HEALTH, SAFETY AND INSURANCE

Image of Africa safety.
Are you unsettled by the bad news you see on TV regarding Africa?  Remember two things.  Firstly remember that bad news sells and that is why you see so much of it.  Secondly remember that Africa is huge.  There are trouble spots in Africa, but the areas in which you will spend time are far away from those trouble spots.

Africa is no different to the rest of the world.  If you plan to spend time in a city, take precautions as you would in your home country

• Safety tips for cities:

• Don't wander around the streets after dark.

• Ask your hotel about unsafe areas and avoid them.

• Leave expensive jewelry at home and wear a cheap plastic watch.

• Don't carry valuable things where you feel unsafe.

• Keep your money and passport in a money belt and out of site or in a safe at your hotel.

• Dress like a local or at least dress casually.

Our final comment regarding safety: You will spend most of your African holiday in a relatively remote and wild area that are safe and enjoyable places.

Insurance: Travel insurance is vital for travel anywhere in the world.  Make sure your insurance package includes cancellation or curtailment of the safari, emergency evacuation expenses, medical expenses, and repatriation expenses, damage/theft/loss of personal baggage, money and goods.  

Health 

Malaria: Is not to be taken lightly.  It is a potentially fatal disease transmitted by the female anopheles mosquito.  Certain factors influence the risk of contracting malaria.  For example low-lying equatorial swamp will be high-risk all year through, a dry Montana plateau set at subtropical latitude will probably carry no risk at all, and places falling between these extremes often show a marked seasonal pattern – medium to high risk in the wet summer months, low to no risk in the dry winter.  Remote areas tend to be lower risk as there are fewer people to act as vectors for malaria.  Our rule of thumb is to take malaria prophylaxis when in doubt.  Ask your doctor for his advice.

You can also lessen the risk by avoiding being bitten. Wear long sleeves, trousers and socks and douse any exposed skin with a good mosquito repellent shortly before it gets dark (the anopheles mosquito is active at dawn and dusk), and always sleep under a net when provided. Should you experience any combination of headache, fever, nausea, flu-like aches or disorientation within three months of returning home, get yourself tested immediately – malaria responds best to treatment when detected early. 

Sunburn: The African sun is very strong and harmful. Use lots of sun block and a hat  particularly if you are on foot, in a boat, or in an open vehicle.  That tan may look good for a few days after you get back from safari, but skin cancer is a high risk for everybody – especially fair-skinned people. 

Water: It is very important that you drink plenty of water to limit the effects of dehydration, especially during the warmer months. Note that tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages act as diuretics and can actually contribute to dehydration.  Ask your lodge manager if tap water is safe to drink.  Most lodges provide bottled water. 

Bugs: You will probably be bitten by lots of bugs and get lots of itchy swellings (tsetse flies in certain areas are the worst culprits).    A good anti-histamine cream usually reduces swelling and itchiness.  Check your body for ticks after every bush walk and at least once a day even if you are not walking. 

Make sure you have a vaccination certificate for yellow fever.