VERY IMPORTANT
All guests must check with their medical aids or medical rescue plans of which they are a member, that they will fly into southern Mozambique (across the SA border) in the event  of a medical emergency or the need for an emergency evacuation. Some medical aids or rescue plans will not do this. In order to avoid a potential catastrophe, this check is essential. Good medical facilities are not available in Mozambique nor are they available within a short distance from the SA border.
It is similarly recommended that an adequate first aid kit is brought along in order to handle basic medical requirements. In the event of a medical emergency, please refer to the list of the emergency numbers provided.

Malaria

Northern KZN & southern Mozambique is a malaria risk area. The more populated areas identified by villages or small towns are however the very high risk areas. Ponta Malongane  and the area within which Tartaruga & Kangela Estate are situated are not considered to be very high risk areas. The risk of malaria infection is much higher in the warm summer months as opposed to the cooler winter months and similarly the times around sunset and sunrise are the higher risk times. A joint SA / Mozambique anti-malarial spraying programme (considerable success has already been recorded) is currently underway covering the entire northern KZN & southern Mozambique. It is hoped, that over a 3 year period, the risk of malaria infection is entirely eradicated from the region.  We nevertheless strongly advocate taking the necessary prophylactic anti-malaria precautions and consulting your doctor in the event of any strange flu like symptoms after your return to SA.

As of February 2002, a new breakthrough anti-malaria drug called "Coartemether" manufactured by Novartis has been launched  with demonstrated cure rates of higher than 95 % and which is said to be capable of clearing parasites causing malaria in less than 48 hours.

Snakes

In any area such as this, and more so in the warmer summer months, there are snakes around. If a snake is sighted, leave it alone. Snakes are not fundamentally aggressive animals and therefore, if given the opportunity to retreat, they will always take this option. Mozambique spitting cobras are found in the area and hence it is recommended to regard any snake as having the potential to spit. For the sake of interest, there are only 50--80 recorded cases of snakebite each year in Southern Africa with an average mortality of 7 people per annum. For information purposes, please refer to guidelines on suggested treatments snakebite.