I am hunting with Zambezi Hunters in August, and taking my wife to Africa forth first time. We will be in Zimbabwe for a month, starting at Vic Falls, and ending in the Arda camp for the hunting safari...(excited I am)
-questions for you pros out there;
My wife is a little concerned about shots/Meds... What is necessary and what do you recommend?
What type of weather/clothes for an August adventure?
Lastly, what is the one piece of advice you would give to me, and what piece of advice would your wife give to my wife, as far as that "little extra special tip"
I am grateful for this forum, and any advice that you are willing to share with us

D

I am getting ready to travel to Zim in August as well. Just went through my shots - typhoid, hepatitis A and hepatitis B. (The hep shots should have been started already). For malaria, I'm taking atovaquone which is started the day before the trip and taken up until the week after returning.

Get ready for the time of her life. She should be amazed by the service and the sights, sounds, and the scenery. My wife doesn't hunt, but she enjoyed riding around and watching me shoot stuff.

My wife & I were in Zambezi Hunters Sango camp back in the first of Sept.
Cool nights, warm days.
Next year going to Arda in late July.
Go to Zambezi Hunters website, then General Info, then Before Departure, then Download Our Recommended Checklist, print it off for both of you.
I advise the hepatitis shots, you're a little late for this trip, but you can go ahead & start the first series.
We used Malarone for our anti-malarial with no side effects.
Make sure you visit you M.D. & get some hydrocodone for pain incase of something serious going wrong, plus some kind of strong antibiotic, hopefully not needed, but you never know.
Who's your P.H. & what are you hunting?
Tell your wife to take plenty of things to read if she will be staying in camp while you hunt.

The most important thing is to remember that you are embarking on an adventure. Do not expect that everything will be perfect,after all efficiency is not an African word, rather just relax, take things as they come and drink in everything. Take Africa, and Zim, for what it is. Take time to talk to the people, look at the birds, listen to the doves in the morning and the hyneas at night. Hunting is only a part of it, don't be so focused on hunting that you miss the rest of it.
Have a wonderful time.
PS keep a journal, you will be surprised at how often you will go back and read it.

For medical concerns I recommend a travel clinic. If you are in a large city or near a good hospital you should be able to find one.
Odd things can occur. I returned home one year with some strange tick embedded in the back of my knee. I called the University of Washington travel clinic, which is about three miles away. My moment of fame is probably being a pic in some journal article, as one of the docs came to my house to photograph my tick. Your regular family practice doc is not going to have a clue, and some African stuff is tough to diagnose.

AND HAVE A FANTASTIC TIME!

I've been there with my wife.

The camp is above a pool. It can get downright cold there at night. They have water bottles, but it is nice to have some warm clothes to sleep in.

Betsy says there's no hair dryer there and not much light in the bathrooms. A battery powered light might help with makeup application and that kind of stuff, according to Betsy.

There is an inverter and 220v power available. Betsy planned mid day showers so she could dry her hair at the lapa.

The trails from the tents to the lapa are dirt paths, and are not very well lit. An extra flashlight for the misses would be a good idea.

Malerone for malaria prevention and a tetanus booster when needed is all we ever take unless we are headed into Yellow Fever country.

If there any bums , remember its Africa. What are you going to do walk home? My wife and I look at one another and chuckle.

Mike

+1 on the flashlights, one for each of you and extra batteries! Also, the journal is important. You will go back and relive the experience through it and will read things you have forgotten. It takes you back again to the sounds, smells and sights. I have taken silk long underwear tops and bottoms-warm to sleep in and very light weight/not bulky to pack. Cold nights-yes. Have something to put on your head while sleeping, even if its one of their towels-keeps in the body heat! Have fun!

Great responses thus far!!
So....we are Canadians from Alberta, but we live in Puerto Vallarta...not much chance of a travel clinic doctor....do I just ask a doc for Hep shots? What do you mean it's too late? Should we still get them, or not?
How cold does it get at night?
I'm taking notes

The hepatitous shots are a series of 3 shots taken over a serveral month period.
You could probably get your 1st & 2nd shot before you leave.
I'm not sure about Mexico, but we got ours through our M.D.
When we were in Sango in early Sept. it would get down in the 50's at night & into the upper 80's during the day.
Who is your P.H. & what are you hunting?
By the way, WELCOME TO AR!!!

