In late June/early July, I will be hunting in Namibia with my 10 year old son and my father. This is our first trip to Africa.

My personal doctor recommended an outfit for me to call about vaccines for me. My wife will be talking to someone from Texas Children's Hospital on Monday about vaccines for my son.

I am just curious what is normally recommended? Is anything required? Last week, I spoke to an industry colleague that had previously hunted Namibia. He said, he didn't get a single vaccine for his hunt.

I've heard the malaria tablets can cause side effects. Is this true.

Thanks for any advice/experience that you have to share.

TBD

Make sure your tetanus is current. I did Hep A&B combo as well. I also did the Typhoid series and the polio booster. I think that is all the vaccines I did.

Here is the CDC page with recommendations.

For Malaria I prefer Malarone over Larium but not everyone agrees.

I did the same shots as Charles. I took Cipro along as well as a precaution. We took Malarone, as we traveled after the hunt up to Chobe and Vic Falls. I think we saw one mosquito at Etosha and that was it for Namibia.

Depending on where you're going, I wouldn't worry about it unless you haven't had a tetanus shot in the last 10 years or so.......however if you're going around Etosha or other potential malaria areas I'd take some kind of prophylactic. Even in the winter, we saw a few mosquitos there. We used doxycycline, but it does have the downside of sunlight sensitivity. Easy solution, take high number sunblock, which is an excellent idea for Namibia anyway. We were there 3 weeks and except for right on the coast very rarely saw anything but a bright blue sky with no clouds.

Note: this advice applies ONLY to Namibia which is generally speaking a remarkably clean country, if you're going somewhere else then further precautions should be taken.

Central Namibia is fairly high and semi-arid country. The existing water is mostly around the dams on the properties. If you are there in their winter months (June/July) it is cool and there is really no need for extra shots. My first trip July 7-22 in 2004, we had morning temps. below freezing. I always make sure that I keep my tetanus current, plus I got the Hep A/B shot just in case. The local district health dept. has them quite reasonable.

Ended up tearing a large gash in my eye lid and face, and got a trip back to the doctor in Windhoek for my troubles. He did ask if I was current on all my shots. Makes sleeping at night easier, knowing I was semi-protected.

For our trip in 2007, it was April/May and was still warm and rainy in the evenings. Saw mosquitos then, and the wife and I took Malarone/Larium for them. She works in the medical field and thought that the typhoid and DPT booster might be a good idea, so got stuck again for those.

For my trip this year to Zimbabwe, they looked at my shot record and said I could have the yellow fever shot also, but it was not required. They said to just take my malaria meds and take along a prescription of doxycycline (just in case).

Sounds like you're in Houston. There is a Travel Medicine place in the Greenway Plaza area that can answer all your questions. I don't think anything is actually required for Namibia.

However, as others have said, I've always made sure to be current on Hep A & B and tetanus. You don't need Yellow Fever for Namibia. In June or July you probably won't see a mosquito, but I still took Malarone. No side effects generally, but the last time I took it it did cause some stomach upset. Nothing too serious.

It will be cold, at least in the mornings and evenings. I like a fleece pullover, gloves and a stocking cap for the mornings. And even though it's not that hot, even during the day, take plenty of unscented sunscreen.

TBD,

As has been recommended go to the CDC website and get whatever vaccines etc for Namibia. The atitude that you could probably get away without some of it is like playing Russian roulette with your life. Don't do it. Some people will tell you that malaria is not an issue in Namibia. the below is from the CDC.

Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness.

Mark

When I was at The Afton House several weeks ago there was an Anesthesiologist there who was doing some volunteer work somewhere in Africa. I had a discussion with her and told her I would only go to areas that were so called malaria free. That means the risk is very limited, but not 100% risk free. She said that was smart. She had seen malaria cases, even with her own brother, who refused to take malaria meds. My doctor checked the CDC website and I think you should check with your doctor and if they don't check the CDC web site, you should find another doctor. As Mark said, don't play Russian roulette.

If you are near Houston, go to Baylor College of Medicine, they have a "travel and tropical" medicine clinic. We went there and followed their advice.

Texas Blue Devil- You may want to consider rabies shots. I hunted about two hours drive northwest of Windhoek. I confirmed that there had been an outbreak of rabies among kudu in some areas. My doctor did some checking and strongly urged me to have the shots(three I believe, over a week or two?). I did see a couple of dead kudu carcases. Cause of death undetermined. Rabies is a cyclical disease there. I did take a 58" kudu bull, a beauty. It, fortunately, was disease free. Good luck on your trip. Be sure to take it ALL in and take LOTS of pictures.

My suggestion is get at least your Tetanus and Hep A&B up to date.

Make an appointment with your GP and go for a general check-up and speak with him/her and follow their recommendation regarding medication especially malaria meds. Ask your GP for guidelines for a small First Aid kit to bring with you as well.

Also remember your health / travel insurance and medical evacuation.

I and a gruop of 6 hunters are going to Namibia tomorrow, we are going to hunt nearby Etosha, all of us have the shots from earlyer times when we were going to RSA, We are taking Malarone pills to prevent Malaria, This was recomended from the doctor back home in Norway

TBD

If you are considering taking the Doxy please check with your doctor. I was told by mine that Doxy for small kids was not on as it effected the childrens teeth. My kids are only 5 and 4 so I am not sure about a 10 year old.

Enjoy

Stu

TBD

Also worth doing is a check up with the dentist prior to departure. Nothing worse than a tooth ache when in the middle of the African bush.

Stu

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
Depending on where you're going, I wouldn't worry about it unless you haven't had a tetanus shot in the last 10 years or so.......however if you're going around Etosha or other potential malaria areas I'd take some kind of prophylactic. Even in the winter, we saw a few mosquitos there. We used doxycycline, but it does have the downside of sunlight sensitivity. Easy solution, take high number sunblock, which is an excellent idea for Namibia anyway. We were there 3 weeks and except for right on the coast very rarely saw anything but a bright blue sky with no clouds.

Note: this advice applies ONLY to Namibia which is generally speaking a remarkably clean country, if you're going somewhere else then further precautions should be taken.

+1

A Namibian coming to Texas is probably in more need of vaccinations that the reverse.

My hunting companion went to one of those "travel medicine" places for advice on shots. After several holes were poked in him and several hundred dollars were extracted from his wallet, he concluded that he had been taken. If you are hunting in the Windhoek area or to the south, even taking malaria prophylactics is a waste of money and a detriment to your health.

I'm going to agree with Stonecreek on this one. I'm going to Namibia in June. Unless you're going to be on the Angola border or in the Caprivi, IMO, there's no need for anti-malaria. I was advised against the polio unless you are going to be spending lots of time with the indiginous tribes - Windhoek and Swakop are not indiginous tribal areas.
So, for this trip since I got the full menu for TZ in 2006, no shots, no anti-malarial.

But I am going to get travel insurance from CSA. I fell and broke my pelvis 2 weeks before leaving for TZ in 2005, and CSA covered everything except a few incidentals like the visa fee from the TZ gov't., etc.