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What is the temperature like?
When I go to Africa I visit in July and August
so it is there winter and it can be cold. The temperature can dip as
low as the thirties or forties, which can be quite cold in a tent.
My friends who live in Africa e-mail me during their summer and they
tell me it is hot—damn hot.
Check the
current weather in Africa
Can you drink the water?
Yes, in many areas like South Africa, but to be safe, I always drink
bottled water. The water is so pure in the Okavango Delta that you
can drink it as you meander in a mokoro boat through its waterways.
(see photo of Delta above)
How is the food?
Too good. I gain 8-10 pounds on every trip. In South Africa, you
can feast on a diversity of selections—British, Italian, seafood, or
the local cuisine. (I recommend visiting
Wandie’s in Soweto.) I also
love to have a traditional braai (lamb chops, boerewors, and game)
when I am on safari.
Are there a lot of bugs and snakes?
No more so than the ones I encounter in New Jersey.
Is it safe?
Yes, as long as you head the warnings that you can find on the
United States Department of State web site. I had to cancel a
gorilla trip twice because of massacres against tourists taking
place in Rwanda. I finally made the trip when things were under
control and it was incredible. (Gorilla
photos)
Do the locals speak English?
In South Africa 13 official languages are spoken and one of them is
English. English is also widely spoken in the tourist areas in all
of Africa.
Do you need to get shots?
Yes, at the very least you need to take precautions against malaria.
Not only do I take malaria pills but also arm myself with the
strongest Deet I can find. To find out the recommended vaccinations,
you can visit the
Department of Health and Human Services: Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention web site.
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