What Health Rules Apply in Ethiopia to South Africans 2026

Quick answer: Ethiopia requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for travellers aged 9 months or older arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk, or after more than 12 hours in transit through an airport in such a country. Yellow fever vaccination is generally recommended for travellers aged 9 months or older visiting Ethiopia, except when the itinerary is limited to Afar and Somali provinces.

For South African citizens, the passport nationality alone does not determine the certificate requirement: the complete pre-arrival itinerary matters. Malaria prevention is also important below 2,000 metres, although there is no malaria risk in Addis Ababa according to the Ethiopian Public Health Institute. This article covers health requirements rather than visa rules; for immigration information, see whether South African citizens need an Ethiopia visa in 2026.

Last checked August 2026 — always confirm with official sources before travelling.

Vaccines for Ethiopia: required versus recommended

The following distinction is important. An entry requirement is a border rule that may require documentary proof. A medical recommendation is advice intended to reduce the traveller’s risk, even where immigration officials do not ask for a certificate.

Vaccine or protection	What South African travellers should know
Yellow fever	Certificate required for travellers aged 9 months or older arriving from countries with yellow fever transmission risk, including qualifying airport transits of more than 12 hours.
Yellow fever protection	Generally recommended for travellers aged 9 months or older, except for itineraries limited to Afar and Somali provinces.
Hepatitis A	Recommended for unvaccinated travellers of all ages travelling to Ethiopia.
Routine vaccines	Review age-appropriate routine immunisations with a healthcare professional before departure. South Africa’s DIRCO advises citizens to make timely enquiries about prescribed immunisations and medication for their destination.
Malaria	Use mosquito-bite precautions and discuss chemoprophylaxis for areas at risk. Ethiopia reports malaria below 2,000 metres, with no malaria risk in Addis Ababa.

The final vaccine plan depends on your route, activities, health history, age, pregnancy or breastfeeding status, previous vaccination records and the length of the trip. A travel clinic or doctor can assess those factors; South Africa’s DIRCO specifically advises travellers with existing health challenges to consult a doctor before travel.

Yellow fever certificate rules for South African travellers

Ethiopia’s stated entry rule applies to travellers aged 9 months or older who arrive from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. It also applies when a traveller has transited for more than 12 hours through an airport in a country with that risk. The CDC describes the certificate requirement in the same way and says that a qualifying transit can apply even when the traveller’s journey begins elsewhere.

Accordingly, check every airport on your route from South Africa to Ethiopia. A direct routing and a routing through another African or South American country may produce different documentation requirements. Do not rely only on the departure country shown on your first flight booking: airport transit duration and whether the itinerary passes through a risk country can matter.

South Africa’s embassy guidance lists Ethiopia among countries falling under the yellow fever belt and states that vaccination should be administered at an approved vaccination centre at least 10 days before departure for South Africa. Because the Ethiopian entry rule is based on the traveller’s arrival and transit history, confirm your individual route with an authorised vaccination centre, the airline and the relevant Ethiopian authority before travel.

Carry the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), sometimes called the yellow card, with your passport if vaccination is relevant to your itinerary. The CDC states that travellers must comply with entry requirements by showing an ICVP containing evidence of vaccination or a medical waiver.

If you cannot receive yellow fever vaccine for medical reasons, ask a qualified clinician about the documentation and waiver process before departure. The CDC notes that travellers allergic to a vaccine component may receive immune globulin in certain circumstances, but this is a medical decision and not a substitute for independently checking Ethiopia’s border requirements.

Recommended vaccinations and when to arrange them

Yellow fever

Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travellers aged 9 months or older to Ethiopia, except that it is generally not recommended when travel is limited to Afar or Somali provinces. The recommendation is based on health risk and is separate from whether an entry certificate is demanded for a particular route.

Arrange the consultation early enough to complete any recommended vaccines and obtain the certificate where required. South African embassy guidance says yellow fever vaccination should be given at least 10 days before departure for South Africa because protection takes effect after that period. If your departure is sooner, ask the vaccinating centre what documentation and border consequences may apply rather than assuming that a recently issued certificate will be accepted.

Hepatitis A

The CDC recommends hepatitis A vaccination for unvaccinated travellers of all ages travelling to Ethiopia. Discuss the vaccine with a travel-health professional, particularly if you have never received it or cannot confirm your vaccination history.

