Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DRINKING WATER
Unless your intestines are well accustomed to Tanzania, don't drink tap water
that hasn't been boiled, filtered or chemically disinfected (such as with iodine
tablets) and be wary of ice and fruit juices diluted with unpurified water. Also
avoid drinking from streams, rivers and lakes unless you've purified the water
first. The same goes for drinking from pumps and wells - some do bring pure
water to the surface, but the presence of animals can still contaminate supplies.
Bottled water is widely available, except in very remote areas, where you
should carry a filter or purification tablets.
Environmental Hazards
ALTITUDE SICKNESS
Reduced oxygen levels at altitudes above 2500m affects most people. The effect may be
mild or severe and occurs because less oxygen reaches the muscles and the brain at high
altitudes, requiring the heart and lungs to compensate by working harder. Symptoms of
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) usually develop during the first 24 hours at altitude but
may be delayed for up to three weeks. Mild symptoms include headache, lethargy, dizzi-
ness, sleeping difficulties and loss of appetite. AMS may become more severe without
warning and can be fatal. It is a significant risk for anyone - no matter what their fitness
level - who tries to ascend Mt Kilimanjaro or Mt Meru too rapidly. Severe symptoms in-
clude breathlessness; a dry, irritative cough (which may progress to the production of pink,
frothy sputum); severe headache; lack of coordination and balance; confusion; irrational
behaviour; vomiting; drowsiness; and unconsciousness. There is no hard-and-fast rule as
to what is too high: AMS has been fatal at 3000m, although 3500m to 4500m is the usual
range.
Treat mild symptoms of AMS by resting at the same altitude until recovery, which usu-
ally takes a day or two. Paracetamol or aspirin can be taken for headaches. If symptoms
persist or become worse, however, immediate descent is necessary; even descending just
500m can help. Drug treatments should never be used to avoid descent or to enable further
ascent.
The drugs acetazolamide and dexamethasone are recommended by some doctors for the
prevention of AMS; however, their use is controversial. They can reduce the symptoms,
but they may also mask warning signs and cause severe dehydration; severe and fatal AMS
has occurred in people taking these drugs. In general we do not recommend them for trav-
ellers.
To prevent AMS, try the following:
