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Southern Africa

🇧🇼 Vaccines for Botswana

Entry requirements & recommendations for travel to Botswana

Botswana requires malaria prophylaxis for the northern regions — the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, and the area around Kasane — which are the country's premier safari destinations and a major draw for visitors. Gaborone and the southern and central parts of the country, including much of the Kalahari, carry no malaria risk. Yellow Fever proof is required if arriving from an endemic country. Hepatitis A and Typhoid are recommended generally. This north-south distinction is the key planning point for Botswana, similar to Namibia, since most safari-focused visitors will be heading to the malaria-risk northern areas. Healthcare in Gaborone is reasonable; northern safari areas have very limited facilities, with evacuation insurance genuinely important.

Medical disclaimer: This is general information only — not personal medical advice. Requirements and risks change. Always consult a qualified travel health clinic before departure.
Required for entry
Yellow Fever
Certificate required if arriving from endemic country.
💉 1 dose (lifetime)
📅 Book at least 3 weeks before travel
⚡ Effective: 10 days after vaccination. Certificate valid for life.
🛡 Protects for: Lifetime (single dose).
Required for entry
Recommended by WHO & CDC
Hepatitis A
Food and water contamination risk.
💉 2 doses
📅 Book at least 4 weeks before travel
⚡ Effective: 2 weeks after 1st dose. Full protection after 2nd dose (6–12 months later).
🛡 Protects for: 1st dose ~1 yr. 2nd dose: lifetime.
Recommended
Typhoid
Contaminated food and water.
💉 1 dose
📅 Book at least 3 weeks before travel
⚡ Effective: 2 weeks after vaccination.
🛡 Protects for: 3–5 years. Booster recommended if re-exposure.
Recommended
Disease risks
  • ⚠Malaria (northern Botswana — Okavango Delta, Chobe — seasonal)
  • ⚠Schistosomiasis (Okavango)
Approximate cost per person
Required vaccines
~€74
(~$81)
per person · full courses
Yellow Fever (1 dose)€74 ($81)
Recommended vaccines
~€249
(~$271)
per person · full courses
Hepatitis A (2 doses)€140 ($152)
Typhoid (1 dose)€45 ($49)
Malaria tablets (4 weeks) (1 dose)€64 ($70)

💡 Approximate figures based on private European travel clinic rates (April 2026). Actual costs vary by clinic and country. Not all recommended vaccines will apply to every trip — discuss your specific itinerary with a travel health clinic.

Often combined with
South AfricaMozambiqueZimbabweZambia
Common questions
Do I need malaria tablets for the Okavango Delta?
Yes. The Okavango Delta, along with Chobe National Park and the broader northern Botswana safari region, carries malaria risk, particularly during and after the rainy season (roughly November to June). Antimalarial medication is recommended for any safari itinerary in this region.
Is Gaborone malaria-free?
Yes. Gaborone and the southern and central parts of Botswana, including much of the Kalahari, carry no malaria risk. This is the key contrast with the northern safari regions (Okavango, Chobe), which do carry risk — many Botswana itineraries combine both zones.
What vaccines are needed for Botswana?
Yellow Fever proof is required if arriving from an endemic country. Hepatitis A and Typhoid are recommended generally. Malaria prophylaxis is needed specifically for northern safari areas (Okavango Delta, Chobe) but not for Gaborone or the south — see the relevant questions for this distinction.
Is water safe to drink in Botswana?
Tap water in Gaborone and major towns is generally treated and safe. At remote safari lodges in the north, water is typically filtered or bottled and provided by the lodge — check with your specific accommodation, but this is rarely a major concern given how safari camps are run.