Hope this is in the right forum-didn't see a health related one. Does anyone know if a yellow fever inoculation certificate is required when traveling between Zambia and Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls? The travel medicine Dr. I've spoken to isn't positive although on the CDC website, it doesn't look like the Falls area(either side) is an endemic yellow fever area but we are heading back to JNB after. Should we get it just in case in order to avoid possibly having to be innoculated in Africa?

Best advice is probably to get it. It's a harmless enough vaccination if taken in a more developed part of the world. Plus, if you travel to enough places, you never know when you might get asked for the certificate of vaccination when entering a country if your passport shows you've recently been to an affected part of Africa.

As for being innoculated in Africa, I've heard of this happening at Kennyata airport but I've never even been asked for the certificate myself when entering Kenya (where they are supposed to be strict about Yellow Fever control).

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Jac747:
Hope this is in the right forum-didn't see a health related one. Does anyone know if a yellow fever inoculation certificate is required when traveling between Zambia and Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls? The travel medicine Dr. I've spoken to isn't positive although on the CDC website, it doesn't look like the Falls area(either side) is an endemic yellow fever area but we are heading back to JNB after. Should we get it just in case in order to avoid possibly having to be innoculated in Africa?</font>



[This message has been edited by Internaut (edited 05-27-2003).]

If you do much international travel, it's definitely a good idea to have it. I believe the certificate is good for 10 years. Some people (myself included) have a slight reaction to the inoculation (in my case a slight fever and general malaise for about 2 - 3 days), so it would be a good idea to get it several days in advance of your departure.

I don't see Zambia and Zimbabwe listed as being yellow fever zones. You may want to reconfirm in Jo'burg and/or get the vaccination there if necessary (it will probably be much, much cheaper in South Africa than in the States). I went to a travel medicine clinic near Sandton/Randburg area in Joburg and it's perfectly fine/safe.

The only other reason (besides health reasons) for getting the yellow card is to avoid potential problems at the borders. I am in a yellow fever zone, and when I cross to Zambia (by road, not by air) I do have to present the card, or pay a "fine" http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

However, I do also know that some border crossings also make the cards available sans vaccination for about $15 in their back office http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif.

Hope this helps.