An international traveler, Dr. Benoy Berry is an Irishman who currently lives in Nigeria as a naturalized citizen. The chairman and chief executive officer of Contec Global, Inc., Dr. Benoy Berry has decades of experience in the African market and enjoys traveling throughout the country.
Although people should review travel warnings from their governments before planning any trip abroad, there are a number of tips to keep in mind for a fun and safe experience when traveling to Africa.
- Get vaccinated. In addition to verifying you are up to date on routine vaccines, you should check with a national health organization, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States or the National Travel Health Network and Centre in the United Kingdom, before a trip to find out if there are any specific vaccines for the destination country. For example, most travelers to Nigeria should also be vaccinated for hepatitis A, malaria, polio, typhoid, and yellow fever.
- Pack smartly. Know the destination’s climate and pack accordingly. Africa runs the gamut from deserts and rain forests to mountainous areas, each of which has its own temperature range. If you plan to travel to various countries, pack lightly. Try to get everything into a single portable bag. Finally, bring a small amount of laundry detergent for handwashing clothes if you are staying somewhere that doesn’t have laundry facilities.
- Follow the rules. When visiting a game reserve, whether it is large or small, the rules are in place to ensure visitor safety. Most require you to stay in your car and away from animals like elephants, lions, and hippos, since they can be very dangerous. At all times, be aware of the fastest way to get to a safe location in the event of an unwanted animal encounter.
Although people should review travel warnings from their governments before planning any trip abroad, there are a number of tips to keep in mind for a fun and safe experience when traveling to Africa.
- Get vaccinated. In addition to verifying you are up to date on routine vaccines, you should check with a national health organization, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States or the National Travel Health Network and Centre in the United Kingdom, before a trip to find out if there are any specific vaccines for the destination country. For example, most travelers to Nigeria should also be vaccinated for hepatitis A, malaria, polio, typhoid, and yellow fever.
- Pack smartly. Know the destination’s climate and pack accordingly. Africa runs the gamut from deserts and rain forests to mountainous areas, each of which has its own temperature range. If you plan to travel to various countries, pack lightly. Try to get everything into a single portable bag. Finally, bring a small amount of laundry detergent for handwashing clothes if you are staying somewhere that doesn’t have laundry facilities.
- Follow the rules. When visiting a game reserve, whether it is large or small, the rules are in place to ensure visitor safety. Most require you to stay in your car and away from animals like elephants, lions, and hippos, since they can be very dangerous. At all times, be aware of the fastest way to get to a safe location in the event of an unwanted animal encounter.