South Africa - a
Survival Guide
Malaria:
South Africa is mostly free
from malaria however the wildlife rich areas in the northern and north
eastern areas of Mpumalanga, Limpopo, the Kruger National Park, northern
KwaZulu-Natal and Swaziland are malarial.
The biggest risk of contracting
malaria in these subtropical areas is during the hot rainy season (November
to April) when mosquitoes proliferate.
The most common and dangerous
form of malaria in this area is contracted through bites from the Plasmodium
falciparum mosquito, and can be fatal. Malaria symptoms can develop after
a week or as long as six months after exposure. Indications of malaria
can be deceptively mild and flu-like. If you become feverish or have flu-like
symptoms up to three months after leaving a malarial area don’t delay in
getting medical attention, even if you have taken prophylaxis.
The best prevention is to
avoid getting bitten. Cover up with long sleeves and pants and remain indoors
at night. Sleep under a mosquito net sprayed with insect repellent, use
an insect repellent liberally on yourself containing DEET (di-ethyl toluamide),
burn mosquito coils and take anti-malarial tablets. Consult your doctor
on the best choice of drugs for you.
If you intend scuba diving
in northern KwaZulu Natal or other coastal malarial areas then avoid certain
malarial drugs like Larium that contain mefloquine as the combined effects
with nitrogen can be hazardous. Inform your doctor that you intend scuba
diving so that suitable prophylaxis can be prescribed.
The SAA Netcare Travel Clinics
suggest doxycycline, mefloquine or atovaquone-proguanil as being the best
anti-malarial pills and require a doctor’s prescription.
Pregnant women, very young
children and immune-compromised people should ideally avoid malarial areas.
Please speak to your doctor and view the Medical Research Council of South
Africa website for more detail - link below.
USEFUL LINKS
SAA
Netcare Travel Clinics
Travel Clinic Durban ICC:
Tel: +27 31 3601122, Fax:
+27 31 3601121, Email: travelc@icc.co.za
Media
Newspapers in South Africa
A typical South African scene
is the newspapermen selling daily papers to commuters at traffic light
intersections. Most regional newspapers are published daily in English
or Afrikaans along with national weeklies:
* Mail
& Guardian
* Sunday
Independent
* Sunday
Times
Local newspapers are
great to find out about entertainment and events. Cape Town’s local newspapers
are the Cape Times & the Argus. Durban produces the Daily News and
Natal Mercury. Johannesburg brings out the Star and the Sowetan.
International newspapers
and publications are available at upmarket hotels and can be bought
at certain newsagents.
Magazines In South Africa
South Africa has a numerous
and rapidly growing assortment of local and international magazines covering
travel, sport, wildlife, outdoor, health, fashion, food and photographic
interests.
Radio in South Africa
Radio in South Africa is
thriving thanks to deregulation of the airwaves. The popularity and effectiveness
of radio as a means of communicating can also be attributed to widespread
illiteracy and poverty. A growing number of dynamic new stations are sprouting
to satisfy the demand for this medium.
A national radio station
for each of the eleven official languages is run by the SABC (South African
Broadcasting Corporation).
Most of South Africa's popular
radio stations are now available online, so you can log on to all the local
music, news and talk worldwide and tune in for live streaming radio.
* SAfm - English language
station that has excellent morning and evening news. John Perlman's After
Eight Debate is always worthwhile listening to. Renowned South Africans
are brought into the studio to discuss interesting news events.
* MuthaFM - Funky
underground radio station founded by legendary Cape Town dance DJ’s and
has achieved something of a cult status. Michael Martin aka Indidginus
Indidginus can be heard playing a set from time to time... It’s currently
streaming live with vibrant new house, break beat, drum 'n bass, trance,
soul, funk, raga, electro, trip hop and lounge!
* 5FM - Trendy nationwide
youth-oriented pop station.
* MetroFM - The largest
national commercial station in South Africa, aimed at black urban adults,
it features current international music like hip-hop, R&B, kwaito and
more.
* Yfm - South Africa’s
most popular youth station, the funky voice of Kwaito and the 'Y Generation'.
Their self-imposed 50 percent local music quota promises more local tunes
than any other radio station in the country.
* 567 Cape Talk -
Cape Town's first talk radio station, sister to 702 Talk Radio. Tune in
to all the news, views, sport, weather, traffic and chit-chat you need
in Cape Town.
* 702 Talk Radio -
Johannesburg's top news and information station, offering lots of heated
phone-in debate.
* BBC World Service -
Foreign Broadcasters can be tuned in on shortwave. Tune into the Africa
Service on BBC World Service for some great programmes.
Television in South Africa
* The SABC (South African
Broadcasting Corporation) has a tricky task juggling the eleven official
South African languages between three channels. SABC 1, 2 & 3 air a
motley assortment of news, soaps, local dramas, game shows and documentaries
along with a few foreign imports.
* The private channel E-TV
airs
mostly imports.
* Mnet also airs imports
with the addition of sports, news and specialist channels, provided in
most hotels.
* Multichoice is the
digital satellite TV service (DStv) offering a wide range of international
channels.
Personal
Safety:
Crime continues to be a contentious
issue in South Africa but media reports often tend to be overblown. Most
tourists who visit South Africa depart after their vacation without any
unpleasant occurences. Certain areas witness violent crime as a daily occurrence
but this tends to be in places like downtown Johannesburg and certain townships
which are the poorer areas.
Tourist venues are pretty
safe, especially in places like the Waterfront and central Cape Town which
have privately funded police and 24 hour surveillance cameras. The South
African authorities have made it a high priority to protect tourists and
have deployed special ‘tourism police’ in the cities and large towns.
As far as your personal safety
is concerned, don’t be paranoid, let commonsense prevail and take care
as one would in most cities around the world.
Avoid deserted places, wearing
expensive jewellery, slinging camera and video equipment over your shoulder,
carrying lots of cash and leaving valuables in vehicles.
Most safari lodges, hotels,
guesthouses and B&Bs have safe facilities for valuables in rooms or
with reception.
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