subject: Travel Insurance Destination Report: Africa [print this page] Africa - one of the most exotic and fascinating locations on the planet. The continent is home to lions' tigers' and bears .. and giraffes' elephants and humans that live in a very different way from us in the West! Travellers to Africa have to be mature' bold' well-planned' tolerant and willing to bend to local ways. They also have to have quite a high level of travel insurance' in order to have a chance of enjoying the vacation rather than spending it worrying. Today we look at the health and safety issues of a few popular destinations within Africa' and the recommended level of travel insurance for them.
Ethiopia
Health
Health is always an issue in Ethiopia. The population is poor and little "herd immunity" exists' so the risk of developing a disease is quite high. The usual issues of travelling in less developed countries are also present in Ethiopia' including:
Hepatitis A and B
Typhoid
Cholera
Measles' mumps and rubella
Tetanus' pertussis and Diphtheria
However' there are also many more serious diseases endemic to this country. Ethiopia is in the WHO yellow fever endemic zone' but is vaccine-preventable. Poliomyelitis can be caught by flies landing on feces and then your food' and people are also subject to getting meningitis through droplet transmission. Meningococcal season is from November to May. Rabies and Rift Valley Fever' a livestock disease which is passed to humans by mosquitoes' are also risks.
Safety
Safety-wise' the government asks you to reconsider your need to travel to Ethiopia overall' because of a high threat of terrorist attack and severe climate patterns. If you must go' the highest level of travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Kenya
Health
Health-wise' Kenya experiences most of the same problems as Ethiopia. An additional risk' though' indicates that you should get the highest level of medical travel insurance available. Schistosomiasis can be developed after swimming in or bathing with some water in Kenya - it is caused by a parasite released by fresh water snails. No vaccine is available' but it is highly treatable if recognised.
Safety
Kenya overall has an alert level of 3 out of 5' as set by the government - High Degree Of Caution. However' for certain Nairobi suburbs the government asks you to Reconsider Your Need to Travel' and for border regions with Ethiopia' Sudan and Somalia' Do Not Travel. Even in Kenya generally' we recommend that you get the highest level of travel insurance which covers catastrophes' hijackings' muggings' etc.
South Africa
Health
While South Africa is fairly developed' in addition to the bulleted disease listed for Ethiopia' you should be vaccinated against (and wary about) Dengue fever' polio and schistosomiasis.
Safety
Despite South Africa's serious reputation for crime' the government's threat level is set at High Degree of Caution' and has been there for some time. Still' the threat of hijacking' mugging' and the need for legal help is very real' and cover for these incidents is only provided by the highest level of travel insurance quotes.
Mt Kilimanjaro
Health
Mt Kilimanjaro is located in Tanzania' where health issues are the same as South Africa apart from the addition of meningitis' yellow fever and rabies. Altitude sickness is also a very real possibility and can have serious health consequences - ascend slowly if you are not conditioned.
Safety
There is a threat of terrorist attack in Tanzania overall' but especially in border areas (where government advice is Do Not Travel).
by: Mark James
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