Fortunately not the whole of Africa is affected by malaria, and most of South Africa is malaria free. The exceptions are northern parts of KwaZulu Natal and the Kruger Park area, and even then these are considered medium to low-risk areas. Still, it is wise to know the risks and to decide what sort of protection is needed.
Mostly, applying mosquito repellant is more than adequate, but for the more cautious traveller here are some tips from The Safari Company on how to safely visit higher risk areas in Africa.
Don’t let malaria keep you from enjoying a safari in Africa. There are several malaria-free game reserves in South Africa to choose from. Addo Elephant, Kwandwe, Shamwari, Welgevonden and Madikwe are to name but a few.
- Get good advice on malaria prevention with oral antimalarial medicine before you depart for your holiday. Visit your local doctor 4-6 weeks before travelling into a malaria area.
- Take the oral antimalarial pills on the same day each week when weekly, or at the same time of the day if daily. Continue prophylaxis for 4 weeks after your return.
- Apply insect repellent to exposed skin – recommended repellents contain 20%-35% DEET
- Wear long-sleeved clothing, trousers and socks if outdoors during this time
- Sleep under a mosquito-proof net
- Close windows and doors at night unless they are screened
- Spray an aerosol insecticide inside the sleeping area a short while before going to bed
- When travelling to high-risk areas (Kruger National Park, northern Kwazulu Natal in South Africa and all countries north of South Africa) malaria prevention is strongly recommended by using antimalarial drugs
A children’s version of the antimalarial drug Malarone is available. The most important malaria prevention and precaution against being bitten by mosquitoes is to cover up and to apply insect repellent. Your kids should have the right gear for their safari. Long sleeved shirts and long trousers are essential for early morning and evening. A child-friendly high concentration DEET repellent is available on the market.
Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches and fatigue as well as general tiredness. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur. In some cases malaria may cause yellow coloring of the skin and eyes because of the breakdown of red blood cells. The first malaria symptom normally shows anywhere between 10 days to 4 weeks after infection, although in some extreme cases as early as 8 days and as long as 1 year after infection.
Malaria is completely cureable when treated soon after infection. Malaria treatment includes prescription medication. The type of medication and duration of malaria treatment depend on the type of strain of malaria, the area where the patient was infected, the age of the patient and how soon the treatment was started.
- Children under 5
- Adults over 65
- Pregnant women
- People on long term steroids
- People receiving chemotherapy
- Aids patients
- People who had their spleens removed
- People with porphyria, epilepsy and chronically ill patients
If you notice any malaria symptom s (including flu-like symptoms) either during, or within four to six weeks after, your visit to a malaria area, seek medical advice immediately and advise them that you were in a malaria area. This is especially important after you arrive back home and then experience these symptoms.
Although malaria is a serious and very real threat, we would like to bring it under your attention that The Safari Co. staff travel extensively across Africa and have done so for many years, mostly in high risk malaria areas. We take strict antimalarial precautions while travelling in malaria areas and have been fortunate enough to never get malaria. The most important fact to remember is that prevention is better than cure. With adequate malaria prevention in place, a safari to Africa’s most beautiful ‘spots’ are easier than you think!
As part of malaria prevention to protect yourself, follow this easy advise: always use mosquito repellent (especially between dusk and dawn), wear light, long sleeved shirts, long pants and shoes and socks at night, and sleep under a mosquito net or in an insect-proof room.
Even with oral antimalarial prophylaxis, it is still possible to get malaria if bitten by an infected anopheles mosquito. The easiest and most effective malaria prevention and precaution against being bitten is by using a good insect repellent.
via African Safari Travel | Africa Safari Company – your Africa Travel Safaris Co.
