#9–10 / 2020 TF
IBANDA-KIERVA
NATIONAL PARK
Hands-on
information
THE MAIN ENEMIES OF TOUR-
ISTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
ARE MOSQUITOES, WHICH MAY
TRANSMIT VARIOUS DISEAS-
ES. TOUR OPERATORS AND
TRAVEL CONSULTANTS DO
NOT LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT,
BUT DOCTORS SPECIALIZING
IN TROPICAL DISEASES CLAIM
THAT EVERY YEAR THEY DEAL
WITH PATIENTS WITH VARIOUS
FEVERS BROUGHT IN FROM
VARIOUS COUNTRIES AND THE
AFRICAN CONTINENT AS WELL.
IN TANZANIA, AND ESPECIALLY
IN ZANZIBAR, THE FIRST THING
TO BE WARY OF IS DENGUE FE-
VER TRANSMITTED BY MOSQUI-
TOES. THERE IS NO VACCINA-
TION AGAINST IT, AND THE ONLY
REMEDY IS TO USE INSECTICIDES.
IT IS RECOMMENDED TO APPLY
THEM DAILY ONTO ALL EXPOSED
BODY AREAS BEFORE LEAVING
THE HOTEL.
ACCORDING TO THE WHO,
UP TO 90% OF MALARIA CASES
WORLDWIDE OCCUR IN SUB-SA-
HARAN AFRICA, AND TANZANIA
IS NOT AN EXCEPTION. THERE-
FORE, IT IS WORTH STARTING
TAKING ANTIMALARIAL DRUGS
BEFORE THE JOURNEY.
VIEW OF THREE
COUNTRIES
This miniature park with an area
of just 200 sq. km is referred
to as the hidden treasure
of Western Tanzania — endless
fields overgrown with acacias,
picturesque hills and valleys,
blue lakes scattered throughout
the park serve as a unique background
for photographs during
a safari. A separate attraction
is the Kagera River which serves
as a natural border between
Tanzania and neighbouring
Rwanda, while the park borders
Uganda to the north. Such geographical
location allows tourists
both to look at three countries
at once and plan a visit
to Ibanda-Kierva during a combined
tour across the three
unique African countries. Visitors
can enjoy classic day and
night jeep safaris, walking safaris,
picnics in the bush, camping
and bird watching, many
of which inhabit the banks
of the Kagera River.
BY THE WAY, YELLOW FEVER
VACCINATIONS ARE NOT RE-
QUIRED TO VISIT TANZANIA.
HOWEVER, IF YOU DECIDE TO GO,
FOR EXAMPLE, TO NEIGHBOUR-
ING KENYA OR UGANDA, THEN
THE VACCINATION IS NECESSARY.
MOST PEOPLE DO NOT SUFFER
ANY SIDE EFFECTS OF THE VAC-
CINE, AND IT PROTECTS FROM
DISEASE FOR TEN YEARS AND
MAY WELL BE USEFUL FOR FU-
TURE TRAVELS TO AFRICA.
AND THE LAST THING TO MEN-
TION: IF YOU HAVE A HIGH
TEMPERATURE DURING OR AFTER
THE TRIP, GO TO THE INFEC-
TIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL. THE
SYMPTOMS OF MANY TROPICAL
DISEASES RESEMBLE ARVI, AND
AN ORDINARY PHYSICIAN IS
UNLIKELY TO MAKE A CORRECT
DIAGNOSIS — IT IS BETTER NOT
TO WASTE TIME IN SUCH CASES.
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