Dust mask(I am asthmatic) and Phone networks
 

Hello

I am going to Tanzania soon and I am very worried as I recently heard that it is a very dusty place. I have severe asthma and I was told to bring a mask.

Has anyone being to Tanzania and Seregenti safari park? How dusty is it? If you did wear a mask can you tell me what sort of mask? I am quite self conscious and I do not want to stand out.

Also, I am away from family and I would like to buy a calling card from the UK before I leave. Any networks in the Uk that would work in Tanzania?


Any more advice will be greatly appreciated!


Thank you so much!

I think a mask is a must,especially since you say you suffer from asthma.I would advise you to put aside your 'self consciousness' as your well-being is important and can't afford to fall sick on a holiday.

I did have a tough time protection my camera from the dust and would regularly clean it twice a day.

Tanzania has a pretty extensive mobile network and there are operators like Airtel,Vodacom , Tigo, BOL Mobile and so on.Its easier and cheaper to buy a sim card and call home.

Two things: first, with all due respect, get over yourself! this isn't about you. You have a condition, you want to travel, the condition you have demands that you protect yourself from dust. Take care of it and forget about it.

Second: if you travel ANYWHERE in Asia you will see people wearing masks all the time. Everywhere. It's very very commonplace. Part of that is due to pollution in the huge cities such as Hong Kong, Saigon, etc. Africa is very dusty. I took a dust mask I had bought in Vietnam, made of cotton, and wore it. You should have seen the dirt on the outside that would have otherwise gone into my lungs. Someone stares? Wave at them.

You do what you need to do to protect your breathing. What anyone else thinks has no impact at all. Get out there and explore. You can invest in a supply of good industrial masks in a variety of sources. I have a big supply for when I go back to Kathmandu where they are absolutely required and that was before the earthquakes.

So this is about the joy of travel, getting the experience, and caring not a whit about how you look. It doesn't matter anyway. The focus is out, not in.

Go play.

Any hardware store should have masks, where you can purchase as many as you wish. If not a mask, a bandana can work as well.