What Vaccines Do Brazilian Travellers Need for Botswana in 2026?

Quick answer: Brazilian citizens travelling from Brazil to Botswana should carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate if their route involves arrival from a country where yellow fever is endemic or a qualifying transit through a country with yellow fever transmission risk. Botswana's official country information does not identify other vaccines as mandatory for entry, although a clinician should review routine vaccinations and itinerary-specific recommendations before travel.

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

This guide covers travellers who hold Brazilian passports or are travelling from Brazil. Yellow fever requirements are based primarily on recent travel history and transit points, not simply on nationality. Because official guidance can change and the supplied sources do not provide a country-by-country classification of Brazil, confirm your exact itinerary with Botswana's authorities, your airline and the official health information portal before departure.

Quick answer: required versus recommended vaccines

Health measure	Required for Botswana entry?	What Brazilian travellers should do
Yellow fever certificate	Required when entering from a country where yellow fever is endemic. CDC guidance also includes travellers arriving from countries with yellow fever transmission risk and qualifying airport transits.	Check every country and airport in your itinerary. Carry the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) if the rule applies.
Other vaccinations	The Botswana information reviewed states that the government does not require other vaccinations.	Ask a travel-health professional to review your routine vaccinations and trip-specific risks.
Typhoid	Not identified as an entry requirement.	CDC guidance recommends considering typhoid vaccination for most travellers, especially people visiting smaller cities or rural areas or staying with friends or relatives.
Rabies pre-exposure vaccination	Not identified as an entry requirement.	Discuss it with a clinician if you may have occupational or recreational animal exposure or could struggle to obtain prompt post-exposure care.
Malaria tablets	Not an identified border-entry requirement in the supplied research.	Ask a clinician whether preventive medicine is appropriate for your destination, season, health profile and activities. Malaria is identified in northern Botswana.

For broader trip planning, you can also review verified Botswana safari tours for 2026 and consider how your selected route affects health preparation.

Yellow fever certificate rules for travellers from Brazil

Botswana requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate when a traveller enters from a country where yellow fever is endemic. The U.S. Department of State's Botswana guidance states this rule without listing every country that may trigger it. Botswana's country information also says that no other vaccinations are required by the Government of Botswana.

CDC country guidance describes the rule in more detail: vaccination is required for travellers aged 1 year and older arriving from countries with risk for yellow fever virus transmission. The CDC also includes airport transits or layovers lasting more than 12 hours in a country with yellow fever transmission risk. The State Department wording is broader and does not specify the age threshold or transit duration in the supplied page, so travellers should check the current Botswana interpretation for their individual itinerary.

Does travelling directly from Brazil require the certificate?

Do not decide from nationality alone. The official rule is framed around the country from which you enter Botswana and the countries or airports through which you have travelled. The research supplied for this article does not itself state whether Brazil is currently classified by Botswana as a country where yellow fever is endemic or as a country with yellow fever transmission risk. Therefore, Brazilian travellers should confirm the direct-Brazil position on the official Botswana portal and with the airline before departure rather than assume that a certificate is or is not required.

If you connect through another country, review the whole route, including long airport stays. CDC guidance says the full itinerary should be considered because transfers may require a traveller to pass through immigration or otherwise leave the controlled transit area.

What document should you carry?

Where vaccination proof is required, carry the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), with vaccination evidence recorded by an authorised provider. CDC guidance states that a completed ICVP is considered valid for the life of the vaccinated person under the International Health Regulations. Keep the certificate with your passport and make a secure copy or digital backup, while retaining the original for inspection.

A medical waiver may be relevant where yellow fever vaccination is medically contraindicated, but acceptance of a waiver can depend on border requirements and the itinerary. Discuss this with a qualified clinician and confirm acceptance with the relevant authorities before relying on it.

Recommended vaccinations for a Botswana safari

Entry requirements and medical recommendations are different questions. A vaccine can be medically advisable even when Botswana does not require it at the border. The official Botswana information reviewed advises travellers to be up to date with vaccinations recommended by the CDC, while the CDC country page specifically identifies typhoid and provides risk-based advice for rabies.

