Malaria and money

Hello!

Malaria pills are recommended for the north of the country. Are they really needed? Are there must-see places during a 4 week trip in the northern malaria area?

Also, how easy is it to find ATMs? If I bring a small amount of cash, are pounds or dollars better?

Many thanks.

Hi,

It depends on whether you want to risk catching malaria. "Are they really needed?" Well, only if you know you won't be bitten by an infected mosquito. Its up to you.

ATMs are found at banks, supermarkets and some petrol stations. They are not found in deserts or game parks, or remote regions.

You can usually find them by noticing a queue of people beside them, especially on paydays.

Bring whatever currency you have and change it into RAND. You can't spend pounds or USDollars there. You will get Namibian dollars in your change but it is useless outside the countrysochange it back to RAND or whatever, before you leave.

Most-see in the north would be, amongs many, Etosha park. With 4 weeks in Namibia, I think you would miss out a lot if you didn't go to norhtern Namibia. Malaria is a serious disease, why wouldn't you want to take the precaution?

I recommend to take money everytime you encouter an ATM. Same for gas!

Take malaria pills if you are going up north. It really isn't worth the risk not to, especially in the Caprivi Strip.
Pounds and Dollars are useless in Namibia. As Peter said rather bring South African Rand. It is tied on a 1:1 ratio with the Nam dollar but you can change any left over Rand when you get home, but Nam dollars you cannot.
You will find ATM machines in towns and at some petrol stations. You cannot pay with fuel on a credit card so make sure you have cash for remote petrol stations!

If you are going into a malarial area (the north of Namibia) I would really encourage taking the anti-malarials. Not to try to put the "fear" out there but a good friend was in Africa (not Namibia) for just a few days on a business trip. She came back to the US and ended up on full respiratory support due to malaria and complications there of. She had "been to busy" before her trip to pick up the pills. This is someone who lived in Africa for a couple of years. It simply is not worth the risk not to take the pills.

Namibia is fantastic, you are going to have a great time, don't let it be spoiled by taking the chance.

Hi,

We are going to Namibia next August and we visited the doctor last week. He told us that although the risk is low in August, there is some risk so he advised us to take the anti-malarials.

Hi StaninMaryland, I sent you a private message, maybe you didn't notice.

Not sure about the situation in theos very moment but 2 years ago around march a friend of mine could not visit Etosha because of high malaria risk.
Before going I told her I had taken anti-malaria tablets when I went there, but she did not bothered...in fact no one travelling with her...

I'd definitely go for the anti-malaria tablets, I cannot see any reason not to take them

enjoy Namibia, it is truly amazing

Hi,

Thanks for all your replies. I always take anti-malarials, but sometimes the British websites are overkill and depending on where you're going it's not in fact required.

Laura

Hi Laura,,

Can you please tell us which websites are overkill, so that we can avoid them?

Just got back from Namibia and South Africa.

If you're going to visit South Africa too, take South African Rand with you to Namibia. It is accepted like local currency, but they'll give you change in Namibian Rand. Before you leave Namibia, make sure you use it all or change it to SA Rand or other currencies because you may have tough time finding an outlet taking Namibian Rand once you left.

ATM is available in most towns I stopped at. But make sure you have a Visa ATM card. Finding an ATM that takes MC could be as tough as spotting a leopard in Etosha.

Northern Namibia got some heavy rain storms in November so if you're going there soon, best to take malaria pills with you.

Thanks for the replies.

PeterScot, the UK travel websites are usually overly cautious. For example, in India, ex-pat doctors told me it was nonsense that you needed to take anti-malarials in Delhi and Jaipur. But it sounds like I do need them for most/all of Namibia.

Laura - at least 4 people here tell you you only need malarial pills for "the north".

So its strange that you conclude you need them for 'most/all' of Namibia?

Etosha just squeezes into the malarial region, but nothing south of there is a risky area, afaik.