Speak to your doctor before you travel - get accurate and current
advice on inoculation requirements and any recently recognized medical
precautions that may be necessary. There are a few
"definitive" websites listed below - visit them before
finalizing your safari plans.
Common medical concerns in Zimbabwe, Zambia and
Botswana include the following:
Malaria: caused by a mosquito borne parasite, malaria is
endemic in all of our main safari areas. From experience we've
found the worst time of year for malaria generally from mid February to
the end of June. The incidence of malaria diminishes as the season
gets drier and cooler but there is still a risk even at the end of the
dry season before the new rains. The best precautions are physical
barriers in the early evenings and at night (long trousers and sleeves,
30% plus deet-based repellents, mosquito nets). You need to watch
for the symptoms for several months after your return home - it's
important to get treatment very quickly if you've contracted
malaria. If you develop flu-like symptoms then get a quick and
simple blood test without any delay to be on the safe side. [...more
from CDC,
Department
of Health (UK) and MedicinePlanet]
Diarrhoea: a common problem when traveling in
Africa. We've seen advice recommending that even salads
should be washed in bottled mineral water?! That's extreme, the
reality is that food preparation and presentation in some of the
remotest camps is better than the fare you'll get in many well known
hotels in Europe and North America. Just be sensible about what
you eat and drink, and bring suitable medication in case. [...more
from CDC]
Sunburn: The African sun even during our southern winter from
May to July is fierce. Aside from the long term risks of skin
cancer, a bad sunburn could spoil a safari. The greatest risk of
serious sunburn is on the lower Zambezi canoe safaris, white water
rafting at Victoria Falls and on walking safaris. There's no need
to get extreme with precautions unless you're particularly sensitive to
the sun. Be sure to bring a hat, long sleeves, strong sun barrier
that suits your skin type and sunglasses. On canoe safaris a towel
or "kikoi" covering the legs is essential.
Medical services: Even the remotest camps are reasonably
well geared to handle minor mishaps in terms of first aid practitioners,
trauma kits etc. In the event of a serious accident, Johannesburg
in South Africa is the only real option for immediate high care
evacuation in Southern Africa. Ensure that you have adequate medical
insurance - as a rule the remoter and less developed the
destination, the more expensive the evacuation.
Required inoculations: Hepatitis A and cholera for Zimbabwe,
Zambia and Botswana. If you've traveled from another country where
yellow fever occurs then you may be required to produce an International
Certificate of Vaccination when entering Zimbabwe, Zambia or Botswana.
(Yellow fever occurs in the north west of Zambia - none of our featured
safaris are run in this area.) [...see CDC
updates for Botswana and Zimbabwe, CDC
update for Zambia]
