| When on a walking safari, mountain climbing or | | | | animals with baboons and monkeys being highly |
| walking round the camp, it is advisable to be | | | | dangerous and they can steel by force as they |
| aware of the following guidelines on health and | | | | have learnt to get food from the tourists. |
| safety in the African Bush. | | | | Weather in Tanzania has a rainy season |
| Altitude related Illness: These illnesses can kill you | | | | November through to May with sometimes a |
| and every year tourists die from altitude related | | | | dryer season January to March dividing the |
| illnesses. Higher altitudes are colder even in Africa; | | | | season into short and long rains. It never rains all |
| there is less oxygen and to walk slowly is | | | | the time. The dry season June to October, the |
| essential especially for hikes or climbs above 1,500 | | | | coldest month being July with high altitudes |
| to 3,000 meters above sea level. You should be | | | | reaching temperatures bellow freezing. |
| breathing easily with no panting and no extreme | | | | If you get lost remain where you are; your guide |
| physical excursion. Drink water regularly and eat a | | | | will look for you and find you quicker if are on the |
| light diet with lots of carbohydrates. It is essential | | | | trail - this sometimes happens in fog or dense |
| to keep warm. | | | | forest. A day pack should include instant body |
| Hypothermia or exposure: this is life threatening | | | | shelter, warm clothing and a water proof jacket, |
| condition with a lowering of body temperature | | | | matches or lighter, a mirror or whistle for |
| and can occur with a temperature as high as 10 c | | | | signaling, food and drink [esp. water] basic first aid, |
| [50 f]. Usually caused by cold wet clothing or | | | | torch and a compass. |
| simply poorly clothed for the conditions. The signs | | | | Some areas have stinging nettles, no shorts in |
| symptoms include clumsiness, stumbling, apathy, | | | | these areas with stings causing temporary but |
| lethargy, confusion, disorientation, and eventually | | | | painful irritations |
| unconsciousness. Treatment for this is to | | | | Safari ants are small shiny brown ants move rapid |
| immediate warm the patient in a warm dry | | | | in columns across trails - they are common and |
| environment - a sleeping bag is ideal with one or | | | | carnivorous, they crawl up your trouser legs and |
| even two people inside the sleeping bag with the | | | | start to chew. Tuck trouser into socks and watch |
| patient. Warm energy rich drinks help as does | | | | where you step and especially where you stand. |
| rest with a return to camp as quickly as possible. | | | | Acacia thorns "cat claws" of the wait-a-bit thorn |
| Acute Mountain sickness: This affects many | | | | tree rip skin and clothing - the thorn is long and |
| people above 2,050 meters [or 10,000 ft] signs | | | | straight and can pierce soft soled shoes and even |
| symptoms include headache nausea fatigue, | | | | car tires so take care and try not to wear |
| malaise, loss of appetite, restless or no sleep. The | | | | sandals. |
| treatment is to slow down, remain in camp, drink | | | | Ticks may be found long grass, to remove a tick |
| water, and rest your body. It is important to | | | | grasp head and jerk out of skin. |
| adjust to altitude slowly. In case of severe | | | | Snakes will usually avoid humans; one exception is |
| headaches, loss of coordination, breathing | | | | the puff adder. This snake is sluggish and slow to |
| difficulties evacuate immediately for medical | | | | move. When moving around in the dark use a |
| attention. This condition kills tourists every year in | | | | torch to avoid a most unwelcome encounter with |
| Tanzania! | | | | the puff adder. |
| Hiking in hot or sunny weather often causes heat | | | | Scorpions lurk in the dry country under rocks, |
| exhaustion the signs/symptoms are weakness | | | | behind bark and sometimes climb into boots, |
| fatigue, headache, vertigo, thirst nausea/vomiting | | | | clothing or equipment left out at night. The sting |
| faintness high body temperature. The treatment | | | | from a scorpion can cause severe pain for |
| is to lay flat in shade, remove clothing to cool the | | | | several hours. |
| patient, soak the body with cold water, | | | | In conclusion to protect yourself - dress right and |
| re-hydrate patient and monitor body temperature | | | | drink right. Climbing in mountains or highland |
| Heat stroke is more serious with the signs | | | | prepare for extremes. Watch your self day time |
| symptoms being delirium, coma, rapid pulse, rapid | | | | temperatures can reach 35 c with little shade and |
| breathing; skin hot and dry, body temperature | | | | may well be freezing at night at higher altitudes. |
| above 40c [104 f]. Treat as for heat exhaustion | | | | Fine weather can turn into fog or rain quickly. |
| but this condition can be fatal so seek medical | | | | Always carry a waterproof and dry clothing in a |
| assistance quickly - evacuate if possible. | | | | plastic bag to keep warm wool and synthetics are |
| Wildlife; try to avoid interaction; normally the | | | | better than cotton or down - to keep cool cotton |
| wildlife will try to avoid you. Buffalo or elephant | | | | is the better option. Protect yourself from the |
| may attack if surprised or provoked. When hike in | | | | sun with a hat, sunglasses, skin protection also |
| forest or dense bush clap often or call out if met | | | | drink plenty of water and eat a diet high in |
| by an aggressive animal; at all times follow the | | | | carbohydrates for energy. Avoid alcohol at high |
| instructions of your armed guide. Never feed wild | | | | altitudes. |