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The Kruger National Park
and Sabi Sand Reserve are in a region of South Africa which is
commonly referred to as the 'Lowveld'. To all intent and purposes
the Lowveld is the only malaria risk region in South Africa. The
risk is usually low however.
The threat of malaria should not affect your
decision to enjoy and experience a Kruger Park safari or a Sabi
Sand Reserve safari. It's just something one should be aware of
and take the relevant precautions. A 24-hour malaria hotline is
available on +
giving you a detailed explanation on risk and advice on precautionary
measures.
By law we have to advise you to take malaria
prophylactics (tablets). We recommend you consult with your Doctor
or General Practitioner (GP) or a recognized travel clinic about
suitable medication. You would also need to check with your GP
on the vaccinations required for South Africa as this tends to
differ for various countries.
Anti-malaria prophylactics are thus recommended when visiting
the Kruger Park and the Sabi Sand Reserve. The highest risk period
is between December and April (end of the rainy season). Very
often (particularly after periods of low rainfall) the malaria
risk in Kruger and Sabi Sands is very low.
Many people decide
not to take prophylactics and rather try to avoid getting bitten.
The most vulnerable times for getting bitten are between dusk
and dawn. People are advised to stay indoors during these periods,
or cover exposed skin with light clothing or insect repellents.
The ankles are the most critical area. Burning anti-mosquito coils
and ensuring netted screens are kept closed are other preventative
measures.
While malaria prophylactics are recommended,
no prophylactic is foolproof and any person developing flu-like
symptoms 7 to 20 days (or even longer) after being in malaria
areas should be tested immediately for malaria, until the symptoms
clear or an alternative diagnosis is made. It is important to
advise medical practitioners that you have been in a malaria area
to avoid incorrect diagnosis.
On the question of prophylactics, no drug is
guaranteed 100% effective, but a combination of Choroquin (taken
weekly first one week before) and Paludrin (daily - first 2 days
before) appears to be the most recommended prophylactic. Mefloquin
is a single alternative. These would be available from pharmacies
in Johannesburg and en route to the park in Nelspruit (and perhaps
for sale at some of the larger rest camps in the park). However
as they should be taken a week in advance, if one chooses to use
them, buying them in SA would be leaving it late, unless you will
be spending time elsewhere in the country (most of which is malaria
free).
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Note
Most types of mosquito do not carry the malaria
plasmodium and if one is bitten it does not mean one will contract
malaria. Only mosquitoes of the anopheles genus carry the plasmodium,
and then only if they have previously fed on an infected host.
As the presence of people with the plasmodium in their bloodstream
in the park is greatly reduced compared to past times, risk is
once more reduced.
One reason for these reductions is that the
accommodation units in the parks are sprayed periodically throughout
the year. Now that international campaigns are ensuring treatment
is taking place in adjacent countries such as Mozambique and Swaziland,
malaria occurrence has been further reduced. |
