Africa: Insect repellant and anti malaria tablets

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nicowilson

nicowilson

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I'm off to South Africa later this year and staying in a game lodge in the Kruger. It will be sightseeing, not hunting.

What insect repellant and anti malaria tablets are best?

Thanks
 
nicowilson said:
I'm off to South Africa later this year and staying in a game lodge in the Kruger. It will be sightseeing, not hunting.

What insect repellant and anti malaria tablets are best?

Thanks
Click to expand...


When I first went to Egypt I called my doctor and saw the nurse who had worked all over Africa for years, she checked my charts and I went back the next day.

I saw 4 vials on the tray! Both arms two shots each! Dead arms all that and the next day lol

Just chatting on Watts App to a friend in the E Cape and he said Rum and Coke...lol

"Peaceful Sleep" spray was what they have locally.

Tim.243
 
Tonic water has quinine in it which is the main ingredient in malaria medication and having alcohol (gin) or garlic in the blood seems to make you less likely to be bitten
I spent some time in Zambia two glasses of tonic a day never had an issue
 
Jungle Formula is the repellent that works well for me. I would check that you do actually need anti malaria as the side effects can be bloody awful. I have been to Africa 4 times now never needed anti malaria.
Tusker
 
tusker said:
Jungle Formula is the repellent that works well for me. I would check that you do actually need anti malaria as the side effects can be bloody awful. I have been to Africa 4 times now never needed anti malaria.
Tusker
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What I was prescribed made me feel a rough as ####, I have been twice and never took it the second time, worst I had was a head full of snot from the number of flights I stupidly took trying to save money instead of flying direct! Also learnt SA sudafed is far stronger than what we get here!


Tim.243
 
I work down in West Africa and I'll tell you prevention is much better than cure. When I got malaria last year I dropped 9 kilo in 5 days. Then spent the next 3 full days in hospital on drips and bring injected with meds, that's another story altogether. Spent the next 5 weeks at home, then took another test and still had it. Another course of meds cured it. Whatever you take it will be better than having to deal with it that I can tell you.
 
jackfish said:
I work down in West Africa and I'll tell you prevention is much better than cure. When I got malaria last year I dropped 9 kilo in 5 days. Then spent the next 3 full days in hospital on drips and bring injected with meds, that's another story altogether. Spent the next 5 weeks at home, ten took another test and still had it. Another course of meds cured it. Whatever you take it will be better than having to deal with it that I can tell you.
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I have been to Africa 3 times took Lariem, if I had the my time over I would have taken the chance and taken nothing, what ever you do not take Lariem or you will never be the same again.
 
Just to add to my post I would and do now use a repellent. I don't take any medication for prevention.
 
I have travelled to Zimbabwe/SA many times in recent decades. The GMO advocated malaria prophylaxis has changed down the years. The best for me at the moment is doxycycline. It is actually an antibiotic and the only fiddly bit is you have to be very diligent about taking it for the full period which overlaps your in-country exposure by some days. The other aspect of doxycycline is that it makes the skin more susceptible to the suns rays. [but I wear spf 50 long sleeve shirts and hat on safari anyway]

Lariam made me sick as a dog and the impact lasted long after I stopped taking it. Deet works at higher concentrations, but beware that it eats synthetic material [I have had nylon stitching in shirt collars dissolve]. Impregnated nets are useful preventative measures to be used in conjunction with oral measures. Citronella based lotions? LOL May as well set up a neon sign that says tourist blood donor over here!

I have also used mosquito coils to good effect. I note makers recommend these for outdoor use, but I have used them indoors. If used indoors, I set them in a stainless roasting pan or similar so that there is no hazard from falling ash/fire. Mosquito Coils | Mosquito Coil | Lifesystems
 
Last edited:
Take the f**kin tablets - it's a lot better than any form of malaria.
I used Lariam once and it was literally a nightmare.
I now use Malarone and it works for me - no side effects and no malaria
There are now generic versions of Malarone that cost half the price of the branded version.
Go to Asda or Tesco , fill in a form, speak to the pharmacist to tell her where you're going and for how long and you buy the tablets there and then.
Don't depend purely on the tablets - put DEET on your clothes (particularly around the neckline) and use a mosquito net when in bed

Cheers

Bruce

Cheers

Bruce
 
Agree Malarone. Been many times SA, Moz, Zambia etc You may get some odd vivid dreams but that's it Not sure if Kruger now declared malaria free but I would be cautious depending how far up you are going eg Timbavati close to confirmed malarial areas.

repellent - Avon skin so soft with some deet on your hat, bottom of pants and shirt shoulders, don't sit out at night in flip flops and spray deet on feet and ankles

S
 
Thanks all for the advice. Visited the nurse at the surgery earlier, and she recommended Malarone so Mrs W and I will be off to Tesco.

Should I be looking for a specific brand of DEET insect repellant, or should I simply go for the one containing the highest proportion of DEET that I can find?
 
I think 50% concentration is as high as you'll find on the high street, and that's what I would go with.
As has been said before, high concentrations of DEET tends to melt man made fibres, so be careful what you wear.

Cheers

Bruce
 
Malarone is expensive so get the generic tablets with the active ingredient which is Atovaquone- about half the price.

F
 
Frank Homes said:
Malarone is expensive so get the generic tablets with the active ingredient which is Atovaquone- about half the price.

F
Click to expand...

Prices for Atovaquone-Proguanil generics still run at 80% cost of branded Malarone at circa £1.80 per tablet. Doxycycline? Circa 20p per tablet. Admittedly you will need twice as many tablets, but still way cheaper.
 
Jungle formula does the trick

Gin and tonic is more pleasant

Not sure if you can still get the old issue stuff but it used to melt compasses so probably won't do the mozzies much good
 
Look online for malarone. I found Lloyd’s. chemist online cheapest. 100 pc deet. Available camping and mountain shops like blacks. Use sparingly. Keep off wood. Painted metal and synthetic fabric. And leather Easily washes out of a cotton Tilley for eg
S
 
Malarone or generic equivalent
Side effects can be mood swings bad dreams grumpiness etc but would you rather have that than malaria?

Jungle formula or boots own with 50% deet
As said watch plastic watch straps clothing , binocular rubber etc as may melt it

As for gin and tonic & quinine?
Yes it’s refreshing but as an anti malarial it’s as much use as t1ts on a bull !!!
That old wives crap went out with the ark and was debunked about same time

Long sleeves on an evening along with long trousers

Enjoy your trip


Paul
 
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