We often get questions regarding the medical precautions potential travelers should consider as they prepare for their African safari. Of course, we are not experts in health and medicine but we do provide strong guidance for your consideration as you consider your safari.
Before you leave for an extended vacation, especially one to an international destination, we recommend you consult your physician and a professional travel clinic. Make the doctor’s appointment no less than eight weeks before your departure. You may need some prescriptions, inoculations (some of which need to be taken well before your departure), and perhaps some special advice that relates to your own health. If you haven’t had a physical examination recently, you should get one. Discuss your itinerary and describe your planned activities with your doctor if you have any questions about your fitness.
Be sure to bring enough of the prescription medicines that you are currently taking to last throughout your safari. When you pack, make certain that you have them with you in your carry-on luggage, not in the luggage you’ll check through. And don’t take just enough in your carry-on luggage for the flight, assuming that you will retrieve the rest when you get to your final destination. Occasionally, checked luggage is delayed, and you could find yourself without medication. Carry a written copy of the prescriptions for any such medication you need, including its generic/chemical name.
If you have any special condition or allergy that might possibly require attention overseas, have your physician write a letter describing the nature of the condition and the treatment – send a copy to us and carry the letter with you. If you should happen to need medical care away from home, your temporary physician will be able to treat you more efficiently and effectively.
It’s a good idea to see your dentist a few weeks before departure. A broken or lost filling can be very aggravating while traveling. You might also consider taking along one of the commercially available dental emergency kits. Such kits allow you to replace lost fillings, cement crowns or caps, and alleviate toothaches. Ask your dentist or pharmacist for a recommendation.
These simple suggestions have proven to be very effective at making sure our travelers remain healthy throughout their safari and when they arrive home. We provide more detailed recommendations in the personalized Safari Guide we prepare for each traveler.
If you have any question or concerns about health precautions, please contact us here