Zambia Vaccinations & Health Rules for Brazilians 2026

Quick answer: Brazilian citizens travelling to Zambia should plan to carry proof of yellow fever vaccination because Zambia requires a certificate for travellers aged 1 year or older arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk, and Brazil is listed among those countries by travel-health references. The same rule applies after more than 12 hours in transit at an airport in a yellow-fever-risk country.

Yellow fever vaccination is generally not recommended solely because you are visiting Zambia, including the North-Western and Western provinces, although a clinician may consider it for certain higher-exposure itineraries. Routine vaccinations should be up to date, and a travel-health consultation should cover hepatitis A, typhoid, malaria prevention, rabies exposure and your personal medical conditions.

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

At a glance: required and recommended vaccines for Zambia

Vaccine or protection	What Brazilian travellers need to know
Yellow fever	Entry certificate required for travellers aged 1 year or older arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk, including Brazil, or after a qualifying transit.
Routine vaccinations	Be up to date with vaccinations recommended by your healthcare provider and destination guidance.
Hepatitis A	Discuss with a travel-health clinician; CDC destination guidance includes hepatitis A vaccination advice for Zambia.
Typhoid	Discuss based on your food-and-water exposure, itinerary and health history; the CDC Zambia page includes typhoid information.
Rabies	Ask whether pre-travel vaccination is appropriate if you may handle animals, spend extended time in remote areas or have limited access to post-exposure care.
Malaria	Malaria occurs in Zambia. Discuss prescription prevention and mosquito precautions before departure.

Vaccines listed as recommended are not the same as entry requirements. For a safari itinerary, the decision depends on your route, season, activities, accommodation, age, pregnancy status, immune system and existing medical conditions. Compare safari packages on SafariFind only after checking that the proposed route and transit airports have been reviewed by your clinician.

Yellow fever certificate rules for Brazilian travellers

Is yellow fever vaccination required from Brazil to Zambia?

Yes, travellers aged 1 year or older arriving in Zambia from Brazil should expect to show a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Zambia’s published entry information describes the requirement as applying to travellers entering from a yellow-fever-endemic country, while CDC guidance states that proof is required for travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever virus transmission.

Brazil is identified in the available travel-health country lists as a country with yellow fever transmission risk. Because entry officials apply the rule according to travel history and route, not simply nationality, a Brazilian citizen who has recently travelled through another country should check the complete itinerary as well.

Do airport transits count?

They can. Zambia’s rule covers travellers aged 1 year or older who have transited for more than 12 hours through an airport in a country with yellow fever transmission risk. A connection that appears short on the ticket can become relevant if there is an overnight stay, a schedule change or a long airport transit, so retain every flight detail when checking the requirement.

The CDC guidance describes the trigger as a transit or layover exceeding 12 hours in a risk country. It also states that direct travel from the United States does not trigger the certificate requirement, but that exception does not describe a Brazil-to-Zambia route.

How long is the certificate valid?

The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis is considered valid for the life of the vaccinated person under the International Health Regulations, and the CDC states that a yellow fever booster requirement was eliminated in 2016.

There is a separate timing issue for a first vaccination: a non-government travel-health source states that the certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination. Because the available sources differ in authority and the CDC excerpt confirms lifetime validity rather than the initial waiting period, do not leave the vaccination until the last moment; confirm the current operational rule with an authorised Brazilian vaccination service and the official Zambian immigration or health authority.

Carry the original certificate with your passport rather than relying only on a phone image. The available research does not establish a current replacement, processing or certificate fee, so confirm those details with the official Brazilian vaccination provider before travelling.

Recommended vaccinations and timing

Routine vaccinations

Start with your normal vaccination record. The U.S. Department of State’s Zambia information advises travellers to be up to date with vaccinations recommended by the CDC, and the Zambia health information lists diseases including measles, rabies, malaria, typhoid, tuberculosis, yellow fever, Zika, meningococcal meningitis and dengue as present in the country.

This does not mean that every traveller needs a separate vaccine for every disease listed. Instead, take your Brazilian vaccination record to a travel-health consultation so the clinician can identify routine doses, boosters and itinerary-specific protection. The research does not provide a universal Zambia vaccination schedule, minimum appointment lead time or current vaccine prices.

