| When traveling to Africa, wheather you will be
out in the bush on safari, or just lazying around one of the major
cities, there will always be something important to know, for your
own safety perhaps of even just general tips to ensure that you
maximise your travel pleasure.
 General
Travel Tips
Spending Money
Travelers are advised to bring enough money to cover the purchase
of curios and entertainment, such as alcoholic drinks, mineral water
etc. US Dollars, Pound Sterling and South African Rand (ZAR) are
the most practical and convenient currencies. There are automatic
teller machines (ATMs) available in Botswana, Namibia and South
Africa to draw money.
Suggested Clothing
Shorts, swimming costume, comfortable walking shoes, light trousers/jeans,
sarong, sandals, T-shirts, sun hat, long-sleeved shirts, windbreaker
and track suit. Warm clothes in the winter months which is May -
August.
Suggested Other Items
Flash Light & spare batteries, high UV protection, water bottle
and camera.
Communication
Communicating with the outside world is no problem. Cyber cafes
are plentiful. Avoid the hotel communication centers, since they
will cost you 20 times as much as the cyber cafes. You will have
an adventure while you are there as well. Be patient, as connections
can be very slow.
Health
and Safety
- Don't drink the tapped water, including ice. Bottled water is
available for purchase at grocery stores and hotels.
- Petty Crime. While there is no need to be paranoid about every
person you meet or see, you should be aware of the dangers and
take precautions to protect yourself and your belongings. Snatch
thefts and robbery are the most common problems, and occur with
much greater frequency in urban areas with the highest concentration
of tourists.
- Always carry your own toilet paper.
- Aids. In Africa, HIV/AIDS is predominantly spread through heterosexual
sexual activity. Avoid the temptations of the abundance of prostitutes,
and always use a condom.
Malaria
When a mosquito bites an infected person, it ingests microscopic
malaria parasites found in the person’s blood. The malaria
parasite must grow in the mosquito for a week or more before infection
can be passed to another person.
How can malaria and other travel-related illnesses be prevented?
Visit your health care provider 4-6 weeks before foreign travel
for any necessary vaccinations and a prescription for an antimalarial
drug.
Take your antimalarial drug exactly on schedule without missing
doses.
Prevent mosquito and other insect bites. Use DEET insect repellent
on exposed skin and flying insect spray in the room where you sleep.
Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, especially from dusk to
dawn. This is the time when mosquitoes that spread malaria bite.
Sleep under a mosquito bednet that has been dipped in permethrin
insecticide if you are not living in screened or air-conditioned
housing.
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African Safaris Top Lodges
Olonana : Kenya
Situated on the banks of the picturesque Mara River is Olonana, a premier bush camp whose unique location offers remarkable opportunities for safari adventurers [Read More]
Shinde Camp : Botswana
Located at the edge of a lagoon in the Okavango Delta, it is surrounded by clear waterways which flow over yellow sands and past palm-fringed islands teeming with birdlife and game [Read More]
Select Your Destination
South Africa
Namibia
Botswana
Kenya
Tanzania
Zambia
Zimbabwe
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