Bring those meds with you!

[elmerfudd555]

New member, lurking for the last few months and drinking in information. I want to thank the folks on this site and the informative posts for potentially saving my first African safari!

My wife and I just returned from 21 amazing days in Africa. Hunted for 13 days and toured parts of Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa as part of our adventure.

Hunting started easily enough with Zebra, Kudu, and a sweet Cape Buffalo "dagga boy" taken during the first portion. My dream of a Limpopo bushbuck was next and we had a hell of a hunt, working trails in thick cover (near Kruger) on foot and seeing a number of animals but no shooters. (I think I let a world record red duiker walk away and may regret that if I ever get interested in the Tiny 10) Anyway cutting to the chase I shot a fabulous bushbuck, 15 7/8ths and was on cloud nine, then saw the cloud of pepper ticks walking all over my exposed legs and arms. PH and I were covered with them. Brushed off, applied repellant, moved on to photo shoot. Carefully inspected myself later, could find no bites or attached ticks. Generally bugs dont like me so I wasnt suprised.

A few days later up in the Kalahari the splitting headache started. Easily killed with excedrin and I blamed it on Jack Daniels, went back to hunting. Then started feeling a bit punky. Then my glands near my right armpit swelled up like a tennis ball. Classic case of tick bite fever based on what I read here. Fortunately I had Doxy with me based on advice I read here and started it immediately. I was back to 100% 3 days later and completed the rest of our hunting and touring without issues. I finished the 7 day course of meds and everything went back to normal.

Found the tick bite finally. Right hand, between my 4th and 5th fingers in the thin web where the fingers meet the hand. I had blamed that irritation on the thorns we dealt with recovering the bushbuck but it was in fact a bite from one of the nearly invisible little bastards. red swelling, darker mark in center, itched like hell later.

So my message is pay attention to these posts on what the veteran's suggest you bring along. My family doctor was a jerk on getting the necessary prescriptions in hand but I persisted and having those medications available saved my trip and investment.

Thanks! great web site and resource! I cant wait to go back!

H

 

[BRICKBURN]

Glad you made it through the trials and tribulations to complete your hunt.

Four countries 21 days, that was an adventure.

 

[enysse]

You will be thinking about that red duiker for the rest of your life, guarantee it.

 

[Bobpuckett]

Really glad it worked out for you we would love to see some pics of the trophies taken even the tics. Congrats on your Safari and trophies. btw Welcome to AH we're glad your here.

 

[bluey]

sounds like a great trip elmerfudd
drinking up info here mate , your thirst will always be sated everytime
these ticks sound a bit fierce
your bushbuck sounds awesome
and letting that duiker walk will be a point to ponder forever
welcome and enjoy the site

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Good advice Elmer. I found a tick this past June in the most unnerving of places while is RSA. I will never again go to Africa without treating my clothing to repel the little bastards. Regarding the rest of your report.....well done. However, as politely as I can say.....

 

[Cliffy]

Pepper ticks are the larval stage of regular ticks but still nasty little buggers. Glad this site was some help in salvaging your hunt. After my bout with Tick Fever, meds will be with me also when I venture to the Dark Continent. BTW, I once turned down a for real 20" + Bushbuck. My first hunt and I already had a good one in the bag. I've been kicking myself since 1999 over that one. My PH about kicked me at the time. He said it was easily in the top 10.

 

[Nyati]

Welcome to AH, Elmer.

When I came back from SA this August, I found a large green tick attached to my scrotum !

An immediate trip to the hospital to have it removed, antibiotics, and not a single problem afterwards.

 

[adgunner]

The ticks can be so inconspicous. On my flight back from RSA this summer i felt that my left foot was swollen up a bit, but wrote it off as swelling from the flight. Got home, took off my sock and there was an engorged tick that fell off, he had gotten me just under my little toe. Luckily, did not develop any symptoms, but i will spray my gear next time!

 

[elmerfudd555]

We wore the Ex-Officio permethrin treated clothing for the most part but the issue was that with the high temps I just couldnt stand to have the pant legs zipped on. In the end no harm done apparently as I felt fine within a couple days of starting the meds and feel fine now a couple weeks later. The site of the bite on my right hand is still not completely healed up but its not irritating me any further. I will post some photos in the correct forum once I figure out how. All in all a great trip, challenging hunting at times, well worth the aggravation, long flights etc. Great wine down in Stellenbosch. Already planning a return trip as soon as I can scratch up the scrip to pay for it.

 

[Cliffy]

Elmer, your last line confirms my signature line once again

 

[elmerfudd555]

I listened to my parents and managed to avoid all forms of serious drug addiction, coke, crack, meth, heroin.....Nobody warned me about hunting Africa. Its worse!

 

[Code4]

You will be thinking about that red duiker for the rest of your life, guarantee it.

Never a truer statement made.