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African Safaris and Tours
Malaria in Uganda
Antimalarials, Bite Prevention and When to See a Doctor
Malaria is a high risk throughout Uganda, and no part of a safari here sits outside it: the gorilla forests of Bwindi and Mgahinga, the Kazinga Channel, Murchison Falls, Kampala and Entebbe all fall within the same risk area. UK travel health guidance recommends antimalarial tablets for every visit, backed up by careful bite prevention from dusk until dawn.
This page is a guide only and conditions change. See your doctor, pharmacist or a travel clinic before you go, ideally four to six weeks ahead of departure.
How to Prevent Malaria in Uganda
- Awareness: your risk depends on where you stay, when you travel, how long you're there and the type of accommodation.
- Bite prevention: malaria mosquitoes feed mainly between dusk and dawn, so cover up in the evening, use insect repellent and sleep under a net or in a screened room.
- Chemoprophylaxis: take the antimalarial your doctor prescribes exactly as directed, before, during and after your trip. No tablet is 100% effective on its own.
- Diagnosis: a fever of 38°C or more from a week after arriving, or any malaria-like symptoms within a year of coming home, needs immediate medical attention.
Uganda has an ongoing mpox clade I outbreak and has had recent Ebola outbreaks, the latest of which has been declared over. Check the NaTHNaC Uganda page and FCDO travel advice for current notices before you travel.
For how the disease works and where else in Africa it occurs, see our Malaria in Africa guide. For the yellow fever certificate and other entry rules, see our Uganda travel guide.
Last checked against NaTHNaC (UK National Travel Health Network and Centre) guidance: October 2026. Prepared by Uyaphi Safaris as travel information, not medical advice.
Uganda Malaria Risk Map
Travel To Uganda Now
Uganda Malaria FAQs
Is there malaria in Uganda?
Yes, and it is a high risk throughout the country. UK travel health guidance (NaTHNaC) treats all of Uganda as a single high-risk area, from Kampala and Entebbe to every national park on a safari route. No region is classed as lower risk, so plan as if your whole trip is in a malaria area.
Do I need malaria tablets for Uganda?
Yes, antimalarial tablets are recommended for travel to Uganda. UK guidance lists atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine. Which one suits you is a decision for your doctor or a travel clinic, based on your medical history and itinerary. No tablet is 100% effective, so bite prevention matters just as much.
How do I avoid mosquito bites on safari in Uganda?
Cover up and use repellent from dusk until dawn, when malaria-carrying mosquitoes mainly feed. Wear long sleeves and trousers in the evening, apply insect repellent to exposed skin and sleep under a mosquito net or in a screened room. Dengue mosquitoes in Uganda bite mainly by day, so keep repellent handy then too.
What are the symptoms of malaria, and when can they appear?
The usual first sign is a fever of 38°C or more, often with chills, headache, nausea, vomiting or aching muscles. Symptoms can appear anywhere from eight days to a year after the infected bite. Get medical help immediately and say you've been in Uganda, because malaria can worsen quickly.
Who is at higher risk from malaria in Uganda?
Pregnant women, infants and young children, older travellers and anyone without a working spleen face a higher risk of severe malaria. Children's antimalarial doses are set by body weight and some tablets aren't suitable; doxycycline, for example, isn't given under 12. Families and pregnant travellers should see a travel clinic early.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccine for Uganda?
UK guidance recommends yellow fever vaccination for travellers aged nine months and older, as there is a risk of transmission throughout Uganda. The vaccine is given only at registered yellow fever centres and isn't suitable for everyone, so a health professional will weigh it up with you. Entry certificate rules are on our Uganda travel guide.
When should I see a travel clinic before a Uganda safari?
Ideally four to six weeks before you travel, though a later appointment is still worthwhile. Besides malaria tablets and yellow fever, UK guidance recommends hepatitis A and typhoid vaccines for most travellers to Uganda. The clinic will also check your routine vaccinations, including whether you need a tetanus booster, and any current outbreak notices.
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