I need information about the Serengeti

Old Jan 8th, 2007, 09:27 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I need information about the Serengeti

I want to visit the Serengeti but I am very sensitive to Mosquitos and the like. Can you tell me when is the best time of the year to travel and avoid having to deal with this problem.
IrisKa is offline  
Old Jan 8th, 2007, 10:45 AM
  #2  
sandi
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
The best time would be in the winter when it's cold at night and morning (mossie biting time from dusk to dawn) and when it's dry and staying at higher altitudes. Mid-July thru October would be good.

I don't believe anyone travels here in the hopes of being bitten, or that anyone isn't sensitive once bitten.

That said, there are no guarantees whether one will come upon mossies or tse-tses. The latter with nasty bites and repellent doesn't do much good.

Regardless, one should be using repellent on exposed skin during biting time and daytime if one is weary of possible bites. And SPF to protect against the equatorial sun.
 
Old Jan 8th, 2007, 05:53 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We were in the Serengeti during September. I don't think we ever saw a mosquito the entire week. There was one day when the tse-tse flies were somewhat annoying, but that wasn't too bad - only one spot, so we knew when to shut the windows, etc
npederse is offline  
Old Jan 8th, 2007, 07:08 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 748
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Also, you can soak your clothing in permethrin before you go. It doesn't affect the look or smell of your clothes and washes out after a few launderings. We did this before our trip and were never bothered by any insects. I don't know if we were just lucky and didn't encounter bugs or whether the permethrin works amazingly well.
nevermind is offline  
Old Jan 9th, 2007, 04:35 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sandi:

Was June 2006 in Northern Tanzania a rare weather & conditions occurance? I don't recall seeing one mossie the entire time!

I did run into one patch of tse-tse flies while driving towards LOBO but my Guides reaction & method of dealing with them was so hysterical it was worth the few bites I received while laughing my head off!

Den
Denbasking is offline  
Old Jan 9th, 2007, 11:16 AM
  #6  
sandi
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Except for recent trips end-May/begin-June, have I even been bitten by anything. Even those years when I traveled in November (the short wet season), not a mossie anywhere. On the recent ventures, it's been on Zanzibar which is always hot and humid... the mossies (not the malaria ones) got my ankles. Another time, bitten by little grass flies, again on my ankles. I believe only once in 13/years being attacked by tse-tses... my friend was a mess, bites everywhere... but me, only a bite between two fingers. And I and the driver were both wearing navy blue, she was in tan.

You just never know, so you have to be prepared and hope for the best.
 
Old Jan 9th, 2007, 01:31 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
sandi:

Thanks Sandi, before I left for my trip I had the misconception that I think many folks have-that there are so many bugs in Africa that one is going to be swatting constantly & even breathing them in. Your numerous experiences sound like good news to me and like my only one.

Den
Denbasking is offline  
Old Jan 9th, 2007, 02:23 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sorry but is there another Serengeti one that's not in East Africa?

I react very badly see my trip report...
There are loads of biteing insects in the Serengeti I should know I've met most of them. Apart from a swollen hand from tsetses I had about 50 mossie bites on my back, my fault, it was to hot and I would sit outside in the dark semi naked, not a pretty sight.

Some people (me) attract mossies leaving the rest of you in peace.
But seriously I do think that weather conditions do play a part on the amount and type of stingers. Don't let that put you off, take lots of anti-histamine and it is relative. I think I saw more mossies in Norfolk (England) in a week than three times in Africa.

Cheers
net_warrior is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
llorear
Africa & the Middle East
12
Mar 28th, 2008 11:54 AM
lmavolio
Africa & the Middle East
2
Aug 5th, 2007 03:14 AM
chrisamg
Africa & the Middle East
4
Feb 18th, 2006 01:43 PM
pdxatty
Africa & the Middle East
10
May 20th, 2005 07:29 AM
csuss
Africa & the Middle East
85
May 17th, 2005 10:23 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -