r/Botswana • u/Darkknyfe • 9d ago

Question Mosquito/Malaria Protection

We are travelling for a safari trip to Botswana during mid-September. I have 2 questions regarding protecting ourselves from mosquitoes and malaria:

1) Do we need anti-malarial tablets during mid September visit to Okovango delta, Chobe and Zambezi national parks

2) Any other mosquito protection recommended?

Thanks in advance!

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u/Tvego 9d ago

Do we need anti-malarial tablets during mid September visit to Okovango delta, Chobe and Zambezi national parks

Having standby medication on you certainly wont hurt, but you should proabably talk to a tropical doctor about that. I had prescribed malarone for emergency use in case of a fever, but this might also depend on your route, style of travel, health status etc.

Any other mosquito protection recommended?

In every country where mosquitoes carry serious disease, exposure prohylaxis is the first and most important step. Clothing with permethrine, DEET or Icaridin for the skin, mosquitoe nets...

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u/Darkknyfe 8d ago

Thank you! Permethrine check, deet check and need would be provided. We have government website which does recommendations based on a set of questions and I was surprised it recommended I do not need to take anti-malarial tablets while in Okovango. Hence, the question here. P.S: I do not have any pre existing conditions

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u/Tvego 8d ago

There is a difference between active prophylaxis (taking the meds preemptively) and standby medication (taking them when you get a fever of certain kind so you can get threatment at home).

Not saying you need any of those but just so you are aware.