The best choice of vaccines for your trip depends on many individual factors, including your precise travel plans and your own history of vaccinations. Vaccines commonly recommended for travelers to Africa include those against:

Tetanus
Diphtheria
Polio
Typhoid
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Yellow fever
Rabies
Meningitis

Several of these vaccines require more than one dose, or take time to become effective. Vaccine shortages also occur from time to time - particularly with yellow fever. So it is always best to seek advice on immunization well in advance, if possible around 6 weeks before departure.

We carry everything that one might need to address any kind of health issue yet many people like to travel with a small medical kit that includes basic remedies, such as antacids, painkillers, anti-histamines and cold remedies. Anti-diarrhoeal medication such as Imodium (adults only); and oral rehydration sachets such as Electrolade or Gatorade, especially if travelling with children. People also include first aid items such as Band-Aids, antiseptic and dressings. It may be worth asking your doctor to prescribe a broad spectrum antibiotic, suitable for treating dysentery or severe infections. Take along scissors, tweezers, lip salve, sun block, as well as your preferred brands of toiletries and cosmetics.

Malaria is a disease spread by the anopholes mosquitoe that bites mainly at dusk and at night: every traveler to Africa needs reliable, up to date advice on the risks at his or her own destination. Prevention consists of using effective protection against bites (see below), plus taking anti-malarial medication.

The most suitable choice of medication depends on many individual factors, and travelers need careful, professional advice about the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

An excellent source of information regarding Malaria can be found at the CDC's website below:

CDC Information on Malaria

Lariam: Widely-used; side-effects have received much media attention (ranging from vivid dreams to more serious neurological reactions); those who should not take this drug include travelers with a previous history of neurological and psychological problems. We discourage use of this drug.

Doxycycline: Possible side-effects include a skin reaction that can be triggered by bright sunlight, as well as an increased risk in women of vaginal thrush.

Malarone: Highly effective, well-tolerated, and with an extremely low rate of side-effects, but more expensive and currently only available on an unlicensed basis from specialist centres.

Chloroquine and Paludrine have little risk of side effects and were previously widely used, but are now only about 50-60 per cent effective in many parts of East, West, and Central Africa, and must be used with caution, if at all. Commercial import to neighboring Tanzania has even been stopped.

Whatever your choice, you must take an anti malarial drug if you are visiting a malarial region, and you must continue taking the drug for the necessary period after your return; you must also take precautions to reduce the number of insect bites (see below).

Visitors to malarial areas are at much greater risk than local people and long term expatriates - from malaria as from several other diseases: do not change or discontinue your malaria medication other than on skilled professional advice.

Travelers to very remote places should also consider taking stand-by malaria treatment, for use in an emergency.

While you are in mosquito teritory (which is really not that often in Kenya) careful precautions reduce the risk of insect-borne disease by a factor of ten. Use an insect repellent containing DEET on your clothing and something a bit less caustic on your skin.

During the initial phase of your visit, keep cool and stay in the shade, especially during the hottest parts of the day. Thirst is a poor guide to how much fluid you need: it is essential to drink plenty of fluids (not alcohol, coffee, or strong tea, which are diuretics and cause increased water loss). The best guide is that your body should always produce plenty of pale urine. Use plenty of high factor sunscreen, wear a hat and shady clothing, and avoid exposure to direct sunlight - especially during the hottest part of the day.