July August is the dry season. And with less water there’s less power. On occasion there’s no water at our house. It’s unpredictable and annoying. We have black outs each evening often beginning at 6 and lasting until the next morning. With the day and night at the equator equal, Anna and I often just go to bed. I read by flashlight for a while, then listen to the chirping crickets and howls of the dogs before a deep sleep. I always sleep well.
Road Traffic: The standard of driving in parts of Africa is appalling. Vehicle maintenance is almost non-existent, with the road-worthiness of many cars, trucks and buses very questionable. Life is cheap on the road and cycles are a long way down the pecking order for road priority. Here, might is right, the truck and bus are king and as cyclist, I’m expected to keep out of the way.
Above: Cyclist hitch hiking on the back of a truck up a hill.
Malaria: The biggest killer on the planet.
Measures can be taken to reduce the risk, such as insect repellent, mosquito nets when sleeping and anti malarial drugs. I do all of this. But nothing is 100% guaranteed.
Bilharzia: This disease is caused when tiny parasitic worms penetrate the skin while swimming in fresh-water. There is no defense against this microscopic invader as it drills it way into the body straight through the skin, just like a horror movie. It is therefore important to avoid swimming in water that is affected by this parasite. If not treated this disease can cause kidney failure and permanent bowel damage.
Rabies: Caused by being bitten or licked by an infected animal. Dogs in Africa are not always the nice friendly ones we are used to in the Canada. Rabies is a particularly nasty disease that has no cure once symptoms start to show. I sure don’t want a bite.
African Killer Bees: Have a reputation for being aggressive. Unlike our domestic bees these will deliberately target a person.
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