Hepatitis A and typhoid

CDC destination guidance includes hepatitis A and typhoid information for Zambia. Discuss hepatitis A vaccination and typhoid vaccination according to your accommodation, planned meals, length of stay and access to medical care. These vaccines do not replace safe food and water practices.

Infants aged 6 to 11 months should receive specific medical advice about hepatitis A before travel; the CDC notes that an early dose in this age group does not count toward the routine two-dose series. The same CDC material says that immune globulin may be considered in certain situations, including vaccine-component allergy or imminent departure for higher-risk travellers with particular medical conditions.

Rabies and other itinerary-specific vaccines

Rabies is among the health risks identified in the Zambia country information. Pre-travel rabies vaccination may be worth discussing if your safari involves close contact with wildlife or domestic animals, remote walking routes or limited access to post-exposure treatment. Avoid touching animals even if vaccinated, and seek medical advice promptly after a bite, scratch or saliva exposure.

Do not treat a safari lodge, walking safari or wildlife-viewing activity as automatically requiring a particular vaccine. The correct recommendation depends on the activity and medical profile. Travellers planning a walking route can also review the practical itinerary advice in Zambia’s best walking safari routes for first-timers, then discuss the exposure details with a clinician.

Malaria in Zambia: risk areas, prophylaxis and prevention

Malaria is present in Zambia, and the U.S. Department of State lists it among diseases found in the country. Many safari itineraries involve wildlife areas rather than only major cities, so ask a travel-health professional to assess your complete route instead of assuming that a short stay removes the risk.

There is no single malaria prescription suitable for everyone. The choice depends on destination, travel dates, age, pregnancy or breastfeeding, kidney and liver conditions, mental-health history, medication interactions and the length of the trip. The available research identifies commonly used prevention options in travel-health guidance but does not provide a universally correct medicine or dose for every Brazilian traveller.

Ask when to start, how to take and how long to continue any prescribed prophylaxis. Do not use another traveller’s medication or rely on a pharmacy recommendation without checking contraindications. A travel clinician should also explain what to do if fever develops during the trip or after returning home, because malaria can require urgent assessment.

• Use insect repellent and follow the product instructions.
• Wear clothing that reduces exposed skin, particularly during periods of mosquito activity.
• Use screened rooms or a mosquito net where appropriate.
• Seek medical help for fever or flu-like illness during or after travel and mention your Zambia travel history.

Malaria prevention should be considered alongside, not instead of, mosquito-bite avoidance. The CDC guidance also notes that yellow fever vaccination is generally not recommended for Zambia’s low-exposure areas, but individual vaccination decisions can differ where prolonged travel, heavy mosquito exposure or an inability to avoid bites increases risk.

Health documents and travel insurance

Keep your passport, yellow fever certificate, vaccination record, prescriptions and travel-insurance documents together but carry copies separately. The yellow fever certificate is the principal vaccination-related entry document identified in the research for a Brazil-to-Zambia journey.

Travel insurance should be checked for medical treatment, hospital care, evacuation and pre-existing conditions before departure. The available Zambia information warns that medical facilities and supplies are not consistent throughout the country and that shortages of medicines and medical supplies occur.

Major centres are more likely to offer broader care than remote safari areas, but the research does not establish a current list of facilities, treatment prices or evacuation response times. Ask your insurer how to contact its assistance service from Zambia and whether your chosen lodge or operator has an evacuation procedure.

Health documents are separate from immigration documents. Brazilian passport holders should check the current entry process in the dedicated Zambia visa guide for Brazilian citizens before departure, because a visa or immigration approval is not a substitute for a yellow fever certificate where the health rule applies.

Medication rules and what to pack

Carry prescription medicines in their original packaging with the prescription or doctor’s letter. The U.S. Department of State specifically advises travellers to carry prescription medication in original packaging and bring the doctor’s prescription.

Pack enough regular medication for the whole journey and allow for delays, because the available country information reports shortages of medicines and medical supplies in Zambia. Do not assume that a remote lodge, small clinic or local pharmacy will stock your exact medicine.

• Original prescription medicines and a copy of each prescription.
• Your yellow fever certificate and vaccination record.
• Any malaria medicine prescribed for your itinerary.
• Insect repellent and suitable covering clothing.
• Basic personal first-aid supplies and hand-cleaning supplies.
• Travel-insurance assistance details and emergency contacts.

