What Vaccinations and Health Rules Apply in Eswatini for New Zealanders in 2026?

Quick answer: New Zealander citizens travelling to Eswatini should be up to date with routine vaccinations and arrange a personalised travel-health consultation. Typhoid vaccination is recommended for most travellers, while rabies vaccination may be considered according to activities and access to post-exposure treatment.

Eswatini has no yellow fever transmission risk, and yellow fever vaccination is not recommended for travel there. However, Eswatini requires proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers aged 9 months or older arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk, including travellers who have transited for more than 12 hours through an airport in such a country. This guide covers the main vaccinations and health rules for New Zealander citizens travelling in 2026.

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

This is general information, not medical or legal advice. Requirements and health recommendations can change, and your itinerary, age, medical history, pregnancy status and planned activities can affect the advice you receive.

Vaccinations for Eswatini: required versus recommended

The table below separates Eswatini's border requirement from vaccines that a healthcare professional may recommend for personal protection.

Vaccine or protection	Eswatini requirement or recommendation	What New Zealand travellers should do
Yellow fever	Not recommended for Eswatini itself. A certificate is required for travellers aged 9 months or older arriving from a yellow-fever-risk country or after more than 12 hours' transit through an airport in one.	Check every country and airport on the itinerary. Carry the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) if the rule applies.
Typhoid	Recommended for most travellers, particularly people staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.	Discuss it with a travel-health clinician, especially for rural travel, longer stays or local food and water exposure.
Rabies	Pre-exposure vaccination depends on activities that increase animal-contact risk and whether prompt access to safe post-exposure treatment may be difficult.	Ask about vaccination before travel if you will be around animals, travelling remotely or taking part in activities with exposure risk.
Routine vaccines	Travellers should ensure routine vaccinations are up to date. Relevant routine vaccines may include measles, mumps and rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella, influenza and others.	Review your New Zealand immunisation history with a healthcare provider before departure.

There is no single vaccine list that applies identically to every New Zealander. A travel-health provider should assess your route, accommodation, safari activities, length of stay and medical history. If you are also planning a health-rule comparison for another nationality, remember that yellow fever entry requirements are itinerary-based rather than determined only by the traveller's passport.

Yellow fever certificate rules for New Zealanders

Direct travel from New Zealand

For a journey that begins in New Zealand and does not include a qualifying transit through a yellow-fever-risk country, the stated Eswatini certificate trigger generally does not apply. The WHO country list records no yellow fever vaccination requirement for New Zealand, while Eswatini's rule applies to arrivals from countries with yellow fever transmission risk. Confirm the current position with the official authorities and your airline before departure because airline staff may check documents during transit.

When a certificate is required

Eswatini requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for travellers aged 9 months or older arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. The requirement also applies after transit of more than 12 hours through an airport in a risk country. The full itinerary matters, not only the final flight into Eswatini. Review stopovers, overnight airport stays and any change of airport that could involve immigration or an airport exit.

The required document is an ICVP showing yellow fever vaccination or a medical waiver where applicable. The CDC states that a completed ICVP is valid for the life of the vaccinated person under the International Health Regulations, so a booster should not be assumed to be necessary solely because an older certificate is more than 10 years old. Keep the certificate with your passport and verify that the details match your travel documents.

Medical exemptions

If yellow fever vaccination is medically unsuitable, discuss the situation with a qualified travel-health clinician before travel. The CDC notes that travellers must meet entry requirements by presenting an ICVP with vaccination evidence or an indication of a medical waiver. A waiver may not remove all practical problems at borders, so obtain professional advice well before departure and confirm acceptance with the relevant official authority.

Recommended vaccinations and travel-health timing

Start your preparation at least 8 weeks before your trip where possible. The UK government advises travellers to check vaccine recommendations and health risks at least 8 weeks before travelling. Earlier planning is useful if you need several appointments, a medical assessment, a prescription or documentation for a complex itinerary.

