Kruger National Park Travel Forum

I'm planning a visit to the park in January with my 16 month old girl. I'm worried about malaria. Should I rather cancel and come in the winter?

Cancel! Malaria kills. I doubt if the winter would be any safer. Wait a few years until she is old enough to take anti-malarials. Unless of course you will be only in the malaria free part?

I think it would be foolhardy to risk the health of your child. Why Kruger? You could take her to Addo or some other malaria free park. As the other poster said, wait until she is much older.

If you have the slightest concern the answer must be no and as already been said there are plenty of parks outisde the risk area for Malaria.

Regards

John

You don't say where you are from...
There was a recent post in the South Africa forum on malaria-free parks in South Africa - there are a couple. You will be able to get anti-malarial drugs for your daughter (there is one very expensive one that family used when taking their baby up to Zambia that is very good - can't remember what it is called). You also need to be careful about keeping her covered and putting up mosquito nets over her cot at night. You don't mention where you are staying, but most places have mosquito netting over the windows etc. The biggest problem with malaria is that it is not diagnosed in time. So if you decide to come and anyone gets a fever when you are home go to a travel clinic and not your local doctor. They'll think you have flu, not malaria.

My view and advise is always NOT to take anything for malaria EXCEPT where small children are involved. I would not take any kid under the age of around 4 into a malaria area. There are plenty of malaria free options outside of Kruger available, avoid the east coast of Southern Africa from Durban upwards and the whole eastern Mpumalanga and Mozambique area.

Hi

I am staying in Hoedspruit (Malaria area) for the past 15years and do not use profalacsis. My child (now 4) was born here and we only use the basic protection. From September till April she is not aloud outsid the house after 15H00 with shorts. If she starts feeling hot we do a rapid test, so far allways negetive. The south of Kruger is more dangerous than the north.

Louis

Non-malarial options would be:

Madikwe, Pilansberg and anywhere in the Waterberg (within a few hours of Joburg).

Addo Elephant Park, Shamwari, or anywhere else in the Eastern Cape.

But you should also consider choosing a 'child-friendly' lodge. Some don't allow children at all (not so much because of the danger factor but because other guests can get annoyed if stuck in a vehicle for 3 hours with a crying child), however some have nannies / creches etc.

Rob. Satpack Travel