travel_kbl

Was aware of that but thanks cj
Well it works for me.. suppose its a case of different products working for different people or, like climbhighsleeplow mentioned, none really working at all!

What about NO BITE is that similiar to Du-Du off?

climbhighsleeplow

I am no insect expert but I think there are different kind of tsetses and I also think they behave differently according to location, weather and whatever else they need to do to survive.

Near Sayari Camp in Oct we were bitten so much (until we bought the Du-Du and that helped some) one lady got so sick she had to get treatment. The tsetses were extremely fast and difficult to kill and they stung as soon as they landed.

Meanwhile in Ruaha in the western areas we got into huge swarms but they did not sting us much at all. They landed and sat around so we could swipe at them before the sting.

In Saadani they were bigger but did not sting much either. Then in Mikumi we got zapped again in fury by the fast stingers.

Tsetses are strange buggers who absolutely love me for some reason.

atravelynn

What do you think of mosquito netting as a defense?

TC

It was our experience, Lynn, that they can bite through anything if they want to. Bit my husband through shirts, pants, socks. Others said that not even jeans made you safe. Guess we were lucky not to have been effected too badly.

ShayTay

I used Skeeter Beater in Katavi; I still got a few bites, but maybe that's why I didn't have as much trouble as Sundowner. We found that the tsetses were around, but didn't land and bite much in the cooler morning hours. When it warmed up, so did they. RickMcK brought the mosquito netting that you wear over your head and hat. I didn't try one, but at least he had one less area to swat at.

atravelynn

One of you must have mischieviously snapped an unflattering photo of RickMck all decked out. Now would be an excellent time for a link to it.

I believe I do recall he wore netting. Even one less place to swat would be enough reason to bring it along.

LAleslie

Interesting everyone's different experiences. Everything I've read says DEET is worthless against flies, but maybe that's because, as CLSH opines, there may be different varieties of tsetses. I wonder if Du-Du Gaud also works as a scat repellant? (Sorry.) I'll get Repel and look for Du-Du Guard in Dar. It's worth applying often if it works only a bit.

climbhighsleeplow

Yes, dudu is a funky name! Not a brand name you want to wear on your sleeve. It means "insect" in Kiswahili.

Asilia Camps sell it and I did not have time to look for it in Arusha and Dar so I do not know where to buy it in the cities. If you find it let us know.

atravelynn

If Du-Du Gaud is the preferred prevention, then I'd love to have that available in the vehicle, even at a fee. It would be more useful to tote along the Du-du Guad than something like the doilies used to cover the collapsable sundowner table.

Thanks for the Swahili lesson. Du-Du is insect. Got it.

LAleslie

Damn dudus! Could be my new favorite AFrican language word after puduhudu. Thanks CLSL, I'll report back after September.

safarimama

I just got this email regarding my inquiry to Mosi Guard:

Dear Kristina, I’m not sure if Mosi-guard is available at Heathrow anymore. However it can be purchased in the US, but it is known as a different brand. You will need to look for either Repel OLE or Cutter OLE. The active ingredient Citriodiol is the same in the US versions as the Mosi-guard brand. Hope this helps!
With regards
Customer Services
Citrefine International Ltd.

ShayTay

No Rick pic from me... it was either snap or swat and I chose swat. ;-)

TC

I received a bit of additional info from Citrefine:

<i>As far as I know you cannot purchase Mosi-guard online from Europe as insect repellents in the US are regulated by the EPA, so need to be made for the US market.

The creme is registered in the US under the Repel brand, but the distributor stopped manufacturing it a couple of years ago. At present, they sell two pump sprays, one is Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus and the other is Repel Lemon Eucalyptus. <b>The latter is almost identical to our Mosi-guard Natural pump spray and the <u>Cutter version has a lower active ingredient</u> content.</b> You should be able to find these products at REI, Target or certain local sporting goods stores.


Thanks for your interest. Hope this helps,
Genevieve Faherty
Citrefine International Ltd</i>

LAleslie

Very helpful, thanks TC. Repel it is, and fingers crossed.

safarimama

Interesting; thanks TC. I will go looking for Repel Lemon Eucalyptus at REI. The only problem with REI's flagship store here in Seattle is that it it's an all day outing! I live only 10 minutes away (by car); That store is amazing!!! A field trip! A journey!

TC

I apologize for not having my trip report posted as yet. Its been very hectic getting back into the home routine. I have managed to organize and post photos which will give you some impression of how stunning we found Ruaha, Selous and Mafia Island. I promise to get back to writing a trip report very soon. Feel free to post your questions to me in the meantime. Enjoy.

http://tonna.zenfolio.com/

TC

Trip report posted, Selous and Ruaha:
http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...and-selous.cfm

Whale Shark on Mafia trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...fia-island.cfm