l love Africa, but it has to be earned!
Above all do not panic or be afraid, but just take precautions!

So that you can clearly understand the special features, I will compare it with another very highly
esteemed destination - South America. However this comparison is not intended to dissuade
you from travelling to Africa, but to take a few precautions.

Remember that I love Africa passionately!

Africa is not South America (which I also know well). You can easily go backpacking
in South America without any special knowledge, but not in Africa! Only
Africa experts will enjoy this way of travelling - others will have problems -
some of which may be serious - if they do not take a few precautions.

Drinking water and rules : click here for Health Information for Travelers to East Africa.

You must NEVER drink tap water in Africa, although you can drink it in South
America (except in the Amazon region)

As well as drinking water, this includes water for washing raw food, ice cream and ice
cubes. Drinking water can be the carrier of a number of diseases such as typhoid
cholera, amoebiasis, and other diarrhoeic diseases.

For all drinks or preparations containing water, we must recommend, depending on
the situation and available options, the use of: water boiled for at least 15 min;
bottled mineral water / filtered water: you can use travel filters - easy to
transport and fairly

sturdy (katadyn filter). Treated water (depending on your needs): by Aquatabs
(1 effervescent cp for 1 litre of water) by hydroclonazone (1cp/l). By micropur
(in cps in powder or in solution depending on the manufacturer's instructions).
This product is recommended more for conserving drinking water than for treating by
bleaching (1 drop/litre if the water is clear, 2 drops/litre if the water is cloudy).
Wait ½ hour before drinking this water.

All fruits (including tomatoes) that cannot be cooked must be peeled (with clean
hands) after soaking in treated water.

Salads and non-peelable fruits must be washed in treated water. Do not eat raw
watercress. Do not eat ice cream, sorbet, dairy ice cream sold by street
vendors. Do not eat raw shellfish.

Do not paddle in African waters, not only because of crocodiles but larvae or
parasites that can cause diseases such as bilharziasis, leptospirosis, diarrhoeic
diseases. Like sand, sludge can contain parasite larvae (on sand or in mud).
Take care when bathing in fresh water, rivers, marshland, lakes and unchecked
swimming pools. In South America, watch out for piranhas!

NEVER eat in roadside "canteens" in Africa AND ABOVE ALL, NEVER EAT
RAW VEGETABLES washed in tap water! Do not have ice cubes in your
Martini (unless you are certain that they are made from boiled or bottled
mineral water) - although this is not a problem in South America.

No "whites" outside at night in Africa - fewer problems in South America.

Watch out for malaria in Africa, it is a fatal disease - not a problem in South
America (except in the Amazon region).

Wild animals are nearby in Africa (they are attracted by odours) but not in South
America.

The Kenyan government has stopped mass tourism in Kenya, though it has decided
not to lose income, even with very few tourists, only "rich people". Therefore it
has established selection by money!

Venturing into African parks is not cheap (except for a few parks in South Africa).
Even regular visitors or insiders like me do not succeed! The only solution I
have found is to share the costs with other photographers or travellers.
See http://www.voyages-aventures-afrique.net

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