Africa Health Information for Travelers to Southern Africa Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, St. Helena, Swaziland, Zimbabwe Food and waterborne diseases are the number one cause of illness in travelers. Travelers' diarrhea can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, which are found throughout Southern Africa and can contaminate food or water. Make sure your food and drinking water are safe.
Malaria is a preventable infection that can be fatal if left untreated.
Most travelers to Southern Africa should take mefloquine to prevent malaria. Risk for malaria exists all year in the northern part of Botswana, rural areas of South Africa, all nonmountainous areas of Swaziland, and all areas of Zimbabwe except the cities of Harare and Bulawayo. There is no reported risk for travelers visiting Lesotho and St. Helena. A certificate of yellow fever vaccination may be required for entry into certain of these countries if you are coming from a country in tropical South America or subSaharan Africa. Schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection, is found in fresh water in this region.