I am traveling in Oct to SA which includes 1 ngt in Hluhluwe 2 nights in Kruger 3 days in Victoria Falls (day trip to Chobe) should I consider Malaria pills. I've taken them before and will they be necessary?? if you have been to these areas your thoughts and any addl suggestions would be most welcome It will be my first visit to africa thanks in advance

Victoria Falls is in a malarial zone, so you'll need it for there.

Kruger is also a malaria area.

All your stops are in malarial areas so yes you ought to seek medical advice and get anti-malarial drugs.

You need to check -- Kruger is only partially a maleria zone - depending on what time of the year you go - we went in February - right up north and never saw one mosquito - better to take some protection though

Karen, as I've just posted to another thread, the whole of Kruger is a malaria zone. Yes, the peak risk time is October to May (including February!), but the recommendation from the medical authorities is nevertheless to take precautions throughout the year.

As I said in the other thread, it's an individual's decision in the end. But not one I'd try and make for another.

If you were to read the statistics and the equally frightening detfails of the affects of malaria (culminating in a painful death withouyt quick treatment) then perhaps you'd revise your own opinion. If not for you, then for your

. . . seven year old.

This has again been brought home to me by a poignant thread on another site (Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree), about the very recent death of a woman known to many posters. A woman who didn't believe in taking medication.

Sorry, not trying to be clever or make some subtle point by splitting the post, I simply hit the post key in error!

If there was the slightest chance, I'd take the pills and use repellent when required. I've been to Africa too many times, and many of these have been at high altitude, cool/cold temps and windy nights - still pop the pills.

Malaria meds are a preventative, not an inoculations, so there is always a possibility. Still, the odds are in your favor with the meds, then coming down with the disease.

And let's try again . . .

<b>whole</b> of Kruger