Kenya was asking for proof of Yellow Fever vaccine.

( maybe someone who knows can comment on this )

If it is any comfort to you, I went in the month of August- September and never saw a Mosquito the entire Safari through Kenya and Tanzania!!!!

...but that does not mean don't take malaria pills

If your are going to do more travelling for years in the future , I would slowly get more vaccinations like

Hepatitis B
Typhoid
Yellow Fever

Also I hope your Travel Clinic is Government operated and not a Private Clinic .

The two private Clinics in my city would want you to have every vaccination known to man !

DEET-containing products are widely used but as alluded to above, DEET can be of concern toxicologically. A product with an active ingredient with a lower toxicity profile is Repel HG-406T Lemon Eucalyptus 4-Ounce Insect Repellent Pump Spray. This product can be purchased at Amazon and it is as effective as those products containing DEET. You don't need to be dousing yourself with repellent all day---just after dusk and before dawn.

Percy, I think maybe you read that Tanzania may ask for a YF jab certificate. Kenya does not.

>>"I hope your Travel Clinic is Government operated and not a Private Clinic."<<

Percy - not sure where OP is located (country) or you for that matter, but in the States, if I understand correctly, Travel Clinics are either private or hospital affiliated.

There are Public Health Centers (guess these would be
considered 'gov't') that can offer some of the inocs at lower cost (maybe) and even scripts for malaria meds.

sdb2:

Yes I am sure you are right,it must be Tanzania.

sandi:

I would think that Public Health Centres are run by a government agency.

You pay less there, but the appointment time may be longer, whereas the Private Clinics get you in right away.

I went to a Public Clinic when I went to South America, I waited 2 weeks for an appointment ( but then I had the time to wait 2 weeks before my travel date).

At the Private Clinic it was , " Can you come in tomorrow morning ".

The advice is a "little" different at each Clinic. (hmmm!)

I'm in the US and called my family doctor about my upcoming trip. She referred me to Passport Health because she doesn't provide any travel related services. It was Passport Health which listed almost 10 vaccinations that I may need, which seems a bit overkill for a few days in Africa. Passport Health is a private clinic located throughout the US. My public health department provides only vaccinations to people on government assistance, etc. Any experience with Passport Health?

Ediez, I've never commented on others' doctors but I will here. If, as you say, you will get get a malaria prescription, and hepatitis [A] and tetanus jabs for your trip, then I would be disappointed by my doctor's practice if they farmed me out to a travel practice. The Hep A and tetanus shots are not travel-related services and I would think any practice could provide them. In selecting an antimalarial, which requires some understanding of your medical history (and also in deciding whether you are up to date on the standard shots---tetanus, polio) who is better to know that than your own doctor?

There are primarily 3 antimalarials that are suggested: Lariam, Malarone, and doxycycline. Personally, I would steer clear of Lariam, which can give some significant (as in ruin your trip) psychiatric side effects (and is therefore not prescribed for those with any history of depression). Malarone is taken 1-2 days before hitting a malarious area, every day while in the malarious area and for 7 days after leaving the malarious area. Doxycycline is taken similarly except for 30 days afterwards. Hope some of this helps when you visit your doctor or clinic.

For a Canadian perspective I would not expect my GP to be an expert on what vaccinations are required for all parts of the world I may be travelling to.

Instead I visit our local Travel Clinic who's specialty this is, who has all the up to date information and after a brief medical questionnaire can determine the necessary shots best for me.

As sdb2, Tetanus, Hep-A and probably the Polio booster should be available from any general practioner/internist, and the person who best knows your health history. This doc can also write the script for your malaria meds. No need to even talk to a Travel Clinic, unless you require the Yellow Fever inoculation. This latter jab is often only available from approved providers (travel clinic, hospital), though some individual general practioners may also be able to do so.

Passport Health gave 10 vaccinations? That seems excessive for 5 days in reputable lodges. The more they jab, the more they make.

I am planning on Traveling to Kenya for 5days only to the game parks in last week of July, I have been worrying about the yellow fever vaccine especially after reading the side effects. I am going to take the advise given above and skip that vaccine. Thanks for the info. I would appreciate if anyone knows on yellow fever statistics in Masai Mara area.

indiabrown, you can check this out by doing some web searching, but I believe it's been 15-20 yrs since the last confirmed case of YF in the whole of Kenya.

... yup, last case of YF in Kenya was in the early 90s and that was 1/person. There is no need for this inoculation for entry unless coming from a YF endemic country. The need for the inoc is so that visitors don't bring the disease into the country at which you are holidaying.

However, it's also important to know whether this inoc is required for re-entry to your home country or if onward to another country that might require proof having arrived from East Africa.

What about a visa to Kenya? My travel agent recommends obtaining it before travel but I've read online that getting it at the airport is a lot easier than mailing your passport, etc. Any recent travelers to Kenya who can share light on this issue?

Very easy to get your visa at NBO and not all that time-consuming---you'll probably get through before, or very shortly after, your luggage comes out. I used to get my visa ahead of time, because living near DC I could take the Metro to the embassy and leave things off. But then I worried about the passport getting lost in the return mail, which the embassy wanted certified adding extra cost. So now I just get the visa on arrival. Make sure you have the fee in clean, new bills (e.g., 2006 and up).

