Trifter

“Africa – full of snakes and creepy crawlies!”

Another unjustified, detrimental comment based on many peoples’ fears of snakes and spiders etcetera.

Whilst being fascinated by snakes they terrify me too but I have never let that fear stop me from enjoying Africa and other continents. By the way, starting from Europe, going east, the number of poisonous snakes increase making Africa lower on the list than Asia, South America and Australia.

There are, of course, snakes in all African countries. I have travelled there many times, a total of about eighteen months altogether, I have also worked in the bush and the last snake I saw was in the 1970s! Even then I was never in any danger.

But they are there and do constitute a minor health risk so, as children must learn and respect the Highway Code, you should be alert as you go walking through the bush, desert or rain forest. The simplest way of ensuring that no snake comes near you is to tread heavily as vibration scares them off. Stay on paths or short grasses where possible and look around you. Many people wear hiking boots which, due to the tough, thick skins can provide you with protection. Gaiters too protect the lower leg but most people are either too lazy or too fashion conscious to think of those. Snakes bite only when threatened so don’t approach them.

Most Africans walk either barefoot or with sandals, most tourists walk around, as I do, with sneakers, jogging or training shoes – and they do tend to arrive home safely. Whatever you wear on your feet just remember that snakes are mostly nocturnal so when walking through bush at night, maybe from the outdoor restaurant to your tent or room, always take a torch with you and shine it on the floor just ahead of you.

As for other creepy crawlies you may have them in your room – if it makes you feel better get the staff to spray your room each evening a few hours before you retire for it to air out.

If you have rubbed insect repellent onto your skin that will take care of most undesirable creepy crawlies and flying insects and the mosquito net on your bed will also keep them out, which just leaves the risk of getting up in the morning!

Do not leave shoes or clothes outside overnight but, if you do, give them a good shake in the morning. Even indoors clothes that are not hung up or shoes not in the cupboard are possible havens for spiders, scorpions and millipedes. The African millipede is poisonous to touch and, although scorpions and spiders are not aggressive if you surprise one it might just sting – so don’t just grab the clothes that you left lying around, pick them up carefully and shake them outside! In spite of the fact that most tourists and regular visitors to Africa soon forget these rules such accidents are rare.

Those are the usual “showstoppers” for nervous people but there is really no more danger than crossing the road if you take heed of these rules.

But now we get down to the hard core of African wildlife. Not many people will walk through a herd of elephants or a pride of lions out of choice but many make some stupid mistakes whilst on safari and here there is just one simple rule to follow. All African National Parks have strict rules on what visitors can and can not do. Safari Guides are all trained in safety aspects so the rule is: “Listen to your Guide”.

There may, however, be some occasions where you are alone in the bush as many lodges have large open spaces between their rooms. My favourite safari lodge in Tanzania, the Manyara Valley Culture Camp, is of this type and it is often visited by troops of monkies or baboons. Amongst these troops are families and often young animals are carried through or little ones run in between their elders. If you see such a troop on their way through the bush make sure you are a safe distance away from them, at  least fifteen meters or so, stand still, do not approach them and wait for the last of them to go by before you venture across the lodge’s ground. Make sure they have all gone; there is often a large male keeping look out at the rear! This type of experience is one of the many joys of Africa, just follow the simple rules and the risks are kept to an absolute minimum. Just like at home, I can explain how you should cross the road safely but that can never be a guarantee that you will never get run over.

Safety and security in Africa is just different to that at home. There is no need to worry about it, just enjoy the continent, it is not dark, but the most colourful place on earth – don’t miss it!