Safari Tips: Fighting Heat and Dehydration
Safaris are an amazing way to immerse yourself into the wild African nature!
They get you up close with animals and environments that you would otherwise only be able to observe on television and, in some locations, they do all of this under some of the most brutal heat youโll ever experience in your life.
Staying hydrated during your safari is extremely important, so here are a few tips to help you battle the heat and make sure you drink enough water!
#1 Cover your head and neck
While a simple baseball cap will protect your head and eyes from the sun, it will do nothing for you neck.
Try instead a wide-brimmed hat that will provide some shade to your neck, like a boonie or a fedora. If you can, go for textiles instead of leather, so that your hat is lighter and more breathable.
Another alternative is to wear a light cotton scarf, like a shemagh, to protect your neck from the sun. It can also come in useful to cover your mouth in dusty areas.
#2 Avoid excess alcohol and caffeine
Alcohol and caffeine are both diuretics, meaning theyโll cause you to have to pee more often.
Avoid large quantities of drinks containing them, such as wine and coffee, right before your game drives to avoid losing excess liquids.
#3 Bring a reusable water bottle
A reusable water bottle is a must when on safari!
Yes, the vehicle should normally be equipped with a water tank but, for convenience sake, itโs easier if you bring your own.
A large insulated bottle is ideal, as it will not overheat.
A normal steel or aluminium bottle will do the trick (I used a Sigg bottle on both my trips to South Africa), but donโt leave it in the sun or your water will be hot enough to shower with. Also avoid plastic bottles, they will degrade and leach chemicals into the water faster at high temperatures. Itโs also unnecessary extra garbage.
#4 Donโt forget to drink often!
Drink small quantities of water at regular intervals, about every 10 to 15 minutes, instead of one large amount.
This way youโll be sure to rehydrate regularly. If you have children, make sure they are also drinking enough and often.
#5 Donโt underestimate the sun
The Sun in certain parts of Africa can be deceiving, especially dry regions such as northern South Africa and Namibia.
Because of the lack of humidity you might not feel the heat as much, which can lull you into a false sense of security.
This type of heat is generally the most dangerous exactly for this reason. You might think everything is fine, while in the mean time youโre getting roasted, dehydrated and are at risk of heatstroke.
#6 Watch out for early symptoms
Be mindful of the first symptoms of dehydration and heat stroke:
Headache: A mild headache is often the first sign that youโre dehydrated. Never ignore it, notify your guide and drink plenty of water.
Confusion and disorientation: Confusion and disorientation are signs of severe dehydration or early heat stroke, so if youโre experiencing these symptoms be sure to get help.
Nausea: As with the previous, nausea is a severe symptom. It should never be taken lightly and needs to be dealt with immediately.
If youโre showing symptoms of severe dehydration or heat stroke, you should ideally get yourself out of the sun and drink small quantities of water mixed with sugar and salt. This will help you gain back the minerals you lost.
#7 Bring oral rehydration packets!
In case of severe dehydration, you might want to use an oral rehydration packet. This powder needs to be dissolved in water, and will help you regain lost minerals and fluids.
Remember that it is a type of medication and should only be used in cases where normal water is not doing the trick, for example if your headache is not passing.
Always be sure to follow the indications on the package and never exceed the recommended dosage!
Safaris are amazing opportunities to get close up and personal with incredible nature and wildlife, and in those moments itโs easy to get sidetracked and distracted.
๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐๐ก๐ ?
๐ ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ค๐ข๐ฏ ๐ด๐ข๐ท๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ฐ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ค๐ข๐ฏ ๐ข๐ญ๐ธ๐ข๐บ๐ด ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ด๐ต๐ฐ๐ณ๐บ !
Always stay safe, remember to stay hydrated, take good care of your own health and your trip will be one the most memorable in your life!
Iโll see you on the trail and until next time this is Luca, signing off.
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