Going on safari to Botswana....any tips about mosquito bite avoidance?

Answer 1

I have always had problems with mosquitos Funbe - no matter where I go on holiday I always get bitten loads, the little buggers love me for some reason! Recently I went on a business trip to India and I was really worried about being bitten so much in a malarial area, so I took every precaution in the book and it worked! Here are my tips:

Tips for your accommodation:
- If you're staying in a hotel try to get a room higher than the third floor - mosquitos don't fly very high.
- Sleep in an air conditioned room if possible, if this isn't possible, bring a mosquito net with you for your bed, and treat it with Permethrin before you go.
- Use a plug-in mosquito killer in your room (it has to be one of the plug-ins that will actually kill any mozzies in the room, not the ones that just repel them - they're no good because if it's a big room it will only protect one corner)
(I realise the above tips may not all be possible/practical depending on where you are staying, but the worst time for bites is when you are sleeping so it's vital to protect yourself during the night - even if you are sleeping in a tent you can use a net etc.)

Other tips:
- Use a mosquito repellent spray with AT LEAST 50% Deet in it AT ALL TIMES (mozzies mostly come out between sunset and sunrise, but in lots of places there are daytime mosquitos as well). You can get sprays with up to 100% Deet in them which are pretty much guaranteed to protect you from mosquitos as long as you apply them properly - also, you can use them on bedlinen, clothing and mosquito nets. HOWEVER, the 100% ones are very strong so avoid spraying them directly on your skin if you have sensitive skin or if you suspect they could cause irritation.
- Most of the stronger sprays don't need to be reapplied very often, but personally I always reapply once throughout the day and again come sunset.
- The parts of your body that get bitten most are your arms, ankles and feet, so if you want to be extra careful, just wear long sleeves, trousers and socks. Of course if you don't want to completely cover up then just pay extra attention to these areas when applying repellent.
- Wear light coloured clothes - dark colours attract mozzies.
- Avoid perfume/aftershave COMPLETELY, mozzies love a strong scent. I would advise you to just leave the smelly stuff at home, you don't need it for a safari!
- Of course you can also take obvious precautions like eating indoors in the evening instead of outside.
- Start taking an odourless garlic capsule and a vitamin B capsule now and take them once a day until and during your trip. It really works!

I would also recommend that you take a course of malaria tablets just to be on the safe side, especially if you are only going to be in Botswana for a couple of weeks. I took malarone while I was in India and I didn't have any side effects at all.

I hope these tips are helpful, enjoy your trip!

Answer 2

Best advice! If you plan a trip to botswana! First things first!
Don't i mean don't under any circumstances use those pills they give you for malaria as those pills hide and suppress the malaria simptomes from detection. Second Use Tabart insect repellent Be on the look out for the one wich is specifically for repelling mozzies! Then avoid moving arround with short sleeve shirts and pants during dusk and dawn as these are the times wich the mozzies are mostlikely to feast! When going to sleep use a insecteside treated mosquito net I know it aint nice and comfartable in using one of those but they sure do help in giving u some sleep. Then what you need is a product wich you can buy at any shop in S.A or any where else its a product known as peacefull sleep you plug it in a wall socket apply the power and there you go the mozzies aint gonna bug you!
One more thing Mozzie bites cannot be prevented but there are many ways of trying to avoid getting bitten!

Answer 3

If you 're interested in the most NATURAL anti-mosquito bite stuff, try Aloe Vera. Believe it or not, the juicy gel inside the leaves of this plant is perfect for mosquito protection (besides lots of other purposes, of course). I grow it in pots and cut a leaf every now and then, peel it and mask my arms and legs. Nice and cool! You can find Aloe Vera sprays, creams & everything in the market, as well. Enough with chemical products!

Answer 4

If you have a couple of weeks before your trip, start taking B complex vitamins daily. Taking these somehow makes your smell unattractive to mosquitos and other biting insects. There's plenty of anecdotal evidence that it works. It seems to help me.
For more mainstream tips, try the link below, with medical info from Harvard Medical school, which also notes that vitamin B doesn't work.

Answer 5

hey - just a tip from my travel dr. - I took the malarone tablets with me but when I was there the mosquitos were inactive so I ended up not taking them at all...BUT the interesting thing to know is that if you take the pill Larium it has some CRAZY possible side effects like psychotic episodes and serious depression....One of the teachers at my school took the larium on a trip to Belize and ended up hospitalized for her psychotic episodes...no one ever told her the possible side effects...scary!

I know this wasn't what you asked about exactly but I thought you might want to know...

My friend who does safaris in South Africa suggests that you don't take any pills at all - masks the symptoms - if you do feel fluish get medical attention immediatley.

Answer 6

the best way of reducing mosquito bits is to apply a mosquito repellent gel all over your body. remember to take a course of anti malaria before leaving. wear clothes that cover your arms and legs particularly at night and use a mosquito net when you go to bed. if you find the gel not suitable you can buy so repellent that you can burn in your room or spray.

Answer 7

ok this may sound weird but it actually works! take a penny and it has to be a penny and put a penny on a mosquito bite and let it sit there. the copper in the penny helps it to stop itching an kills the venim/ poison. this works for any type of bite or sting. except for ticks! ya i didnt think it worked when someone told me to do it but it acutally does

Answer 8

The best tip: Don't go to Botswana!
But if you must, use Avon Skin-so-soft.

Answer 9

The best way is to wear clothing tha covers your arms and legs. Wear plenty on insect repellant and avoid wet areas.

Answer 10

yeah, definately avoid biting mosquitos!