Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, is a neglected vector-borne tropical disease occurring in 36 sub-Saharan African countries. The disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei which is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tsetse fly. Once injected, the parasite begins its life cycle and transforms into bloodstream trypomastigotes that swims around freely in tissue fluids unlike other protozoan parasites that typically invade the host cells. The disease present itself in two stages, the first haemeo-lymphatic stage where the trypanosomes proliferate in blood, lymph and subcutaneous tissues and a second meningo-encephalic stage where the parasite crosses the blood-brain barrier and infects the central nervous system (CNS). Since the second stage of the disease causes irreversible damage to the CNS and is lethal if left untreated, it is essential that diagnosis is made as early as possible. However, because of the complex clinical manifestation of HAT, diagnosis and treatment is very difficult. There are currently only four registered drugs available to treat the disease; suramin, pentamidine, eflornithine and melarsoprol, all of which are associated with different levels of toxicity.