Drakensberg in August: is it the right time? (page 4 of 4)

If I sneak up on you quickly to give you a kiss on the cheek when we don’t know each other... You might slap me!

Oh, absolutely—especially post-Covid!!!! I’ve kinda stopped doing the cheek-kiss thing!😏

That’s to reassure you!

Reassured... well, barely! But at least I’ve got some tips and tricks and know what to expect (sort of).

The best thing is to speak Zulu or Shangaan in a deep, soft voice

I’m waiting for my Zulu lessons! You know, the essentials: hello, please, thank you, goodbye, could you help me....... Maybe I can try saying those words to angry elephants—it might work? Nah, I’ll stick with the advice you mentioned above—it’s way safer!😏

You can book the car at any time

Wow, I'm stunned! At any rental place at the airport? Do you think it's a good idea considering I'm staying just 400 m from the airport?

Renting a car as soon as you arrive lets you leave whenever you're ready the next day! 😉

Yeah, that’s for sure, but it was more about my safety concerns when arriving in Johannesburg!

Good evening Michel! I’m back after diving into Voyajou’s latest travel journal! What a writer! I also stopped by the doctor to check which vaccines I need for South Africa and whether I need anti-malarial treatment in August. I wasn’t convinced by their approach. So, anti-malarial or not in August for the KRUGER-ESWATINI-ST LUCIA area? If so, which one? Can you share your experiences with me? Of course, no answer will be held against you—I’m actually off to get a second opinion from another doctor soon! Now, back to immersing myself in Voyajou’s prose with another of their journals (no favorites, I’ve already read yours, Michel—not all of them, but a good few, as we say back home—as well as Atila’s and those of other generous travelers who are enthusiastic about sharing their experiences!) Malijp

Personally, I’ve never taken antimalarials for any of my trips to South Africa.

I’ve taken them for other destinations.

Hey, Whether to take meds or not is a personal choice. Normally, the malaria/no-malaria line runs from Musina to Richards Bay. West: no malaria. East: malaria. Mosquitoes are needed for it. Mosquitoes love heat and humidity. So depending on the season, there are mosquitoes or not. From what I know, KNP (Kruger National Park) is low-risk, but you can still catch malaria from a mosquito. Isimangaliso = malaria zone, same as Swaziland and Hluhluwe. So: Mosquito repellent on clothes and skin = rule number one. That’ll also help you avoid ticks that spread tick fever. In August, I don’t take anything. In March, May, or October, I take meds in the affected areas. Malarone. This isn’t advice—it’s just what I do.

Antimalarials are a must Just one bite can give you malaria for life... but the best thing is to ask a doctor who specializes in tropical diseases for advice.

Thanks Atila, Michel, and Djalma for your replies! Super helpful firsthand experiences: ticks, yes, I need to watch out for those too! I hadn’t thought of that. Are there other little critters I should pay special attention to, since they can be just as dangerous as the big ones?

I’m waiting for the second medical opinion (including on which medication to take). Have a great week! Malijp

Are there other small creatures that require special attention because they’re just as dangerous as the big ones?

Check this out: https://afriquedusud-decouverte.com/serpents-dangereux-ep1/

And here: (puff adder) https://www.yvesetnickie.com/2015/03/le-drakensberg.html

As far as we're concerned, no malaria prophylaxis in South Africa. You'll be there in winter, and measures like covering up as much as possible and using repellent (on clothes and skin) are usually enough. But it's a matter of mindset, and you might not want to add a source of anxiety to your trip. 😉 Thanks for your comment on my travel journal, even if that's not where you'll find practical info. 🙂

Thanks Voyajou for your message! On top of being a writer and poet, you're quite the psychologist (those often go hand in hand!)! I'm starting to read your travel journals in reverse (I finished the most recent one, and I'm starting the second-to-last tonight) while waiting for your future writings :) maybe..... Malijp

Thanks Djalma for the links. I checked them out—the first one is really informative about what to do in case of bites, and the second is great for learning more from other travelers’ experiences (even though things in South Africa have probably changed over the past 10+ years)!

Maybe they’ve eradicated the snakes 😏