Get your vaccinations. Most major metropolitan areas have health centers that are well-versed in which vaccinations you will need. If you can't find a center in your area, check with your doctor's office to see if you can get your shots there or if the staff knows where else to go.
Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site for information on vaccinations and for tips on preventing malaria, typhoid and other health problems. Print out information about risks, treatment and what to do in case of a medical emergency and take this with you to Tanzania.
Ask questions and provide your medical history when getting your shots. A yellow fever vaccination is important, along with anti-malarial pills. You may also want to get a polio shot and typhoid vaccine. The nurse or other health-care worker will advise which other shots and pills are important, based on your history and what you will be doing in Tanzania. If you will be hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro, for instance, you likely will be give a prescription for altitude sickness.
Ask if a prescription for traveler's diarrhea medication, usually Cipro, is appropriate for you. Traveler's diarrhea is quite common and it can seriously disrupt a wonderful vacation. It also is smart to take along some over-the-counter diarrhea pills and cold and flu pills.
Avoid jet lag and other problems by exercising and eating nutritious foods, especially fruits and vegetables, several days before your flight and en route to Africa.
Stay away from alcohol and caffeine so you will not be dehydrated and can rest more easily on the jetliner. Drink lots of water on the plane and try to sleep.
Move about the cabin when you can to aid circulation and to prevent blood clots. When seated, rotate your ankles and wrists and move your head from side to side periodically.
Sleep as much as possible shortly after landing. Your body will feel better if you rest it and then get on local time thereafter. A good rule of thumb when traveling: If it's dark, sleep; if the sun is out, get up and move.
Take your anti-malarial pills when prescribed, along with a daily multivitamin.
Eat things that are familiar to you if you have a delicate stomach. If you are not used to exotic tropical fruits, such as papaya and mango, for instance, stick with rice, bread, bananas and chicken for a few days. Your body often needs time to adjust to new places and cuisine.
If you develop traveler's diarrhea, it is best to avoid dairy products. Stick with simple, bland foods, such as rice and crackers, until you feel better. At the first sign of diarrhea, take your prescription meds or over-the-counter pills.
Avoid fruits and vegetables that do not have a skin that is removed before you eat them or that are not heated. Unless you know that your food was washed thoroughly, it's best to stay away from such things as salad greens.
If you buy fruits or vegetables in an open-air market -- which are wonderful places to get fresh produce -- wash them thoroughly before eating.
Use common sense. If a restaurant doesn't look clean, don't eat there. But keep in mind that Tanzania is a popular tourist destination; hotels and lodges are well-maintained and the food generally is perfectly safe.
Do not drink tap water. Always request bottled water at restaurants and keep a bottle with you. Tanzania's tap water contains harmful bacteria. Water that has been boiled, however, generally is safe.
Try to avoid going out at dusk when mosquitoes, which spread malaria, are most active. It is also wise to avoid the bites of tsetse flies, which are carriers of African sleeping sickness. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and use bug spray when you do go out.
Use hand-sanitizing wipes liberally. Some bathrooms do not have soap or hot water.
Never wade or swim in freshwater, which can harbor snails that carry schistosomiaisis, a disease caused by parasitic worms. Saltwater is safe for swimming, however.