Routine vaccinations

First check that routine immunisations are current. Canada’s official travel advice identifies measles, mumps and rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella, seasonal influenza and other routine vaccines as relevant to travel preparation. Your clinician can compare your records with the current New Zealand schedule and decide whether any catch-up vaccination is appropriate.

Typhoid

The CDC recommends typhoid vaccination for most travellers to Eswatini, particularly those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas. This is especially relevant to a safari itinerary that includes rural communities or locations away from major tourist facilities. Vaccination does not replace careful food and water choices, so ask your clinician for advice suited to your route.

Rabies

Rabies pre-exposure vaccination is an individual decision. The CDC says the assessment should consider whether your work or recreation increases the chance of contact with potentially rabid animals and whether you might have difficulty obtaining prompt access to safe post-exposure prophylaxis. Discuss vaccination before departure if your plans include walking activities, animal handling, remote camps or extended rural travel.

For specialist planning, compare your medical advice with the itinerary. For example, a walking safari in Eswatini may involve different exposure considerations from a vehicle-based game drive. Travellers can also compare safari packages on SafariFind once their health planning and documentation are in order.

Malaria in Eswatini: risk areas, medication and prevention

Malaria risk is concentrated in Eswatini’s lowveld. WHO records a year-round risk due predominantly to Plasmodium falciparum in all lowveld areas, mainly Big Bend, Mhlume, Simunye and Tshaneni; the risk is highest from November through May.

The malaria decision depends on where you will travel, the season, the length of the visit, your accommodation and your health circumstances. Ask a New Zealand doctor or travel-health clinic whether preventive medication is appropriate for your itinerary. Do not select, start or stop an antimalarial medicine without professional advice, particularly if you are pregnant, have a chronic condition or take regular medicines.

Mosquito-bite avoidance is also part of safari health planning. Ask your clinician for practical advice on clothing, repellent, accommodation and night-time protection appropriate to your trip. If you develop a fever during or after travel, tell the healthcare provider that you have visited a malaria-risk area and explain when you travelled. The malaria risk and seasonal information above comes from the WHO country information.

Health documents and travel insurance

Carry the health documents relevant to your itinerary in an accessible place. These may include your ICVP if a yellow fever certificate is required, prescriptions, a medication list and information about significant medical conditions. The ICVP is the document used to show yellow fever vaccination evidence or a medical waiver when an entry requirement applies.

Arrange comprehensive travel insurance before departure. UK government advice states that travellers should check that their destination can provide the healthcare they may need and have appropriate insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation. It specifically advises adequate cover and accessible funds for medical evacuation to South Africa because serious accidents, emergencies or specialised treatment may require care there.

Check whether your policy covers safari activities, walking, remote locations, pre-existing conditions, medical evacuation and repatriation. Keep the insurer’s emergency number and policy details available offline. These are insurance-planning recommendations rather than a substitute for reading the policy wording.

Medication rules and what to pack

Medication rules can differ between countries. The UK government warns that the legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or purchased in the UK may be different in another country, and directs travellers to best-practice guidance for travelling with medicines. New Zealand travellers should therefore check the rules for every medicine they plan to carry before departure.

Ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether you need supporting documentation, and confirm requirements with the relevant Eswatini authority or diplomatic mission. Keep enough essential medication for the planned trip and allow for delays, but confirm the lawful quantity and documentation before packing. The research does not establish a universal Eswatini fee, processing time or permitted quantity for medicines, so confirm the current rule on the official portal or with the relevant authority.

A practical health kit can be planned with your clinician around your own needs and itinerary. Consider prescription supplies, copies of prescriptions, your travel-health documents, insurance details and any recommended malaria or other medicines. Do not pack an unfamiliar medicine simply because it appears on a generic safari checklist.

Health facilities and emergencies in Eswatini

Healthcare availability is an important part of route planning. The UK government reports that basic healthcare is available in Eswatini but that shortages of common medicines can occur. It also states that serious accidents, emergencies and specialised treatment may require travel to South Africa.

