Okavango Trip -A few questions

[Pipe]

We are planning to fish the Okavango Panhandle in December I have two questions:

Would you recommend taking malaria tablets or should we just take enough precautions to prevent to get bitten?

What long sleeve quick dry shirt would you guys recommend, what are the options and price ranges? Already got a pair of Senqu pants for a very good price

[Korrie]

ALWAYS, BUT ALWAYS take Malaria tablets.
If you do go get Malaria, the side effects of the tablets (if any) is far far less than Malaria.

Do not believe any of the crap of "malaria tablets hides the symptons etc...."

How many people got malaria that took no precaution compared to those that did take precaution?

[gkieser]

Last time we were up there we asked our host about taking malaria tablets. We have always gone up in Winter. He lives in Rundu and said that he does not think it is necessary to take the tablets in winter but would highly recommend taking them in summer.

That's from a local, so i would say definately take the tablets. They are not lekker and make me feel edgy the whole trip, but as Korrie says, i would not take a chance, especially in summer.

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about them. My dad is a Pharmacist and his advice was the following:

There are three options at different prices (about R50, R200, and R500) with the side effects being different for each as well as the course lengths.

I have always used the middle option (Mefliam), but the course is 1 tablet a week for 6 weeks starting 1 week before you go and i felt k*k for all 6 weeks. Very hard to do for 4 weeks after your trip.

My Dad does not recommend the R50 option and says the only advantage of the most expensive option is that it is a much shorter course but is a tablet per day, so you feel the side effects for a shorter amount of time.

It is also very important to speak to a doctor or pharmacist because there are certain illnesses and medicines that you cannot take with certain types of malaria tablets. I remember him saying that the Mefliam cannot be used if you're pregnant, experience epilepsy, or have been taking medication for depression amoung other things that i can't remember, but they will be able to tell you.

[poppernel]

Last time we were up there we asked our host about taking malaria tablets. We have always gone up in Winter. He lives in Rundu and said that he does not think it is necessary to take the tablets in winter but would highly recommend taking them in summer.

That's from a local, so i would say definately take the tablets. They are not lekker and make me feel edgy the whole trip, but as Korrie says, i would not take a chance, especially in summer.

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about them. My dad is a Pharmacist and his advice was the following:

There are three options at different prices (about R50, R200, and R500) with the side effects being different for each as well as the course lengths.

I have always used the middle option (Mefliam), but the course is 1 tablet a week for 6 weeks starting 1 week before you go and i felt k*k for all 6 weeks. Very hard to do for 4 weeks after your trip.

My Dad does not recommend the R50 option and says the only advantage of the most expensive option is that it is a much shorter course but is a tablet per day, so you feel the side effects for a shorter amount of time.

It is also very important to speak to a doctor or pharmacist because there are certain illnesses and medicines that you cannot take with certain types of malaria tablets. I remember him saying that the Mefliam cannot be used if you're pregnant, experience epilepsy, or have been taking medication for depression amoung other things that i can't remember, but they will be able to tell you.

Not much help here, maybe your dad was right, take the best and enjoy the rest. of the fishing. (money is comfort)

[wok]

Defiantly take the tablets..lived in Mozambique for 3 years had malaria a few times. It’s not fun!!
"Mefliam" for me was the worst it f@kked me up, everyone that I spoke to on site said the "Mefliam" was the worst. I have taken all the tablets from R50-R500 with the cheap ones being the best for me.. hope that helps

[markdej]

Another thing to practice is to wear long sleeves and long pants during the evening and give yourself a liberal dose of tabbard as the sun goes down.
If the pan handle recieves even half decent rains by december the amout of mossies in the delta is immense and prevention is half the battle won!

They guys who say that Malaria tabs mask the symtoms are usually the guys who ignore the symptoms at early onset. When returning, If you even slightly suspect you have Malaria go to the doc ASAP.

[chrisvd]

I travel to malaria areas quite often and Malanol is the best option to prevent Malaria. It has no side effects and really works. I have no spleen, so I can't afford to get Malaria, so I have done my homework. The best thing to do is to avoid getting bitten, so long sleeves, Mosquito net and bug spray needs to go with. In the evenings and early mornings, the mosies is at their most active and will go after your ankles most of the time. Make sure you put enough tabart on your ankles and wrists. Enjoy the trip! If you don't want to take tablets, there is a home test that you can take with and two tablets that you need to take if you test possitive. This works quite well and all our managers in Africa use this method. The downside is you still get malaria (although it just feels like flu) and it comes back every now and then.

[E.T.]

I hope you will have room for your rods between all the pills and what not.

[Pipe]

Thank you for all the informative answer, I have also asked my brother in law that is a doctor and he suggested I take Doxycyclin. Has anyone used this tablet?

Any suggestions on my second questions about the shirt?

Any tips on flies and techniques you would suggest?