Zambia
Travel Destination – Zambia
From the wildlife-filled plains of the Zambezi to the thundering Victoria Falls, Zambia is an extraordinary destination for breathtaking beauty. Its diverse cultures and friendly communities make every experience more memorable. Being aware of Zambia's health risks and taking simple precautions can help you enjoy your time in Zambia.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
Before travelling to Zambia, it’s helpful to book in with a travel doctor to help you prepare for a safe and enjoyable trip. They can provide you with a detailed, personalised health plan specific for your itinerary, whether you’ll be exploring national parks on safari, trekking through remote wilderness, or visiting local communities. Your doctor will give health advice relevant to Zambia, and recommend additional immunisations after reviewing your vaccination history. They will ensure you have prescriptions for any necessary medications.
Ideally, six to eight weeks before departure is a good time to schedule your appointment, to allow time for multi-dose vaccines if required. However, a last-minute consultation is still helpful for essential travel health advice and accelerated vaccination schedules.
Insect avoidance
In Zambia, insects can carry many different diseases, so insect avoidance is a crucial form of prevention. Mosquitos can carry Malaria and Dengue, Tsetse flies can carry African Sleeping Sickness, and ticks can carry African Tick Bite Fever. Steps to prevent insect bites include wearing long sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors, and using insect repellant containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon or eucalyptus. Sleep in air-conditioned rooms with screened windows and doors, and if this is unavailable, use a permethrin treated net and permethrin treated gear. You can also limit mosquito breeding by reducing standing water near your accommodation.
Food and water hygiene
Zambia's cuisine involves a combination of vibrant traditional food and modern international food. Before eating, wash your hands or use antiseptic hand gel to help reduce your risk of getting gastroenteritis or other gastrointestinal infections. Avoid raw, undercooked or reheated food, and street food is safest when it has been cooked in front of you. Fruit and vegetables are safer when they can be peeled before consuming, such as bananas and mangos. Drink water that has been boiled, filtered, or bottled, and avoid untreated tap water and ice made from it.
Rabies prevention
Whilst Australia is free of rabies, many dogs and other land animals in Zambia carry rabies. Prevention includes avoiding animals, and can also involve vaccines prior to travel. It is best to discuss with your travel doctor whether vaccines are recommended before your trip, especially if you are going to high risk areas, working with animals, or travelling rurally, as rabies vaccines may only be available in more suburban areas. If you are bitten while in Zambia, seek immediate medical attention to prevent developing rabies, which is almost one hundred percent fatal once symptoms have developed.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for Zambia?
Hepatitis A
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Hepatitis A is an acute viral infection of the liver that is spread by contaminated food and water. Symptoms can range from fever, tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite and abdominal pain, to dark urine, pale faeces and yellow skin. The infection can occasionally be life-threatening. Hepatitis A is more prevalent in Zambia compared to Australia, and many Australians are not routinely immunised. For travellers who have not completed a two-dose course of Hepatitis A vaccination, immunisation prior to travel is strongly recommended, particularly those visiting rural areas, eating street food, or planning a homestay.
Typhoid
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Typhoid is a bacterial infection that is contracted by ingesting contaminated food and water. Caused by Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi, Typhoid’s symptoms include high fevers, headaches, fatigue, abdominal pain and sometimes gastrointestinal upset. The Typhoid vaccine provides three years of protection, which your doctor may recommend, especially for longer or rural stays or if you’re at risk for other reasons.
Hepatitis B
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Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver. It can be spread through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids, such as unprotected sex, unsterile tattooing or piercing, or sharing personal items like razors. While many younger Australians were vaccinated in childhood, many adults remain unprotected. Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for travellers to Zambia who have not been vaccinated yet and are staying for longer periods. Your travel doctor will review your immunisation history and itinerary to determine whether the vaccine is advised before travelling.
Rabies
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Whilst Australia is free of rabies, many dogs and other land animals in Zambia can carry rabies. Prevention includes avoiding animals, and can also involve vaccines prior to travel. It is best to discuss with your travel doctor whether vaccines are recommended before your trip, especially if you are going to high risk areas, working with animals, or travelling rurally, as rabies vaccines may only be available in more suburban areas. If you are bitten while in Zambia, seek immediate medical attention to prevent developing rabies, which is almost one hundred percent fatal once symptoms have developed.
Yellow Fever
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Yellow fever is a virus carried by mosquitoes, causing fever, headaches and muscle pain. It is called Yellow Fever because the skin can turn yellow, and more severe complications like kidney and liver failure can arise, with a fatality rate of 30-60% for severe cases. It is best to discuss with your travel doctor whether a vaccination for Yellow Fever is recommended as it depends on the travel locations.
Cholera
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Cholera is a bacteria that is spread through contaminated food and water. It can cause sudden, severe diarrhoea and dehydration. Outbreaks occur in some parts of Zambia, particularly where sanitation is limited. The cholera vaccine is recommended only for certain travellers, such as those visiting outbreak areas and those working in healthcare or humanitarian roles. Your travel doctor can determine whether vaccination is recommended based on your itinerary.
Mpox
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Mpox (formerly called monkeypox) is a viral infection that is spread through close contact with infected people or animals, including body fluids, sores, or contaminated materials. Symptoms typically include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Mpox is rare in Zambia, but vaccination or preventive measures may be advised for travellers at higher risk. A travel doctor can provide personalised advice based on your plans.
Routine vaccinations
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Thanks to Australia’s comprehensive immunisation program, infections like measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus are now uncommon in Australia. However, in countries such as Zambia, these vaccine-preventable diseases circulate more widely, increasing the risk of exposure for travellers. Before travelling, it’s important to review your routine vaccinations and identify the need for additional vaccines or boosters such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus, influenza, and COVID-19.
Zambia
Other health risks in Zambia
Malaria
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Malaria is a disease caused by parasites that can be transmitted by mosquitoes. Malaria infects the liver and red blood cells, causing high fevers, fatigue, muscle aches and anaemia. Malaria can also infect the brain, and can be life-threatening. Anti-malarial tablets are recommended when travelling to Zambia, and it’s to discuss which type of tablets to take with your travel doctor. Depending on the medication you may be advised to take it before, during and after your trip. Prevention also includes avoiding mosquitoes, particularly at night.
Dengue
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Dengue fever is a viral illness spread by Aedes mosquitoes, causing fever, fatigue, body aches, and rashes. Most people recover in one to two weeks, but repeat infections can lead to severe dengue with bleeding and dangerously low blood pressure. In Zambia, dengue-carrying mosquitoes are more common in urban areas and bite mainly during the day. Prevention focuses on avoiding mosquito bites and eliminating breeding sites.
Rabies
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Whilst Australia is free of Rabies, many dogs and other land animals in Zambia carry rabies. Prevention includes avoiding animals, and can also involve vaccines prior to travel. It is best to discuss with your travel doctor whether vaccines are recommended before your trip, especially if you are going to high risk areas, working with animals, or travelling rurally, as rabies vaccines may only be available in more suburban areas. If you are bitten while in Zambia, seek immediate medical attention to prevent developing rabies, which is almost one hundred percent fatal once symptoms have developed.
Gastroenteritis
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Gastroenteritis, often called travellers’ diarrhoea, is commonly caused by bacteria from contaminated food or unsafe water in Zambia. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach cramps usually appear within 24–72 hours. Common bacteria causing gastroenteritis include campylobacter, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and salmonella.
The main treatment is staying well-hydrated with oral rehydration solutions. Antibiotics are used only for severe or prolonged cases or for people at higher risk of complications. Most infections clear within one to three days, but seek medical care if symptoms worsen, last longer than expected, or if you cannot keep up with fluid loss. Prevention includes good hand hygiene and avoiding high-risk foods and drinks.
Non-infectious conditions
Deep vein thrombosis
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When travelling to Zambia, there are a variety of ways to reduce your risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition where slow blood flow leads to blood clots in the veins. Activities that can slow blood flow in the legs include long distance air, road, or rail travel. To reduce your risk during long trips, stand up and move regularly, stretch your legs, and stay well hydrated. Travellers with risk factors may benefit from below-knee compression stockings. DVT is typically treated with blood-thinning medications.
Safety on the roads and elsewhere
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Travelling in Zambia offers exciting wildlife experiences and scenic landscapes, but preparation is key for a safe trip. If you’ll be using a motorbike, common in both urban and rural areas, make sure you’re confident riding, understand Zambia’s road rules, and always wear a quality helmet. Choose reliable road transport with functioning seatbelts, especially on long-distance routes. For hikes in national parks or natural reserves, wear comfortable, broken-in boots, use sunscreen and insect repellent, pack light, and avoid routes beyond your fitness level. Whatever your itinerary involves, having travel insurance that covers medical treatment and emergency evacuation is strongly recommended.