Commentary by Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD, with Nikos Pocock, Founder and Managing Director of Africa Calling Safaris
Most health problems on safari are predictable and preventable. Malaria remains the most serious: in 2024 the World Health Organization estimated 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths worldwide, about 95% of them in the WHO African Region (WHO, 2025).
In a new weekly series with Africa Calling Safaris, a Nairobi company guiding safaris since 1995, the Georgian Medical Journal answers the questions travellers ask before visiting Kenya, Tanzania and the wider region. Each answer pairs the medical evidence with a guide’s field experience.
The first article covers seven topics: vaccinations and yellow fever certificates, malaria prevention, food and water safety, sun protection, altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) and Mount Kenya (5,199 m), travel with diabetes or heart and lung conditions, and insurance, including Tanzania’s mandatory USD 44 inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors since 1 October 2026. It includes a pre-travel checklist and 15 references.
The key message: seek travel health advice at least 4–6 weeks before departure, and treat any fever within 12 months of return from a malaria-risk country as a medical emergency.
Read the full article on Safari News by Africa Calling Safaris →
This commentary provides general information and is not a substitute for individual medical advice.
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Editorial standards. This article was produced under the GMJ News editorial process, with oversight by the GMJ Editorial Board. Our editorial process. Spotted an error? Contact the editorial team.