For an ambulance in Eswatini, call 977 or 933 and ask for an ambulance, according to the UK government’s current travel-health information. Contact your travel insurer promptly if you are referred to a medical facility, and keep accessible funds or proof of cover if a provider requires payment arrangements.

Before booking a remote camp or walking route, consider how quickly you could reach medical care and whether your insurance covers evacuation. This is particularly relevant for safaris outside the main centres and for trips combining Eswatini with destinations such as Kruger National Park. You can also review SafariFind’s Eswatini rhino safari guide when matching park activities to your health preparation.

New Zealand traveller health checklist

• Book a travel-health consultation at least 8 weeks before departure where possible.
• Check routine vaccinations and discuss typhoid and rabies according to your itinerary.
• Map every transit airport and check whether any stop is in a yellow-fever-risk country.
• Carry an ICVP if the yellow fever certificate rule applies; certificates are valid for life under the International Health Regulations.
• Discuss malaria prevention for lowveld travel, especially between November and May.
• Check medicine-import rules and carry documentation recommended by your prescriber.
• Buy insurance that includes medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation where needed.
• Save Eswatini emergency ambulance numbers 977 and 933.

For immigration rather than health information, read whether Eswatini requires a visa for New Zealanders in 2026. Visa rules and vaccination rules are separate checks, and both should be confirmed before departure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do New Zealander citizens need a yellow fever vaccine for Eswatini?

Usually not when travelling directly from New Zealand without a qualifying transit. Yellow fever vaccination is not recommended for Eswatini itself, but a certificate is required for travellers aged 9 months or older arriving from a yellow-fever-risk country or transiting for more than 12 hours through one.

Do New Zealanders need a yellow fever certificate when transiting through South Africa?

It depends on the airport, route and transit duration. Eswatini requires a certificate after more than 12 hours' transit through an airport in a country with yellow fever transmission risk, so check the complete itinerary with official authorities before travelling.

Is the yellow fever certificate valid for life?

Yes, a completed ICVP is considered valid for the life of the vaccinated person under the International Health Regulations. Eswatini’s entry rules and your itinerary should still be checked before each trip.

What vaccines are recommended for a safari in Eswatini?

Routine vaccinations should be up to date, and the CDC recommends typhoid vaccination for most travellers to Eswatini. Rabies vaccination may be considered if your activities increase animal-contact risk or access to prompt post-exposure treatment may be difficult.

Is malaria a risk in Eswatini?

Yes, malaria risk exists throughout the year in Eswatini’s lowveld areas, including Big Bend, Mhlume, Simunye and Tshaneni, with the highest risk from November through May. Ask a travel-health clinician whether preventive medication and bite-avoidance measures are appropriate for your itinerary.

How far in advance should New Zealanders arrange travel vaccinations for Eswatini?

Start at least 8 weeks before travel where possible. This allows time to review routine vaccinations, discuss typhoid or rabies, plan malaria prevention and resolve any yellow fever documentation issue.

What health documents should I take to Eswatini?

Take your ICVP if your itinerary triggers Eswatini’s yellow fever requirement, along with relevant prescriptions, medical information and travel-insurance details. Confirm medicine documentation and entry requirements before departure.

Does travel insurance cover medical evacuation from Eswatini?

Only if the policy provides that cover and its conditions are met. UK government advice highlights the need for insurance and accessible funds for treatment, medical evacuation to South Africa and repatriation where necessary.

What is the emergency ambulance number in Eswatini?

The emergency ambulance numbers listed by the UK government are 977 and 933. Contact your insurer promptly if you are referred to a medical facility.

Do New Zealander citizens need a visa for Eswatini?

Visa eligibility is separate from vaccination and health rules, so check the current immigration requirement for your passport and itinerary. SafariFind provides a dedicated guide on whether Eswatini needs a visa for New Zealanders in 2026.