Rabies
Tetanus
Yellow Fever (in case you end up wanting to transit through Nairobi)
Hep A and B

quote:

Originally posted by African Hunters Quest:
Rabies
Tetanus
Yellow Fever (in case you end up wanting to transit through Nairobi)
Hep A and B

So you have to have a yellow fever shot just to transit through the airport?

Di and me have spent several days in arda. it's a fun fun place. you just need your normal shots and malaria stuff. In case of need triangle is just a few miles away. If she is looking for some unique souvenirs , go the the leather tannery shop. The country club there has good food and drink. While it is a tent camp, the floors are concrete and facilities are all there. If davidson is still cooking there you will need to gain some weight. and if gaskets is still there, you have to hear the story of how he got his name

I'm somewhat out of my depth here, but I believe that hepatitis prophylactic is simply gamma globulin -- in other words "blood building" to increase your resistance to infection. I was told by my doctor that gamma globulin is thick, viscous stuff and the amount recommended for an adult male is miserable to receive. That was a number of years ago and something may have changed. But if there is an actual hep vaccination I am unaware of it.

I can assure you that a "travel clinic" will shoot you full of things that you don't need and which will do you potentially more harm than good. Do a Google (or your other favorite privacy-invading service) websearch. Sort out the wheat from the chaff and you'll find what you really need. Although your family physician may not be an expert on which communicable diseases might be encountered in a particular section of a particular country, he can advise you as to the potential side effects of certain prophylaxis, so I would definately run anything recommended to you by him/her before commiting to it.

quote:

Posted 22 May 2012 15:02 Hide Post

quote:
Originally posted by African Hunters Quest:
Rabies
Tetanus
Yellow Fever (in case you end up wanting to transit through Nairobi)
Hep A and B



So you have to have a yellow fever shot just to transit through the airport?

quote:

So you have to have a yellow fever shot just to transit through the airport?

Last time I transited I had to show proof of yellow fever vacc to buy ticket from UAE to Joburg with Kenya airways.

Call them to find out if that is the case but Yellow fever is rifle across most of east africa and the more tropical climates.

Both Hep A & Hep B are inactivated virus vaccines. They cause the body to build immunity to the virus. Immunoglobulin is human Globulin that contains antibodies against the virus. Effectiveness seems to be about the same but the globulin is for short term protection and/or is given post exposure.

Take a couple deflated soccer balls to give to kids at local schools. Take a pin so your PH can inflate. The reaction you will see is something you will never forget! We start looking for inexpensive tee shirts to pass out to staff and their families. One year we took about 25 pink visors that were left over from a fund raiser. Those things were showing up everywhere. Small tablets and pencils are great for the kids.

my PH will be Brendon (Butch) Coaten....does anyone know him? (i havent heard his name before)
-how is the food at Arda camp?
-do they prepare wild game?

In my two trips there, the food has been good. Not the best I ever had but good.

They will often serve wild game. I remember chicken, beefs, prawns and fish as well.

I do not know Butch myself.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
In my two trips there, the food has been good. Not the best I ever had but good.

And bear in mind that Mr Shores is a very fussy eater...Only joking Larry

Butch Coaten is one of this country's most experienced and proficient PH's.

You are going to have a fantastic safari, you can count on that.

We have been to zim about 8 times and we have never taken any shots or any other meds; glenda enjoys the camp and the staff-she brings one of these portable video player, several dvd's and hosts movie night after dineer-staff seems to enjoy the movies. Suppose what I am saying is this: the place is little different from here in St. Thomas. so elax and enjoy the trip

I know you are David. Obviously, if it was bad I would not have gone back several times (and going again in October).

There have been different cooks. One was Tommy & the other Mick as I recall.

Breakfast is what many would call normal. Eggs, bacon, toast, yogurt, fruit, etc.

Lunch may vary considerably depending on whether you would be coming back to camp or not. If not, it would be a variety of things that could be eaten cold. Sandwiches, fried chicken, pizza, etc.

Dinners are naturally the biggest meal. I am guessing 2/3's are game animals and 1/3 other. I have had prawns at least one night each of my 3 trips with ZH. There was a fish that was really good as well. Some of the game dishes are notable. My favorite (by far) is eland steak. I could eat that every night. I may have to shoot another just for food.

Some of the desserts are good. Pies and cakes in particular. Puddings as well.

I guess the acid test would be whether I lost weight over there. The answer is a resounding NO!