The honest answer: it varies a lot, by which tablet you're prescribed, where you buy it, and how long your trip is. There's no single price.

As a rough guide, a generic daily antimalarial is usually the cheapest option, while the better-tolerated branded one costs more, with a cheaper generic version now available. Prices differ hugely between pharmacies, sometimes more than tenfold, so it pays to compare. Which tablet is right for you is a medical decision for your doctor or travel clinic, not something we (or any website) should choose. Below is how to think about the cost and how to keep it down.

Three things move the total:

• The drug — options range from a low-cost generic daily tablet to a pricier, well-tolerated branded one (now with a cheaper generic) and a weekly option. Each has different costs and dosing.
• Trip length plus the dosing tail — you don't only take tablets while you're away. Depending on the drug, you start days before and continue for one to four weeks after you get home, which adds to the total. A short safari can still mean weeks of tablets.
• Where you buy — prices vary enormously between pharmacies and between countries. The same drug can cost very different amounts down the road.

Treat these as ballpark only, prices change and vary by pharmacy and country (figures current as of 2026):

• The cheapest route is usually a generic daily tablet, often a modest weekly cost over the trip.
• The well-tolerated branded tablet runs higher, though a generic version has brought the price down considerably, and discount cards or 90-day fills can cut it further.
• A weekly option exists too, with its own cost and dosing schedule.

Because the after-trip dosing tail differs by drug, two travellers on the same safari can pay quite different totals. Your pharmacy will quote the real figure once your doctor has chosen the right tablet for you. (For how malaria fits into overall trip cost, see the safari cost guide.)

Practical, non-medical ways to keep the bill sensible:

• Ask whether a generic is suitable — your doctor decides, but generics are often far cheaper.
• Compare pharmacies — prices swing widely; a quick check can save a lot.
• Use legitimate discount cards or larger fills where appropriate.
• Consider a reputable online travel clinic — these can be cheaper than an in-person visit and ship to your door, just make sure it's a properly licensed service with a real consultation.

Whatever the route, it should always involve a genuine prescription and a real clinical check. Cheapest is never worth an unsafe shortcut.

Tablets are only one layer. The free, practical steps your guide and lodges will reinforce:

• Use a good insect repellent, especially around dusk.
• Cover up at dusk and after dark, long sleeves and trousers.
• Use the mosquito nets lodges provide.

On risk, Zanzibar generally carries a lower malaria risk than many mainland safari areas, but that doesn't mean skipping precautions, get current medical advice for your specific trip. None of this replaces prevention prescribed by your doctor; it complements it.

Sort malaria prevention at the same travel-clinic appointment as any vaccinations, ideally 4 to 6 weeks before you travel, so the after-trip dosing and any course timing all line up. When you book with us, it's on the pre-departure checklist we send, so it doesn't get forgotten.

• Request your free tailor-made safari quote
• Chat with a safari expert on WhatsApp: +255 740 666 662 · info@safari-tz.com