Unless a vaccine is required for entry into a country, nothing is required. It's your health, your choice. Inform yourself of the risks and make your own decisions.

Easy enough to purchase Visa on arrival at NBO. Download the form from the Kenya Tourism site, complete, keep with passport and on arrival go to queue - Purchase Visa - hand in to agent with correct amount due (they don't make change).

No photos are required as agent will take your pic and fingerprints on arrival.

Enjoy your holiday.

My husband and I are travelling to Botswana and Zimbabwe in July, and we went to an infectious disease specialist, because the travel agent told us that he had been asked for a yellow fever certificate the last time he had travelled. The doctor told us that, yes, sometimes people are asked for such a certificate upon entry from a country in which Yellow Fever has been a risk, but that he would give us certificates that said we were medically excused from the vaccination; it is the same certificate and you have to read it to find out what it says, and anyway it should be acceptable. He did not think that the risk of getting a YF shot was outweighed by the risk of getting YF in a place in which the disease was not really a problem.

I did get a typhoid shot and a polio booster, as well as a Hepatitis A/b shot; I did not need a tetanus booster. The doctor said, as other posters above have said, that rabies would really be overkill unless we planned to handle animals.

Certainly, it is possible to overdo the precaution, but most of the shots that I did have are long-lasting and might come in handy for other travelling I might want to do.

As for malaria, I am planning to bring repellent, duct tape in case the netting is ripped, and permethrin-imbued long pants and shirt in case the bugs are bad in the evening. I will also take a preventative. I don't care for DEET much, but I really don't like mosquitoes, and I just got over a case of Lyme disease, so I'm not as indifferent to the idea of bug-borne disease as I once was.

There are repellents that do not contain Deet that some choose to us.

And, from a discussion between Bill Gates and Charlie Rose (PBS), the other night, Bill described the work scientists are doing to determine what odors mosquitos do not like and hope to have a new repellent against their bites. When can we expect something new? Well, who really knows, but they're working on it!

As to permethrin imbuded clothing... really no need. Regular attire, long pants stuck into your socks, along with long sleeves and repellent on exposed skin (except face and back of neck)... and do wash off before retiring, should be more than sufficient.

Mossie nets - except for one camp at Chobe in Botswana where these surrounding the bed was the most romantic I'd ever seen, we did... otherwise, I have never slept under them elsewhere in Africa.

Seems the bugs simply do not like me... whoopie!

When I recently returned to Australia from Kenya, I was asked to show my Yellow Fever Certificate. Someone did mention that the YF cert could be needed to re-enter your home country, but many said it may not be necessary, so I just wanted to share my experience, and re-iterate that it's not a bad idea to get YF so you can get home after your safari
I'll back up the others who said it's easy to get a visa on arrival in Nairobi, don't worry too much about getting it at home first.
Enjoy the safari!

Regarding Australia and the need for showing a YF certificate upon re-entering after visiting a country where YF occurs, it's my understanding as well that one may be asked to provide proof of vaccination. However, a person can re-enter Australia without proof of vaccination but will be placed under Quarantine Surveillance which asks the person not to travel to Northern Queensland and to present the Quarantine Surveillance form (the yellow form) to one's doctor if illness occurs.

But I agree, despite the extra cost, I think it's a good idea to just get the jab and have no worries about the re-entry issue while on holiday.

Just a comment on Passport Health - we used them because my family dr also directed me to a travel clinic when I asked for YF vax. The one we went to (I think they're a franchise?)made suggestions of other vax we should consider but didn't push them.

However I was more than a little upset by the pictures they had hanging in their waiting room which were basically every terrifying non-hygenic situation you can imagine in a third world country -- dentists set up out in the middle of a public square pulling teeth with rusty pliers, crazy food/drinks served from filthy stalls, plates being washed in buckets of dirty water, etc. So they definitely wanted to scare people into taking every precaution they could. I was trying to shield my husband's eyes - he worries enough as it is!

Our local hospital has a Travel Medicine section which provides the same service (doesn't accept insurance) and with no scare tactics!

"they had hanging in their waiting room which were basically every terrifying non-hygenic situation you can imagine in a third world country -- dentists set up out in the middle of a public square pulling teeth with rusty pliers, crazy food/drinks served from filthy stalls, plates being washed in buckets of dirty water, etc. So they definitely wanted to scare people...."

Goodness, scary for sure, but unless one is a backpacker and on their own out in the bush or away from any civilization in Africa or elsewhere around the world, most who head out on safari will never ever see or encounter such scenes.

May I pop in quickly here with my own Kenya anxiety? I fear it will be several years before I return to Kenya. Just typing that has caused my palms to sweat and my stomach to knot.

atravelynn,
Totally agree

I thought 2013 would be the year I finally got to make it to Selous Ruaha & Mikumi in February. But I cant get 2 weeks off in Feb. The attractive airfares are turning my stomache. Maybe I will break down for a 5 day visit