Has anyone tried using a Thermacell bug repellant in Africa? How'd it work? Are the propane cartridges available in Zimbabwe?

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:
Are the propane cartridges available in Zimbabwe?

I think it would work just as well as it does here on mosquitoes, not sure about the tetses and mopane flies.

The only thing that's kept me from taking it is the cartridges. I have a sinking suspicion they would be a no-no when traveling. I thought about about sending one over ahead of time in the mail to my PH to keep for when I arrive, then just leave it there. That may be the only way to get the cartridges over there safely.

Ignorance is bliss. We took them to Zim in 05 cartridges and all and they seemed to work against the dreaded tse tse. My wife would light it off and put on on the floor of the truck while stopped (no wind) and it seemed to do ok. When lunching there was a bit of a breeze so it tended to work downwind

These would be great in a leopard blind. Butane cartridges in luggage would be an issue. Has anyone been able to buy these things in RSA or Zim?

can you not take cartridges (or a lighter) in your checked baggage?

They are legal in planes now...they were exempted in checked luggage a couple years ago. The company can give you proof if needed. Heck, you can take lighters in carry ons now.

Anyway, they work great on mosquitos obviously. Last year in Zim, I could see no benefit on TseTse in the truck cab as we drove, but they stuff was surely blowing out the window. Sitting at lunch, I never had a problem with TseTse's and the Tcell. It won't do much stalking as you are moving. The unit must have a minute or so to "blanket" the area around you to work. So sitting in a blind or stand, they are great. If there is much wind, it might not work so well, but if there is that much wind, it is probably blowing the bugs away too.

I don't think it will work on mopane bees as they aren't biting insects. I haven't found a biting bug yet that it didn't worked on, and I have taken mine from AK to Africa and all in between for about 10 years.

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Herald:
They are legal in planes now...they were exempted in checked luggage a couple years ago. The company can give you proof if needed. Heck, you can take lighters in carry ons now.

Tim,

Could you provide a link that shows that please?

I can't find anything on their site to that effect and would be very surprised if compressed butane gas containers were allowed on commercial aircraft either in the cabin or in (mostly unpressurised) aircraft holds.

A Google search shows www.folica.com as saying something about them not being allowed at LHR but I can only load the Google search page and not the site itself to check it out.

However, I'd have thought the good old Air Navigation Order (Carriage of Dangerous Goods) Act would forbid it as it forbids other compressed (esp flammable) gases etc.

Incidentally, assuming you're in an elephant area, just find a few dried out elephant turds and put a match to one and let it smoulder away and the smoke will keep the flying insects away brilliantly..... It's an old trick but it works a treat!

ADDED LATER

The links below might help. Note that all flammable gases are classified as RFG - The R stands for restricted.

http://www.screenmoves.com/CONTENT/dgr.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_goods

I will see what I can do Steve. Slammed right now and headed for a trip to MT til next week, but I will see what I can do...btw...I have always had the company ship mine ahead or have an outfitter pick me up some cartridges and have in camp just to be sure after a blackpowder snafu a few years ago...I can't take any chances with this stuff, so better safe than sorry...

Righto mate....... Stupid question but where is MT?

Have a good trip anyway!

Montana...

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Herald:
Montana...

Must have had a senior moment there...... Sorry about that!

Alright...I apologize...the law was not changed to make them legal specifically. The company told me that they have had many clients fly with them without problem since butane lighters were Ok'ed on flights, but the company does not recommend doing this as an official stance.

So to correct myself...they are not exempted for flights. Best case is to have an outfitter buy you some where you are going, but I know that doesn't help with Africa. I was able to have the company send some over for me in the past because they are a sponsor of one of our shows...

Again...sorry for providing wrong info and I stand corrected...

I've never seen one but if they're the same bottle as the hair tongs etc that women use, I'm fairly sure they're available here...... and if not, the elephant turd trick will still work!

I wouldn't recommend anyone try to take them despite the ban because of the hazmat debate that crops up here from time to time..... not only are these items rated hazmat for very good reason but the person doing it is breaking something like 15 different rules and can be prosecuted for all of them.

They are the same as the ladies' curling irons...

Tim,

In that case, I've seen them for sale in my local Clicks store.

Since you generally don't have mosquitoes during the dry (hunting) season, and that you're either walking or riding when hunting (making a Thermacell useless), and that tsetse flies rarely bother you when you're still, my question is what would be the point of taking one? Deterring mopane flies might be the only benefit I can see.