If you decide to see Africa, there are some practical things you need to know. First, most people ask, "What kind of shots do you need?" There is only one innoculation that you will need to have before traveling to Africa...The Yellow Fever shot. These are given out by most of the public health organizations or agencies in your state. These shots are good for 10 years, so once we had ours in 2007, we do not need to get it again until 2017. They give you a yellow card with the verification of the shot record and you are good to go. The only other suggestion I have about shots is that you should get a flu shot just because you will be exposed to many other travelers enroute and a flu shot is a good idea anyway....
The second suggestion is to see your personnel physician for a Malaria Prolaxis. That is an Rx to prevent Malaria. There are lots of choices for this, your doctor can help you decide. We decided on one that you take once a week orally. You begin 1-2 weeks ahead of your trip and continue taking while away (once a week) and for 3-4 weeks after you return. This is an easy way to make sure you don't get Malaria. This is a mosquito borne sickness and that is why they have mosquito nets around your bed at every lodge you stay in. The netting is always set up for you while you are at dinner and when you leave in the morning, the netting is pulled back out of the way for you by your maid. I think the nets are kind of romantic at night....
That is all you really need to know as far as medical planning.
Another question comes up occasionally, "How hard is the trip for someone who is older and may have a disability?" I have found that taking a safari is very easy...the hardest part is always the travel time to and from your African destination via plane . The rest is very comfortable and easy on your body. You get to sit in a vehicle each day and just enjoy the ride! The lodges even offer such luxuries as massage and or facials. You have the middle of the day on your own to enjoy a nap or reading....The pace is slow and easy.
I have been asked about what do you pack for a safari? Well, that is simple to answer. You take light weight casual clothes, some long sleeve shirts and long pants, athletic shoes, and a light weight, water resistent jacket. We included a light weight vest with lots of pockets for gum, camera things, sunglasses, tissues, hand sanitizer. And don't forget a good hat! We love our Tilley hats and have used them each time we go on a safari. See the picture of the happy travelers to see the hats!
Richard found a feather for my hat during a lunch stop. It was a dark polka-dotted feather from a guinea fowl and even though you are not allowed to take anything from the fields, we did get away with this feather.
When I "retired" recently, on of my friends gave me a pink pith helmet! I had never seen one like this before. It brought to mind the old movie where it was said, "Dr. Livingston, I presume?"
I will take a picture of me in this hat and share it with you before I leave. I do not think I will be taking it on safari...I imagine it would provoke a lot of laughs by the locals....It was a great gift though, and I treasure it.
Just one more practical idea to share with you about traveling to Africa ....If you buy yourself some new underwear before the trip, leave the new ones home and take your old pairs....You can then leave them behind to give you more room in your luggage for all the souvenirs you will buy. The old socks, underpants, bras can be given to your maid. They will gladly accept them even though they are used and may be dirty! So you are doing a good thing and recycling them too.
I will get back to our journal about our trip to Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa tomorrow. See you then!
Ellen
The second suggestion is to see your personnel physician for a Malaria Prolaxis. That is an Rx to prevent Malaria. There are lots of choices for this, your doctor can help you decide. We decided on one that you take once a week orally. You begin 1-2 weeks ahead of your trip and continue taking while away (once a week) and for 3-4 weeks after you return. This is an easy way to make sure you don't get Malaria. This is a mosquito borne sickness and that is why they have mosquito nets around your bed at every lodge you stay in. The netting is always set up for you while you are at dinner and when you leave in the morning, the netting is pulled back out of the way for you by your maid. I think the nets are kind of romantic at night....
That is all you really need to know as far as medical planning.
Another question comes up occasionally, "How hard is the trip for someone who is older and may have a disability?" I have found that taking a safari is very easy...the hardest part is always the travel time to and from your African destination via plane . The rest is very comfortable and easy on your body. You get to sit in a vehicle each day and just enjoy the ride! The lodges even offer such luxuries as massage and or facials. You have the middle of the day on your own to enjoy a nap or reading....The pace is slow and easy.
I have been asked about what do you pack for a safari? Well, that is simple to answer. You take light weight casual clothes, some long sleeve shirts and long pants, athletic shoes, and a light weight, water resistent jacket. We included a light weight vest with lots of pockets for gum, camera things, sunglasses, tissues, hand sanitizer. And don't forget a good hat! We love our Tilley hats and have used them each time we go on a safari. See the picture of the happy travelers to see the hats!
Richard found a feather for my hat during a lunch stop. It was a dark polka-dotted feather from a guinea fowl and even though you are not allowed to take anything from the fields, we did get away with this feather.
When I "retired" recently, on of my friends gave me a pink pith helmet! I had never seen one like this before. It brought to mind the old movie where it was said, "Dr. Livingston, I presume?"
I will take a picture of me in this hat and share it with you before I leave. I do not think I will be taking it on safari...I imagine it would provoke a lot of laughs by the locals....It was a great gift though, and I treasure it.
Just one more practical idea to share with you about traveling to Africa ....If you buy yourself some new underwear before the trip, leave the new ones home and take your old pairs....You can then leave them behind to give you more room in your luggage for all the souvenirs you will buy. The old socks, underpants, bras can be given to your maid. They will gladly accept them even though they are used and may be dirty! So you are doing a good thing and recycling them too.
I will get back to our journal about our trip to Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa tomorrow. See you then!
Ellen
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