Ticks

[uplander01]

I had a bout 200 pepper tick bites a few years ago in Zimbabwe. Had clothes treated but pretty sure they got me when I got in the ground behind my kudu for pics. It took weeks for them to go away after applying antiseptic and dermoplast daily. Didn’t have any ill effects other than feeling weak and flu like for about a week or so, but wasn’t bad. Moral of the story, treat and retest with permethrin and stay off the ground, especially near the dead animals

 

[JimP]

On my first trip to South Africa we went to a coastal area to hunt impala, we were on the ground during the stalk and pictures afterwards, not to mention crawling through the brush. The impala in my avatar was the results. Myself and another hunter didn't have a single pepper tick on us. All of our clothing was treated with Permithin.

Another hunter the next day went to the same location. He came back covered in the little buggers. He hadn't treated his clothes and was depending on bug spray with DEET.

 

[fourfive8]

Those pesky pepper ticks can show up anywhere in those countries commonly hunted in Africa. Like most ticks, they sit on vegetation waiting for chance to hitch ride and get a drink while injecting victim with all sorts of nasties. As most recommend, use permethrin on clothes and DEET on skin

 

[Doug3006]

I’m sure they occur throughout Southern Africa, I’ve only encountered them in Limpopo SA. Not in Zim, Zam or Namibia.