Routine vaccinations

Ask a healthcare professional to review your routine vaccination status before travel. The official country information does not provide a separate Botswana-specific list in the supplied research; it directs travellers to remain up to date with vaccinations recommended by the CDC. Your recommendation may depend on age, previous doses, medical conditions, pregnancy, planned activities and the countries visited before Botswana.

Typhoid

CDC guidance recommends typhoid vaccination for most travellers, with particular emphasis on people staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas. This is a recommendation for travel health, not a stated Botswana entry requirement. The relevance may be greater for itineraries involving rural camps, local communities or extended time away from established tourist facilities.

Rabies

Rabies pre-exposure vaccination is an individual decision. CDC guidance says the consultation should consider whether you will perform occupational or recreational activities that increase the chance of exposure to potentially rabid animals and whether you might have difficulty obtaining prompt, safe post-exposure prophylaxis. A safari does not automatically make rabies vaccination an entry requirement.

Other vaccines and personal advice

The supplied official guidance does not establish a mandatory Botswana list for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, polio, influenza, measles, COVID-19 or other vaccines. The country information does list several of these diseases among conditions present or relevant to Botswana and advises travellers to follow CDC vaccination recommendations. Ask a clinician to assess your personal record and itinerary rather than treating this article as a substitute for a travel-health consultation.

Arrange a travel-health appointment well before departure. The UK government advises checking vaccine recommendations at least 8 weeks before a Botswana trip, which gives time to review your record and address medical questions.

Malaria in Botswana: risk areas, prophylaxis and prevention

Malaria is identified in the official country information as occurring in northern Botswana. The supplied research does not provide a complete current map of every affected district or a universal medicine schedule, so do not assume that a safari location is risk-free because it is a popular tourist destination.

Malaria tablets are a medical-prevention decision rather than a stated Botswana entry document in the research reviewed. Ask a clinician or travel-health service whether prophylaxis is suitable for your route, dates, accommodation, activities, pregnancy status, medications and medical history. CDC malaria guidance advises health professionals to make destination-specific recommendations alongside other travel-health decisions.

Reduce mosquito exposure as well as discussing medication. Use repellent as directed, wear clothing that limits exposed skin when practical, and follow advice from your clinician about sleeping protection. These measures are especially relevant when travelling in northern areas identified as having malaria.

Seek medical advice promptly if you develop fever during or after travel and explain that you have been in a malaria-risk area. The supplied official sources identify malaria as a disease present in Botswana but do not provide a single post-travel testing timetable, so a clinician should advise you based on symptoms and exposure.

Health documents and travel insurance

Carry your passport, any required ICVP, your vaccination record and a written list of medicines, allergies and relevant conditions. If you are travelling with a child, check the separate documentation rules for Botswana and any transit country; health documents alone may not satisfy border requirements. Botswana's official information for minors includes additional birth-certificate and parental-consent requirements.

Review your travel insurance before leaving Brazil. The official country information recommends ensuring that overseas medical care is covered and strongly recommends supplementary insurance for medical evacuation. It also notes that many overseas providers may require payment in cash. Confirm whether the policy covers remote safari areas, hospital treatment, emergency transport, pre-existing conditions and the full length of your trip.

Health preparation should be part of your wider itinerary planning. If you are comparing Botswana safari packages for 2026, check where each package travels, how remote the camps are and what emergency-support arrangements are described. You can compare safari packages on SafariFind without treating a package listing as a substitute for medical or government advice.

Medication rules and what to pack

Check with the Government of Botswana that every prescription and over-the-counter medicine you plan to carry is legal in Botswana. The official country information advises travellers to keep prescription medicines in their original packaging and carry the doctor's prescription.

• Keep medicines in original, labelled containers rather than loose pill organisers.
• Carry a copy of the prescription and, where useful, a letter describing the medicine, dose and medical reason.
• Pack enough for the planned trip and allow for delays, subject to Botswana's rules on bringing medicines into the country.
• Ask the official Botswana authority about controlled medicines, injectable medicines and quantities before departure.
• Keep essential medicines in hand luggage where airline rules permit, rather than placing them only in checked baggage.