Routine immunisations

Check that your routine vaccinations are up to date before travelling. DIRCO advises South African citizens to obtain current information about health risks and prescribed immunisations or medication for the countries they intend to visit. Bring your vaccination records where available, especially if you are arranging a yellow fever certificate or reviewing childhood immunisations.

Other itinerary-dependent vaccines

Additional vaccines may be considered according to your activities, accommodation, season, medical history and destinations within Ethiopia. A clinician may need to distinguish between a city stay in Addis Ababa, a tana lake Ethiopia itinerary, rural travel, trekking in the Simien Mountains or a longer journey through lower-altitude regions. The research supplied for this guide does not establish a universal Ethiopian entry requirement for vaccines other than yellow fever, so do not treat optional or itinerary-based recommendations as mandatory border rules.

Travellers comparing safari packages on SafariFind should share the full itinerary with their travel-health provider, including remote camps, internal flights and border crossings. The route can change the health advice even when the trip is marketed as one Ethiopia holiday.

Malaria in Ethiopia: risk areas and prevention

The Ethiopian Public Health Institute reports malaria risk throughout the year in the country below 2,000 metres, with approximately 60% of cases attributed to Plasmodium falciparum and 40% to Plasmodium vivax. It reports no malaria risk in Addis Ababa and notes resistance of P. vivax to chloroquine.

Altitude and route therefore matter. Addis Ababa is not treated the same as a lower-altitude rural or regional destination. Ask a clinician whether prescription malaria prevention is appropriate for each part of your itinerary, including time spent outside the capital. The choice depends on medical history, other medicines, pregnancy status, contraindications and the precise destination; the supplied official research does not support naming one universal drug or dosage for every South African traveller.

Reduce mosquito exposure

• Use an effective insect repellent and follow its label instructions.
• Wear clothing that reduces exposed skin, especially when mosquitoes are active.
• Use screened accommodation or a mosquito net where appropriate.
• Ask your clinician how to combine bite prevention with any prescribed malaria medicine.

The Ethiopian Public Health Institute identifies malaria prevention in risk areas as a combination of preventive measures and appropriate medical advice. Mosquito precautions also remain relevant for other mosquito-borne infections; vaccination or malaria tablets do not prevent every insect-borne disease.

Health documents and travel insurance

Carry your passport, ICVP if applicable, vaccination records, prescriptions and a written list of regular medicines. The ICVP is particularly important when your itinerary includes a yellow fever risk country or a qualifying long airport transit.

Review travel insurance before departure and check whether it covers medical treatment, emergency assistance, evacuation and pre-existing conditions. The research supplied does not specify an Ethiopian insurance mandate or a minimum cover amount, so confirm policy terms directly with the insurer rather than relying on a generic policy summary.

Keep digital copies of important documents in a secure location, but carry the original certificate when an immigration or health official may request it. If you are travelling onward from Ethiopia, check the next country’s yellow fever rules as well: the CDC notes that countries may impose their own certificate requirements for travellers arriving from countries with yellow fever transmission risk.

Medication rules and what to pack

Pack enough regular medication for the planned trip and carry it in its original labelled packaging. Bring the prescription or a doctor’s letter that identifies the medicine and the prescribed dose. This is practical preparation rather than a statement of Ethiopian import law: the supplied research does not provide a complete list of controlled medicines, quantity limits or required permits for Ethiopia.

Before departure, ask the Ethiopian embassy or another official Ethiopian authority about any medicine that is controlled, injectable, sedating or carried in larger quantities. Do not transfer tablets into unlabelled containers. If you use malaria medication, only take a product prescribed or recommended for you by a qualified healthcare professional.

A useful personal health kit can include personal prescriptions, basic first-aid supplies, insect repellent, sun protection, oral rehydration products and hand-cleaning supplies. Food and water precautions are also sensible: Norway’s public health travel guidance recommends careful hand hygiene and choosing thoroughly cooked food served hot, fruit that you can peel yourself and pasteurised dairy products.

Health facilities and emergencies in Ethiopia

Arrange medical advice before travel rather than waiting until arrival. DIRCO advises South African travellers to make timely enquiries about health risks, consult a doctor when they have a history of health challenges and obtain updates from the South African Department of Health or WHO.

