Malaria Area
You have in South Africa the unique opportunity to see animals in their natural habitat and not experience discomfort and anxiety about catching malaria. We recommend this kind of safari for those who are traveling with children, the elderly, pregnant women, and anyone who does not want to take anti-malarial drugs for one reason or another. In South Africa, there are four areas that can offer a safari for you and your family in a completely safe malaria-free area. These regions include the Garden Route, Eastern Province of South Africa, the Kalahari Desert and the Waterberg region of South Africa’s Northern Province. Kruger Park is also relatively safe in the months of July and August when the temperatures can drop to zero degrees at night.
With respect to the neighboring countries, malaria is present in the following areas:
Mozambique and Zambia have high malaria transmission throughout the country. Mozambique would be especially considered a high transmission area for malaria at this time of the year. The majority of malaria cases treated in South Africa have a history of travel to Mozambique so preventative measures should include both preventions of mosquito bites and preventative medication.
Zimbabwe, including the Victoria Falls, is a high transmission area except for Bulawayo, Harare and Gweru and their immediate surrounds.
Malawi and the area around Lake Malawi are high transmission areas.
Botswana has transmission in the central and northwest districts including the Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta but there is no malaria transmission in any of the major cities in Botswana.
In Namibia, malaria is present in the regions of Kavango (East and West), Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi and there is no malaria transmission in Windhoek.
Malaria control in Swaziland has resulted in a major decrease in local cases and there are very limited foci of malaria transmission in the Lowveld area in the east of the country bordering Mozambique.