The research does not provide Botswana-specific permitted quantities, fees or approval times for medicines. Do not rely on an unverified number; confirm the current rule with the official Botswana portal or embassy.

A practical health kit may include insect repellent, sun protection, hand hygiene supplies, basic first-aid items and any clinician-approved medication. These are preparation suggestions, not Botswana entry requirements. For a budget overview, see SafariFind's guide to Botswana safari cost drivers, but verify all health and insurance costs with your provider.

Health facilities and emergencies in Botswana

Healthcare access can vary by location, which is important for travellers visiting remote safari areas. The official country information recommends overseas medical insurance and supplementary medical-evacuation cover. Before departure, save your insurer's emergency number, identify the assistance process and tell your travelling companion where your policy details are stored.

For an ambulance in Botswana, the UK government's travel advice lists emergency medical number 997. It also advises contacting your insurance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility. Confirm emergency arrangements with your camp or tour operator on arrival, particularly when travelling far from major towns.

Before booking, ask the operator how emergency evacuation is coordinated, where the nearest suitable facility is and whether evacuation costs are handled directly by the insurer. The answers may vary by camp location and policy, so obtain them in writing where possible.

Finally, recheck the official requirements shortly before departure. Botswana's entry rules, airline checks, disease guidance and transit requirements can change, and this article is informational content rather than legal or medical advice. The official sources remain the final authority for your route, documents and health decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What vaccines do I need for Botswana from Brazil?

You may need a yellow fever certificate if Botswana considers your arrival country or transit history to involve yellow fever risk; the supplied official guidance does not itself confirm Brazil's current classification. Botswana does not identify other vaccinations as mandatory, but CDC guidance recommends considering typhoid for most travellers and assessing rabies vaccination according to animal exposure and access to post-exposure care.

Do Brazilian citizens need a yellow fever certificate for Botswana?

Not automatically because they are Brazilian citizens; the rule depends on where they are arriving from and their transit history. Botswana requires a certificate when entering from a country where yellow fever is endemic, and CDC guidance includes travellers aged 1 and older arriving from risk countries or completing qualifying airport transits.

Does travelling directly from Brazil to Botswana require yellow fever vaccination?

The official research supplied does not state whether Brazil is currently classified for Botswana's yellow fever entry rule, so confirm the direct-Brazil itinerary with Botswana's official portal and the airline. Do not rely on nationality alone, and check every connecting airport.

Does a transit airport count for Botswana's yellow fever rule?

Yes, certain transits can count. CDC guidance says yellow fever vaccination is required for travellers aged 1 and older arriving from countries with transmission risk, including airport transits or layovers lasting more than 12 hours in such countries.

What vaccines do you need for Botswana if you are going on safari?

There is no separate safari vaccine requirement in the official research. Ask a clinician to review routine vaccinations, consider typhoid for rural travel, assess rabies if animal exposure is possible, and discuss malaria prevention for northern Botswana.

Is malaria vaccination or malaria medicine required to enter Botswana?

The supplied research does not identify malaria prophylaxis as a Botswana entry requirement. Malaria is identified in northern Botswana, so ask a clinician whether preventive medicine and mosquito precautions are appropriate for your route.

How early should I arrange Botswana travel vaccinations?

Start checking your recommendations at least 8 weeks before travel. The UK government advises this timing for Botswana, while the exact appointment and vaccine schedule depends on your vaccination history and medical circumstances.

How long is a Botswana yellow fever certificate valid?

CDC guidance states that a completed International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis is considered valid for the life of the vaccinated person under the International Health Regulations. Confirm that your certificate is correctly completed and accepted for your specific itinerary.

What health documents should Brazilian travellers carry to Botswana?

Carry your passport, any required yellow fever ICVP, vaccination records, prescriptions and a written medicine list. Botswana's official information also recommends original medicine packaging and a doctor's prescription, while travel insurance with medical-evacuation coverage is strongly recommended.

What is the medical emergency number in Botswana?

The UK government's Botswana travel advice lists 997 for an ambulance. Contact your insurer promptly if you are referred for treatment, and confirm emergency arrangements with your safari camp or operator.