The research does not identify a general prohibition or current quantity limit for ordinary prescription medicines brought by travellers. For controlled drugs, injectable medicines, unusual quantities or medicines requiring refrigeration, confirm the rule with the Zambian diplomatic mission, official immigration authority and your airline before flying rather than relying on a general packing list.

Food, water and everyday health precautions

The U.S. country information states that tap water is not potable and advises caution with bottled drinks, ice, restaurants and hotels that may serve tap water unless bottled water is specifically requested. It also advises washing raw fruit and vegetables in an appropriate disinfecting solution before eating.

For a safari, ask accommodation staff which water is safe for drinking, brushing teeth and making ice. Choose sealed bottled water or another confirmed safe source, and be cautious with uncooked food if you cannot verify how it was washed. These measures reduce exposure but cannot eliminate every food- and water-borne illness risk.

Sun, heat, dehydration, injuries and insect bites are practical concerns on game drives and walking activities. Build rest and hydration into your plan, use sun protection and follow your guide’s instructions around wildlife. The research supports mosquito precautions and safe-water advice, but it does not provide a Zambia-specific heat protocol or emergency response time.

Health facilities and emergencies in Zambia

Medical care is more limited outside major population centres, and the available State Department information reports shortages of medicines and medical supplies. Travellers staying in remote safari areas should understand how the operator contacts medical assistance and how evacuation would be arranged before arrival.

Ask your lodge or safari company for its nearest clinic and hospital information, the process for contacting its emergency team and the insurer’s assistance number. Keep your medical history, allergies, blood group if known, prescriptions and emergency contact details accessible. The research does not provide a single nationwide emergency number or guarantee a particular standard of care, so obtain location-specific information from your accommodation.

For planning context, you can compare Zambia safari lodges by budget and review the month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Zambia. Your health plan should then be matched to the actual provinces, activities, accommodation and transit points on your booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Brazilian citizens need a yellow fever certificate for Zambia?

Yes, Brazilian travellers aged 1 year or older should expect to show a yellow fever certificate when arriving in Zambia from Brazil. Zambia applies the rule to arrivals from countries with yellow fever transmission risk, and Brazil is included in the available risk-country lists.

Does a transit through another country trigger Zambia’s yellow fever rule?

Yes, a transit of more than 12 hours through an airport in a yellow-fever-risk country can trigger the certificate requirement for travellers aged 1 year or older. Check every airport on your itinerary before departure.

Is yellow fever vaccination recommended for Zambia itself?

Yellow fever vaccination is generally not recommended solely for travel to Zambia, including the North-Western and Western provinces. A clinician may consider it for travellers with prolonged travel, heavy mosquito exposure or difficulty avoiding bites, and the entry certificate rule is a separate issue.

How long is a Zambia yellow fever certificate valid?

The CDC states that a completed International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis is valid for the life of the vaccinated person. A separate travel-health source says the initial certificate becomes valid 10 days after vaccination, so confirm the timing with an authorised vaccination provider before travel.

What vaccines are recommended for a Zambia safari from Brazil?

Review routine vaccinations, hepatitis A and typhoid advice with a travel-health clinician, and ask about rabies according to your activities and access to care. Malaria prevention is also important, but it involves prescription and mosquito-control decisions rather than a routine travel vaccine.

Do I need malaria tablets for Zambia?

Ask a travel-health clinician whether malaria prophylaxis is appropriate for your exact itinerary; malaria occurs in Zambia. The correct medicine depends on destination, dates, health conditions, pregnancy status and other medicines, so do not self-prescribe.

Is tap water safe to drink in Zambia?

The available U.S. country information says tap water is not potable. Use confirmed safe water, request bottled drinks specifically and take care with ice and raw fruit or vegetables.

Can I take prescription medicine into Zambia?

Carry prescription medicine in its original packaging together with your doctor’s prescription. For controlled medicines, injections, large quantities or medicines needing refrigeration, confirm current requirements with official Zambian authorities before departure.

Do Brazilian citizens need a visa for Zambia?

The available entry reference says Brazilian passport holders may obtain a visa on arrival, use selected Zambian missions or apply online, but travellers should confirm the current rule with official Zambian immigration sources. Visa arrangements are separate from the yellow fever certificate requirement.

Where can I get medical help during a remote Zambia safari?

Ask your lodge or safari operator for the nearest clinic, hospital and evacuation procedure before arrival. Medical facilities and supplies are more limited outside major centres, and shortages have been reported in Zambia.