For a serious illness, injury, suspected malaria or yellow fever symptoms, seek medical attention promptly. Bring your insurance details, medication list and relevant vaccination records. The supplied research does not identify a single nationwide emergency number or provide a verified list of hospitals, so confirm local emergency contacts and suitable facilities for each stop with your accommodation, tour operator or insurer before travelling.

Travel outside Addis Ababa can involve different altitude, transport and access conditions. Tell your insurer and itinerary organiser where you will be staying, particularly if your trip includes remote parks, trekking routes or lake and lowland areas. If you develop fever during travel or after returning to South Africa, tell the clinician that you have been in Ethiopia and identify the dates and regions visited.

Final checklist for South African citizens

• Check the full flight itinerary for yellow fever risk-country transits and any layover longer than 12 hours.
• Ask an authorised vaccination centre whether you need yellow fever vaccination and an ICVP for your route.
• Arrange yellow fever vaccination at least 10 days before departure where vaccination is indicated.
• Discuss hepatitis A, routine immunisations and itinerary-based vaccines with a travel-health professional.
• Assess malaria risk by altitude and location; Addis Ababa has no reported malaria risk, while areas below 2,000 metres do.
• Pack prescriptions in labelled packaging and verify rules for controlled medicines with an official Ethiopian authority.
• Carry insurance details, vaccination documents and emergency contacts.

Health rules can change, and airlines or border officials may check documentation against the current itinerary. Verify the latest requirements before departure and again if your route changes.

Last checked August 2026 — always confirm with official sources before travelling. This article is informational content, not legal or medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do South African citizens need a yellow fever certificate for Ethiopia?

They need one if they are aged 9 months or older and arrive from a country with yellow fever transmission risk, or if they transited for more than 12 hours through an airport in such a country. The requirement depends on the complete itinerary, not only the traveller’s nationality.

Is yellow fever vaccination recommended for a trip from South Africa to Ethiopia?

Yes, it is generally recommended for travellers aged 9 months or older visiting Ethiopia, except when the itinerary is limited to Afar and Somali provinces. A recommendation for personal protection is separate from the certificate requirement at the border.

How long before Ethiopia travel should I get the yellow fever vaccine?

South African embassy guidance says yellow fever vaccination should be administered at least 10 days before departure for South Africa. Arrange it early and confirm certificate acceptance with an authorised vaccination centre if departure is sooner.

Does a long airport transit affect Ethiopia’s yellow fever rules?

Yes. Ethiopia’s rule includes travellers who have transited for more than 12 hours through an airport in a country with yellow fever transmission risk. Check every transit point before booking or changing flights.

What vaccines are recommended for Ethiopia besides yellow fever?

The CDC recommends hepatitis A vaccination for unvaccinated travellers of all ages going to Ethiopia. Travellers should also review routine immunisations and itinerary-specific options with a healthcare professional; the exact plan depends on personal and trip factors.

Is malaria a risk in Ethiopia for South African travellers?

Yes, malaria risk exists throughout the year in Ethiopian areas below 2,000 metres, while the Ethiopian Public Health Institute reports no malaria risk in Addis Ababa. Discuss location-specific medication and mosquito-bite prevention with a clinician.

Do I need malaria tablets for Addis Ababa?

The Ethiopian Public Health Institute reports no malaria risk in Addis Ababa. Whether you need medication depends on the rest of your itinerary, so seek medical advice if you will travel outside the capital or to lower-altitude areas.

What should I carry as proof of vaccination in Ethiopia?

Carry the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis when yellow fever documentation applies to your route. Keep it with your passport and verify the current requirement with official authorities and your airline.

Do I need travel insurance for Ethiopia?

The supplied research does not establish a universal Ethiopian travel-insurance mandate or minimum cover amount. Review medical treatment, evacuation, emergency assistance and pre-existing-condition terms directly with your insurer before departure.

What medication can I take to Ethiopia from South Africa?

Carry regular medication in its original labelled packaging with the prescription or a doctor’s letter. The available research does not provide a complete list of Ethiopian controlled-medicine rules, so confirm requirements for controlled or injectable medicines with an official Ethiopian authority before travelling.

Where can South African travellers get health advice before Ethiopia?

Consult a doctor or travel-health clinic and check current information from South Africa’s Department of Health, DIRCO and WHO. Travellers with existing health challenges should consult a doctor before travel.