Safari Holidays Information

For your comfort you should appreciate that sunburn/sunstroke and dehydration are both likely unless you take adequate precautions.

Dehydration can occur as you will be out on game drives for a large part of the day in the tropical heat and sun. Wear a hat and layers of light-weight clothing and drink bottled water frequently. It is a good idea to take re-hydration powders with you in case, some good medical kits include these.

Apart from the heat, the sun is strong in the tropics, especially at higher elevations - many of Africa’s Parks are on higher ground, the Tanzanian Highlands, for example, is at 5,500 feet to 7,500 feet. In addition some Malaria preventative drugs, such as Doxycycline, increase skin sensitivity. So take high factor sunscreen cream and strong lip gloss.

Whilst immunization will protect you from most of the current diseases in Africa, there are two endemic diseases that require extra precautions on your part; Aids and Malaria. Aids has been featured in the News with reference to Africa and you should take it seriously, however, the single largest killer in Africa for the moment remains Malaria and this disease demands your attention.

Unfortunately this disease is rampant in many African countries as it is in parts of Asia. The advice for travelers is much the same as here at home - don’t indulge in any sexual activity with local people. SafariTracks.com recommends that you have air ambulance insurance coverage to get you out of Africa fast and will supplement this with the local Flying Doctor Service membership during your stay (where available). You are strongly advised to take a full medical kit, complete with syringes and spare needles. It is possible to take your own frozen blood, but this seems a little drastic and the chances of you contracting the disease are extremely low.

Incidentally it is a myth that the disease is carried by mosquitoes and can be transmitted through their bite.

The information provided has been provided by certified authorities and will make your visit to Africa safe and rewarding one.

It is a well-known fact that malaria is one of the most serious and common tropical diseases in the world. However, there is no reason why this disease should deter you from coming to Africa if the necessary precautions are taken. Please note that if precautions are not taken and / or if the disease is not diagnosed and treated early, it could be potentially fatal.

Prophylactic Measures To Prevent Malaria
Before travelling to remote areas, it may be wise to obtain a supply of emergency medication to take with you. This should only be used if it is not possible to consult a doctor. It is most important to note that no preventative measures are 100% safe. Should flu-like symptoms and signs like body pain, headache and fever develop 7 to 20 days or longer after visiting an endemic area, daily testing should be performed until you are better or another definite diagnosis is made.

Malaria Can Be Prevented In The Following Ways
The most important and most effective way of preventing malaria is firstly to prevent mosquito bites. The following preventative measures can be taken:

*Remain indoors from dusk to dawn if possible as mosquitoes usually feed in the early evenings and mornings.

*Cover your arms and legs towards evenings with light coloured clothing to cover exposed skin areas and especially the ankles. Wear long sleeved shirts, long trousers, socks and closed shoes.

*Apply insect repellents to exposed skin areas every 4-6 hours.

*Burn insecticide oils or electrically heated insecticide tablets in the bedroom at night.

*Spray knock-down insecticide for flying insects inside the bedroom in the early evening with windows / doors closed if there are no window screens.

*Screened mosquito proof windows and doors and Mosquito nets guard against Mosquito bites.

*Clothes and nets impregnated with Pyrethroid could be used.

Another way of preventing malaria is to take additional preventative drugs when visiting an endemic area, especially in the warm and rainy months from October to May.

Your safety is the prime concern of your lodge and guides during your safari. The guides and lodge managers live there so do heed their warnings and advice about what not to do, most accidents or encounters that go wrong are due to visitors ignoring advice or signs. You will hear stories around the camp fire about visitors lacking common sense or ignoring warnings, they are mostly true!