In parts of Tanzania the tsetse flies can be a real problem. I spoke with a friend of mine last week that said he used the Bug Tamer jacket and pants in Tanzania and highly recommended them. He said he would put that suit on and be completely insulated from the bugs. Have any of you tried their suits? Also, if I buy one, since they come in different camo patterns, I wouldn't mind using it when I get home during our bow season for whitetails. This brings up the question of camouflage. When in Zim, it's not allowed. How about Tanzania?

I used my suit some in Tanzania (Muhesi) while riding in the vehicle. It kept the little bastards at bay until they found the edges and crawled in. Then I was trapped inside my suit with a half-dozen biting flies!

I found the suit retained a lot of body heat (it was already 100 degrees F. with a brutal equatorial sun beating down on me), so I took it off.

The game guard never said a word about its camouflage pattern.

George

I've worn camo when hunting in Zim. Had a suitcase full of it. No one said a word. PH wore a Leafy Wear camo set up when we were out as well.

I was under the impression that many African countries ban the use of "military looking" outfits and often the use of camouflage is consider thusly. Can someone correct this impression for me?

You might also look at the The Bug Shirt http://www.bugshirt.com/ You can get it in solids and camo. I have the "elite edition" because you can unzip the head from the top and just expose your eyes. I've used it for black flies in Maine and it really worked. You can wear a cap inside the hood.

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Originally posted by vapodog:
I was under the impression that many African countries ban the use of "military looking" outfits and often the use of camouflage is consider thusly. Can someone correct this impression for me?

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The BugTamer is ANYTHING but "military looking".

George

Deer season here opens AUG 15th (SC) I have hunted several days here when it was 100deg out. Plenty of bugs to deal with.

Absolutely without a doubt the bug tamer clothes work the best. If I wasn't wearing them the skeeters would resort to sucking blood out of each others rear ends!!

The best cure for tsetse flies I've found is to once a day douse yourself in gasoline and light it. The reulting 3rd degree burns are less bothersome than those damn tsetse bites and the flames will keep the little bugger at bay for at least 15 or 20 seconds.

But really I've found no repelant that works I was advised that Avon Bug Guard was best. B.S!!! Tsetse's didn't seem to mind it at all!

I haven't tried any of the various bug suits but my subconcious tells me..

Suck it up and hunt like a man! Just get over it.It ain't all that bad besides chicks dig tsetse scars.

Take a metal bucket, punch some holes in it and fill it with dried elephant dung. Then light the elephant dung on fire. Carry the bucket with you and the tsetse fies won't bother you.

Regards,

Terry

I use the Bug Tamer jacket from Shannon (and I stock them) when hunting Africa and when hunting turkey here in Texas. I have had great luck with it and consider it one of if not the most important pc. of clothing I take to Africa.

My wife got me some French made bug cream - forgot what its name is! And it seems to work very well.

Also, tsetse flies like to bit just above the shoes on the leg, so I sprayed my socks with bug killer that they leave for us in the tent. This stopped them biting me there completely.

I am going to ask my wife to get some of that cream, and I will post a photo of it.

Pierre kept using it, as he said it worked better than the ones he had.

Must have been Canal #5!

The Bug Tamer jacket, Permanone spray on my pants and short gaiters work for me. Keeps off flies, ticks and grass seeds out of my socks. Everyone does it different. I also wear good leather gloves on my hands to prevent bites, thorns and sunburn to the back of my hands while holding onto the roll bar in the back of the safari car.
I just made my semi annual trip to the skin doc yesterday and once again he got the "freeze" spray after certain portions of my face, arm and hand. I try and stay covered up best I can these day from flies and sun.

Like Harry, I am more concerned about the sun than tsetse flies.

In the Okavango, I got a few bites, but most of the time I was able to swat them away with my hand. The buggers will sometimes crawl or fly away after a blow that would squash most bugs. But it is a good idea not to rub a squashed bug into the bite he just left. Swatting should be more of a brush-off.

I would be intersted in identifying the balm Saeed is talking about.

RIP,

The best repellant I've found is what is called Momma. You take her along on safari, and when the flies start to get a good hold on you, have her reach over, and with two fingers slowly grab the fly and, once held, have her gently squeeze the fly til the blood pops out.

She can also double as an umbrella carrier to keep the sun off of you.

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Originally posted by Will:
RIP,

The best repellant I've found is what is called _Momma._ You take her along on safari, and when the flies start to get a good hold on you, have her reach over, and with two fingers slowly grab the fly and, once held, have her gently squeeze the fly til the blood pops out.

She can also double as an umbrella carrier to keep the sun off of you.

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Bless Momma. She can come along anytime.

There is no escaping the Tetsi, no way, no how...Cover your body and they will eat your head and hands off..

Take me and no one gets bitten except me, ask Saeed, I am the camp protector, they all land on me and stay there....They lick off the deat and feast on my pure, clean life source. I guess I am just such and amiable, kind and gentle person they can't help them selves..

You may or may not get away with camoflage in camp, in Tanzania....Its not the smartest thing to do IMO...

We do not allow hunter clients to wear camo in our camp and especially near the border of say Benin..

You could be shot as an insurgent or sniped by an insurgent in certain areas of Tanzania, and if you wear it to town you will probably be tossed into a Tanzania jail, I would prefer to get shot..

In Zim the Avon skin so soft bug guard with SPF 30 lotion worked well on tsetse and mopani flies as well as mosquitos and the sun for me and my son. I carried a bottle in my back pack in the truck to add some as needed. Sure beats extra cloathing.

CFA

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Originally posted by CFA:
In Zim the Avon skin so soft bug guard with SPF 30 lotion worked well on tsetse and mopani flies as well as mosquitos and the sun for me and my son. I carried a bottle in my back pack in the truck to add some as needed. Sure beats extra cloathing.

CFA

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CFA. Momma said that was good stuff.

Deet is not so nice and no sun protection.

Permethrin on the clothes and Avon Skin-So-Soft SPF 30. Works for Momma too.