I am off to Zimbabwe the 29th. Have traveled extebsively internationally, but first safari. I am very afraid of water borne illness, diarrea etc.

Is it correct that camps will have an abundant supply of bottled water?

May be not bottled water, but they do have plenth of water to drink.

They boil it first, and there absolutely no worry about drinking it.

We have done it this way for many years.

Thanks Saeed.

df06 - A lot of camps will have a fairly deep bore hole they use, with that water being run through a reverse osmosis filter system. If you still have concerns take a squeeze bottle filter system with you and drink from that. I always have one of these with me on any trip outside the Country for the "just in case" situations. Has worked for me.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

I have been in many different hunting camps in Zimbabwe. They all tell you the water is safe to drink but advise you to only drink or brush your teeth with bottled water to be on the safe side. I have never had any problems in doing that. There has always been a plentiful supply of bottled water.

465H&H

I would confirm with your PH that bottled water will be there. Murphy's Law, you know.

Was in one camp where they were refilling old bottled water bottles with the camp water and calling it bottled water!! I NEVER take a chance, that's why my filter goes along on ALL occasions!!

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:
I have been in many different hunting camps in Zimbabwe. They all tell you the water is safe to drink but advise you to only drink or brush your teeth with bottled water to be on the safe side. I have never had any problems in doing that. There has always been a plentiful supply of bottled water.

465H&H

Would that be in the same catagory as confirming your PH had your correct rifle permits and they would be there?

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by lee440:
I would confirm with your PH that bottled water will be there. Murphy's Law, you know.

I would take a water filter like one that you can buy at REI or Costco (Steri-Pen). I got a bug in Zim in 2010 and it was severe for a number of months. I finally had to go to the doctor and get a pill that killed everything inside of me. I believe that I got it drinking "bottled" water. Problem is, they reuse the water bottles and then reseal them and tell you its bottled water and is ok to drink. Don't believe it. Take the steri-pen and sterilize all of it. Better to be safe than sorry!

FYI, you can brush your teeth with beer....NO WATER!!!

And take a ten day supply of Cipro!

Be prepared, diahrrea medicine, doxycycline for tick fever, cipro broad spectrum antibiotic, and some strong pain relievers. Oh yea motrin.

Mike

When we stayed at Sango Lodge in the Save last Sept., we drank water from their bore hole (well) everyday with no problems.
Never was I handed a bottle of water that was not sealed.

UEG - Indeed the Steri Pen is most likely the best device for ANY water that you have a doubt about it's purity. You can drink water from a Buffalo wallow with a 60 second application. May not look or taste that well, but it will not contain any organism that will harm you. It's small, easy to use and a couple of extra batteries should last for a year or so if I remember correctly. I use mine along with the the water bottle filter and am good to go.

Talked with a couple of "special ops" guys who have used the Steri Worldwide, they don't leave home without it.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
I would take a water filter like one that you can buy at REI or Costco (Steri-Pen). I got a bug in Zim in 2010 and it was severe for a number of months. I finally had to go to the doctor and get a pill that killed everything inside of me. I believe that I got it drinking "bottled" water. Problem is, they reuse the water bottles and then reseal them and tell you its bottled water and is ok to drink. Don't believe it. Take the steri-pen and sterilize all of it. Better to be safe than sorry!

Larry: . Costco here in Vegas had a package with the newest Steri-Pen, the bottle and the initial filter for filtering out small debris for $49. A steal. I bought a butt load of them to give to family members for Christmas. By the way, I didn't get a bug until my 8th Safari, but boy it was a doozie. Wouldn't have wished it on anyone. Anyone who thinks that they are always safe with the water over there is fooling themselves. I thought that too. Little did I know. I would never go to Africa again without the Steri-Pen.

Probably can't get it in Zim, but pure yogurt about the best thing to use to stop dirreah. good to know about the steri-pen thing and will look into it as had dysentry when just born and I can smell stuff others can eat, and get sick. I was in India and got diarreah from drinking fresh squeezed pineapple juice. Juice was great, but put in a glass that had been swished around in a bucket of water that was 2 weeks old. Got diarreah bad, but the yougurt stopped it cold, while the imodium didn't even slow it down..

How does that song go...

Don't drink the water, and don't breathe the air...
I have always drank only bottled water from sealed bottles.

I think a quick look in most camp Kitchens will reveal a little hand press that puts that pretty little 'seal' back onto a freshly re-filled plastic drink bottle
I do think that the biggest risk of getting the dreaded bug is on the flight over and transfering to the camp itself.

I dont mind the boiled camp water, just cautious of potentially non sterilized bottles. Who sucked on it last??
Stu