I am going to Namibia in March. We will be hunting 2 hours from Windhoek and will visit Etosha. I am told I do not need to take any meds for Malaria. Does this sound correct? What if any shots should I consider. I will be going to the local travel clinic.

Thanks for the info, PG

quote:

Originally posted by PG:
I am going to Namibia in March. We will be hunting 2 hours from Windhoek and will visit Etosha. I am told I do not need to take any meds for Malaria. Does this sound correct? What if any shots should I consider. I will be going to the local travel clinic.

Thanks for the info, PG

Call the travel clinic to get prices before you go. I had a huge surprise when I went to one for my shots. Had I gotten all of my shots through them, it would have cost me $900.

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Regarding malaria, I took doxy while I was in Namibia (near Otjiwarongo and Kamanjab)in late April/early March.

Back in '04 an anti-malarial was recommended. I also took doxy with just a hint of sun sensitivity. I would probably do the same again.

The best advice is on the NIH website. This is the standard by which any travel clinic is going to be guided. There are very few if any innoculations that are required for Namibia. Hepatitis A and B series are VERY appropriate no matter where you are ( here or abroad). I recently took Malaria proph in Namibia but I am not sure that I would bother next time: be aware that there are clearly differences between regions within a country as far as malarial risk goes

Steve

PG - Ask your PH in Namibia this question. He/She will know the situation better than anyone else. I have been there twice, not seen a single one as my PH said would be the case.

Time of year, amount of rainfall, areas you plan to visit all are part of the equation, so let the expert over there advise you.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

To my knowledge only the Caprivi strip has malaria.

When you visit the travel clinic I think that you will find that in addition to the Caprivi Strip, the Etosha area is also shown as a malaria area. In 3 trips I did not see the first mosquito in or around Etosha; however, I still took Malerone each time and would do so again if I were going to be in malaria areas. Especially if I were going in the rainy season as you are.

You don't need Malaria shots, Malaria is high up north in Namibia from Grootfontein to the Caprivi, these areas have a lot of rainfall and it's very humid there, that's the tropical part of namibia. Up to Etosha is no problem, my ranch is 2.5 hours from Windhoek and I take clients all the time up to Etosha, you really don't have to worry about your location.

If you have more questions please feel free to contact me.

Roy

Travel clinics are huge rip-offs. Stay clear, or they'll shoot you full of everything under the sun and charge you about triple for each shot what a regular physician's office would.

Generally speaking, anything from Etosha-south doesn't represent a malaria threat. If venturing into the Caprivi, particularly during or just after the rainy season, malarial propylaxis is probably indicated.

I didn't bother to get any innoculations before I went to Namibia in 2007, but I was going to the south of Windhoek where the only thing you need innoculated against is puff adders and twisted ankles on rocks. Namibia is one of the limited number of countries where polio has not been eradicated, so getting a polio booster, though perhaps overly cautious, isn't necessarily a bad idea. Actually, you have a greater chance of choking on one of those dry rolls the airline will serve you than contracting a serious disease in Namibia (assuming your sporting activities are limited to hunting and touring -- there is no innoculation against HIV, which, sadly, infects about 20% of the population.)

quote:

Originally posted by Otjandaue Hunting Safaris:
You don't need Malaria shots, Malaria is high up north in Namibia from Grootfontein to the Caprivi, these areas have a lot of rainfall and it's very humid there, that's the tropical part of namibia. Up to Etosha is no problem, my ranch is 2.5 hours from Windhoek and I take clients all the time up to Etosha, you really don't have to worry about your location.

If you have more questions please feel free to contact me.

Roy

Roy:

I assume you are back home now?

Terry