Charley Boorman leaves for Africa
Added on Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor
Charley Boorman leaves for Africa
Hi Guys, by the time you read this, I’ll probably be in Africa, heading from Cape Town up through Namibia to Victoria Falls and then back down again. All of the tips and issues discussed here are very relevant to me at this moment in time! Let’s have a look at some more…
Visas, Medication and your health
This is relatively simple advice. Although you can often buy your visa at a border crossing, it’s a great deal easier to sort out visas in the comfort of your own country! Arguing with an armed border guard at 9.30pm in the dark on the edge of the desert, paying bribes and strangely new tourist taxes is not the best way of spending three or four hot stressful hours - but great story afterwards eh!
Medication issues fall into two camps. Firstly check with your local travel clinic as to what vaccination and medicines are mandatory or best advised for the area you’ll be travelling through - and get them sorted in good time. Having said that I have been known to get some jabs on the way to the airport - as this side of the travel industry is a major business in its own right, there are drop in centres you can just arrive at. Secondly, make sure you bring enough ‘general’ medicine / drugs with you to cover the trip. It’s not a bad idea to chat to your doctor about antibiotics and such like, as well as the usual anti diarrhea, pain killers and anti inflammatory - not to mention your Rennies! A set of new needles and pipes is a good call and always find out what blood type you are before you leave - an make sure you write it somewhere where people can see it, like put it with your documents, passport etc., - even on your helmet next to your name, like a Dakar rider!
Hydration or more to the point dehydration can be a big problem in the hotter locations. This is especially so when you’re under pressure and pushing yourself out of your own comfort zone. So ALWAYS keep drinking water - even when you don’t feel thirsty - as if you are thirsty, it’s probably too late! It’s easier to avoid dehydration than to recover from it. Rehydration packs from your local pharmacy are a must. So pack enough for the trip. And while you’re there get hold of some water purification tablets for those emergency occasions where the water is suspect!
Taking care of your health is pretty important when you’re on the road. There are some simple rules you can follow to avoid picking up that bad stomach. Never drink the local water! Always buy bottled water - and make sure it is a sealed bottle. It’s not unknown for people to glue old bottle tops on and resell tap water. I usually try and get the bottles straight from the shrink-wrapped box - this way you know they are genuine.
Pick food from the bottom of the stack. By this I mean, in a buffet dinner, dig the spoon down deep and get the rice or veg from below the surface. This way you are avoiding the top layers where the flies have had time to feast before you. Ditto for the bread basket.
Keep your class over the top of your bottle when you’re not swigging from it. This again keeps the flies off your coke or beer.
Just a couple of simple rules like this, could make the difference. There are lots of other great tips and ideas - but hey, that’s for the book! Enough for now. Check out the next blog - where we’ll talk briefly about insurance and documentation as well as technology.
Cheers
Charley Boorman
www.charleyboorman.com
