Safety Tips in Africa

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tip in progress more soon


How would you like to spoil your travel of a lifetime by the sudden death of one of your party? Doesn’t sound good does it? Throughout Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park (Zambia’s name for its side of the falls) there is a noticeable absence of gates, fences and barriers to prevent you and gravity creating a fatality. Please make no mistake. A fall in or near the river in this park will be 100% fatal. You can, and I did, go walking out onto the falls themselves during the dry season. The edges are even more slippery do to moisture and the erosion on the stones caused by the river. There is a small iron bridge that does have high barriers, but that’s about it. If broken bones are what you are after, just leave the good quality trails and scramble in amongst the tree roots and baboons. This is less certain to happen.

Please take it easy and if you see someone doing something dangerous – get you camera a ready from a safe distance.

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Lake Kivu in East Africa is a killer. It is also THE beach resort in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The shores of Lake Kivu are beautiful with white sand beaches in Gisenyi (Rwanda), rolling green hills nearby and even dramatic mountains overlooking it from the DRC side. On a clear day or hour it’s beautiful. Don’t let that beautiful view fool you. Kivu is one of only 3 EXPLODING LAKES in the world. The other 2 have cause carnage in Cameroon (Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun) by exploding and gassing hundreds of people. The overall death toll on Lake Kivu is a lot less, but just make sure it’s not you. Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes and the only one of the 3 you are likely to have a beach holiday on. So just remember that before you decide to go off and swim or boat in some secluded place while visiting the Lake Kivu area.

The problem is that Kivu sits on top of huge pockets of Methane gas and Carbon Dioxide. Both are lethal. The geological term for this is ‘Mazuku’ meaning ‘Evil Wind’ in Swahili. Invisible Carbon Dioxide released in large amounts stays near the ground and kills every living thing there. Tie that in with the visible volcanic activity of Mt. Nyiragongo and lava pouring into the lake (in 2002) and you can understand why the lake has killed everything that lives in it. Twice. This was thousands of years ago, but larger pockets of escaping gas in some parts of the lake can suffocate an unsuspecting swimmer or boater. Stay in clearly marked areas or only swim where locals do.

It’s not all bad. The visible structure in the lake (pictured) collects the Methane which is used in the production of electricity supplying Rwanda. Its currently being expanded to provide export revenue by supplying electricity to neighbouring countries. The Primus Brewery right on the lake has used the Methane for years to supply turbines used in making their fabulous beer!

If you are a fisherman, forget Lake Kivu though. The high gas content in the water keeps the fish very small. All the ones I saw in the fish market were either small or absolutely tiny.

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I originally wrote this after one of my Police incidents, this time in Algeria. The rest of the story is good advice just about anywhere in Africa.

You are looking at illegal pictures for which I was detained for 30 minutes and almost jailed. It was stupid and my own fault. In fact I normally feel the right to take pictures, but this was wrong. Please don’t do what I did.

The Police in Algeria are very protective and supportive of Tourists. Several times they stopped me to make sure I was ok, was watching my valuables and they told me to ring the Police phone number should I have any issues. In fact I have never been so well treated by the Police in any country I have ever visited.

I was half-awake one morning and decided I would take a picture of a (ubiquitous) Police road block, some Police signs and a Police car. Little did I realise the signs were on the side of a Police station and jail. A small guy with an AK-47 brought me to me senses and I was escorted into questioning rooms. Multiple rooms. I was questioned over the next 30 minutes by multiple detectives. Plain clothes detectives. I had to surrender my camera and all my photos were examined – twice.

Yes I got out of it and I can tell you how by email – but that’s a different story.

So these images were NEVER seen by the Police or I would have been on the wrong side of at least a fine and possible seizure of my memory card and/or camera.

After I satisfied the Police enquiries, several stood and spoke to me about my travels, some of the other nice photos I had and then – as they always did – told me to be careful with my valuables and ring them if anyone caused me any problems!!!

Nice Policemen! Always!

So be careful and when in doubt, just do as I did afterwards (mostly).

If you see a Policeman, point at what you want questionable photos of. They will either say yes, no or tell you where to stand so you don’t get a sensitive building in your shot.

It pays to have long lens cameras in Algeria if you do want shots of some ornate government buildings from a distance they can’t see you from.

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Leopards are the top predators in the African rainforest and mostly the feed on deer, monkeys and bush pigs. But when you’re camping in the jungle and sleeping in tents they’re sometimes attracted by the smell of your provisions. It certainly won’t happen each night, but one stalked us and came very close at night. Other animals could also be attracted.

TIP: Empty sardine cans, foodpackings and all other kind of material should be burned(out) in your campfire or buried deep under the ground.

Here you can see a leopard paw print.

During election days you’d better avoid crowded places or manifestations. Sometimes these happenings can escalate to a whirlwind of violence and aggression. You won’t be save because(sometimes) the security forces don’t use dummy bullets and they shoot to kill. The Ivory Coast, Guinea or Cameroon are good examples.

You better watch out before using water from the tap.
When you can’t use the water to wash yourself you’ll be sure of it you can’t drink it!
Water isn’t always that clean, sometimes pumped out of a river our stored on the rooftop and refilled by water suppliers and they aren’t always that honest.

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Some countries in Africa are in the Malarial Zone. If you visit such an area - PLEASE PREPARE! Malaria can sometimes be fatal and at best may make you regret that you survived. Medicines must be taken weeks BEFORE you come here. There are 4 different species of Malaria and humans can get them all from the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Illness and death from malaria are largely preventable - if you plan ahead.
While you are here you need to use a repellent spray early in the morning and any periods of darkness, especially at night. The Bartender at my beach hotel had Malaria 3 times before he was 25. Do not take chances!

I would suggest you buy repellent with 100% DEET.

DEET

Travelling to Africa? Hope you are not afraid of needles! You need some immunizations before you go. At the least I would recommend these for any travel other than on a cruise ship:

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B – for longer journeys
Tetanus
Typhoid

The full list is here of every possibility worldwide, but includes some immunizations you should have had as a child:

Diphtheria
European tick borne Encephalitis
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Japanese Encephalitis
Measles
Meningococcal meningitis
Poliomyelitis
Rabies
Rubella
Tetanus
Typhoid
Yellow Fever


Yellow Fever - You only need this if you are going into affected areas and staying for a while.

BE SAFE: See your doctor before you go! I’m no medical expert, just a safe traveller.