Malaria prevention on Kilimanjaro

About Malaria

Much of East Africa, and indeed many central African countries, are home to malaria, an infection caused by the bite of a malaria-carrying mosquito. Symptoms of the disease can include nausea, muscle aches, extreme fatigue, vomiting, headaches, a fever, confusion and hallucinations. People will feel the effects of malaria differently but young children, older people, women who are pregnant and those with existing health conditions are most at risk.

Caused by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito, malaria is a tropical infection that if not treated promptly, can be fatal. It is important to note that in most cases malaria is preventable and curable though. A major health scourge, malaria is an endemic throughout much of Tanzania and we recommend anyone travelling with us to be aware of the infection and to seek medical advice before any trip to the country. The best way to combat the risk of malaria is to take a prophylactic, avoid staying up late, sleep under a mosquito net and use insect repellent.

The good news is that whilst there are plenty of mosquitos in Tanzania, there is usually no malaria on Kilimanjaro. The colder temperatures of the mountain and the altitude mean that getting bitten by a malaria-carrying mosquito is unlilkely. HOWEVER, there is malaria present in Moshi where you will inevitably begin your trek up Kilimanjaro so we'd highly recommend taking a prophyactic before and during your trip.

You can also read our guide about how to take care of yourself on Kilimanjaro.

Malaria risk areas

Tanzania is considered a country at high risk of malaria and every precaution against the infection should be taken before travelling. Because mosquitoes like hot, damp conditions, coastal areas are usually at higher risk, as are low areas of rainforest and jungle. In Tanzania, coastal areas like Zanzibar have the highest count of malaria cases, however, common trekking areas like Moshi and Arusha are still relatively high risk zones. The rainy season also increases your risk of infection as this is when mosquitoes are most prevalent. The malaria map of Tanzania below shows the risk zones.

Symptoms of Malaria

Initial symptoms of malaria often include headaches, general aches and pains, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, coughing and malaise, all of which could be mistaken for flu. If you develop flu or flu-like symptoms when you're in Tanzania or within two weeks of returning home, it is wise to assume you have malaria until your blood tests prove otherwise, even if you think you haven't been bitten or you have taken anti-malarial drugs.

If you do not get treatment within 24 hours of contracting malaria, you may be at risk of jaundice, especially if you have contracted falciparum malaria, the most dangerous strain. If still not treated, you will then begin to lose consciousness and enter into a coma which may be followed by death.

It is, therefore, imperative to let your guides on Kilimanjaro know if you are feeling unwell. Although more likely to be altitude sickness, it is always better to be careful. Kandoo Adventures have stringent safety management systems in place that enable our team to quickly and efficiently handle any and all kinds of situation, including what happens if a guest contracts malaria.

Avoiding mosquito bites

The good news for trekkers climbing Kilimanjaro is that Anopheles mosquitoes are generally not found above 2,000 metres. Therefore, the most dangerous time is before and after you climb the mountain. You need to be most careful at night as this is when Anopheles mosquitoes feed.

If you're only planning on staying in Tanzania for a short time to climb Kilimanjaro, here are 5 tips we recommend to avoiding mosquito bites.

1. Wear insect repellent. Please make sure it contains high levels of DEET as this is the best repellent for mosquitoes. Do not only apply the insect repellent to your skin, but apply to your clothes and bedding also.

2. Take a prophylactic. This should be organised well in advance of your visit as most medications need time to accrue in your system.

3. Wear long sleeved shirts and trousers. Try to make these light coloured as mosquitoes are drawn to darker colours.

4. Try to stay indoors after dark. Mosquitoes feed at night and you will increase the risk of being bitten by wandering outdoors during this time.

5. Use a mosquito net at night to cover yourself and your bedding.

Anti-Malarial Medication

There are five types of malaria. The falciparum strand is the most dangerous and also most common in Tanzania. Unlike most other diseases encountered frequently by travellers, there is no malaria vaccination available although malaria treatment can be bought in pharmacies in Tanzania. There are, however, several drugs out there that will help prevent the infection. Preventative medications are the preferred form of anti-malarial treatment for most travellers as it only takes one bite from a mosquito to contract the disease.

There is a wide array of anti-malarials on the market and we strongly recommend consulting your doctor before deciding upon one.

The most popular anti-malarial drug is Lariam which is taken once a week and needs to be taken over a full course to work. Side effect complaints have been fairly common for Larium and include hallucinations, insomnia and nightmares. Although certain scientific research suggests that Lariam makes a person more susceptible to Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), there is still no proof, however, side effects often mimic AMS symtoms making it very difficult to diagnose. Doxycycline is another a popular drug and tends to bring on side-effects such as heartburn and indigestion. Malarone is also an option and seems to produce less potential side-effects, however, it is more expensive because of this.

Please remember that the side effects mentioned above are not universal and can certainly be minimised by taking the drug correctly (i.e with food). We recommend to all our trekkers to test any drug for side-effects several weeks prior to their trip.

Conclusion

Whilst malaria is a frightening disease, it is important to remember that it is preventable and curable. Being aware of malaria, how it is caused, the symptoms and how to treat it or prevent it will help avoid this dangerous infection and you should try not to let it stop your travel plans. Tanzania is home to numerous national parks in addition to the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as Zanzibar and miles of tropical coastline. If you're worried about malaria, speak to our friendly team at Kandoo HQ who will be able to answer any questions you might have.

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