Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
rear of the body as this may squeeze the tick's gut contents through the attached mouth
parts into the skin, increasing the risk of both infection and disease. Smearing chemicals
on the tick will not make it let go and is not recommended.
Bed bugs are found in hostels and cheap hotels and lead to itchy, lumpy bites. Spraying
the mattress with crawling-insect killer after changing bedding will get rid of them. Sca-
bies are also found in cheap accommodation. These tiny mites live in the skin, often
between the fingers, and they cause an intensely itchy rash. The itch is easily treated with
malathion and permethrin lotion from a pharmacy; other members of the household also
need treating to avoid spreading scabies, even if they do not show any symptoms.
Snake Bites
Basically, avoid getting bitten! Don't walk barefoot, or stick your hand into holes or
cracks. Boomslangs tend to hang out in trees, especially on overhanging limbs, so also ex-
ercise caution when walking in forests. If you're camping or trekking through any
canyons or rocky areas, always pack away your sleeping bag when it's not in use, and tap
out your boots to ensure that nothing has crept inside them during the night. Another sens-
ible precaution is to shake out your clothes before you put them on. Remember, snakes
don't bite unless threatened or stepped on.
However, about half of those bitten by venomous snakes are not actually injected with
poison (envenomed). If bitten by a snake, do not panic. Immobilise the bitten limb with a
splint (such as a stick) and apply a bandage over the site with firm pressure, similar to
bandaging a sprain. Do not apply a tourniquet, or cut or suck the bite. Get medical help as
soon as possible. It will help get you the correct antivenene if you can identify the snake,
so try to take note of its appearance.
Water
Stick to bottled water while travelling in Botswana and Namibia, and purify stream water
before drinking it.
Traditional Medicine
According to estimates, as many as 85% of residents of Botswana and Namibia rely in
part, or wholly, on traditional medicine. Given the high costs and unavailability of
Western medicine in many rural areas, traditional healers are the first contact for many
when falling ill. The
sangoma
(traditional healer) and
inyanga
(herbalist) hold revered po-
sitions in many communities, and traditional medicinal products are widely available in
