Protecting yourself from Insect Bites of both Mosquitoes and Tsetse Flies
The Australian Product RID – The Best Insect Repellent for your Safari in Uganda
The Best Insect Repellent for your Safari in Uganda. Africa has some of the best wildlife, primates, birds, reptiles, etc. Africa is also home to an
abundance of bugs, flies, mosquitoes, and tsetse flies.
Bugs abound in Africa as they do in Uganda and Rwanda. We will give you some of the best ways to protect yourself and make your time on Safari a pleasant one.
You can get bitten by insects anywhere globally, including an African Safari. As Bert McCoy said, “If you stay long enough in paradise, you’re bound to get bitten by mosquitoes.”
True, unless you use effective preventative measures that work and are beyond homespun legends and myths.
Most on a safari in Africa use a Deet-based product such as “Off” or “Cutter” insect repellents. Others resort to natural products such as citronella, soybean, rosemary, lavender, lemon, or eucalyptus-based. Others claim that Nivea Plain Blue body lotion works wonders against biting insects.
The Insects that will bother you most on Safaris are flies, mosquitoes, and tsetse flies. Deet-based products work reasonably well on flies and mosquitoes but not on tsetse flies.
Suppose you are looking for the right insect repellent for your time on Safari. Here you will find what we think is the Best Insect Repellent for your Safari.
RID – The Best Insect Repellent for your Safari.
Making yourself less of a Target for Insects
Before we get into which insect repellent we have found to work best on a safari, we want to touch on two preventative Measures that you can take briefly. The Clothing and less sugar intake make you a less desirable target for insects.
The proper Clothing Protects you against Insect Bites: 
On Safari, especially walking and hiking safaris in savannah parks, avoid blue-black. They attract tsetse flies (they can bite through the thin fabric). The jeans are okay, and the blue tops attract tsetse flies.
At night while having dinner outside, avoid bright Clothing, which attracts mosquitoes. The first line of defense against bugs is long trousers and long-sleeved shirts or tops in neutral colors.
Yes, you are in equatorial Africa. Yes, the sun shines, and it is summer-like in Uganda.
Our suggestion is to look at what the Uganda Wildlife Authority Rangers leading you on treks and hikes are wearing. They are not wearing shorts or short-sleeved shirts, and they wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts to protect themselves against insects and even defend against nettles, thorny bushes, and bothersome branches.
Avoiding Sugary Drinks and Sweets makes you a less desirable target for Insects:
Insects, like most humans, love sweet things when you indulge in sweets such as soft drinks, passion fruit juice where a lot of sugar has been added, sugary coffee and teas, and candies of all kinds.
Be aware that most local beers have added sugar to them. Ugandans have an extraordinary taste for sweet things, and the Brewers offer what their customers want.
Which Insect Repellent do we recommend?
RID – The Best Insect Repellent for your Safari 
We noticed our clients from Australia and New Zealand using insect repellent that seemed to be quite effective in preventing insect bites. It prevented mosquito bites and attacks from tsetse flies, gnats, horseflies, ants, and other insects.
We found out about the Australian-produced insect repellent, “RID.” It has protected Australian families from “Mozzies” since 1956, and RID products have consistently come out number one in tests against other insect repellents. If you live in Europe or North America, there is one problem, it is not available in stores or on Amazon.
Do not be disappointed; we do have good news. You can obtain it online from Safari Store in the UK in person or online. Besides, you can purchase it online from “Top Brands for Less” (Australia). Both stores will ship the product worldwide. (Find the online links below)
A variety of RID repellent products come in the form of sprays or creams are available and can be purchased online from the Australian online Store or the one in the UK.
RID’s Medicated Plus Antiseptic range of products seems to be top of the class. They offer the most effective insect repellent with Chamomile and Vitamin E to soothe the skin if you get stung.
The anti-inflammatory agents of Chamomile & Vitamin E will relieve stinging, itching, and swelling caused by insect bites, nettles, and prickles. If an insect does bite, RID soothes the itching and swelling, reducing the temptation to scratch the bite. If the itch is scratched and the skin is broken, RID assists in preventing bacterial infection. There are RID Repellents for children and a Tropical Strength product that you can buy.
We write about RID because it repels both Mosquitoes and Tsetse flies, making it stand out above the rest if you are on a Safari. Additionally, it repels other insects you might encounter on a safari, such as flies, gnats, ants, and even lice.
RID contains less Deet than other insect repellents, and more Deet does not make a repellent better. RID Tropical strength contains 19.5% DEET and will effectively repel insects for six hours.
Please Note: When packing any deet-based insect repellent, place it into a Ziploc bag to prevent leakage onto other items in your luggage.
Why do we recommend RID Insect Repellent?
The answer is straightforward; it works for our clients, and it has been the most effective product against insect bites for our clients. That is the bottom line.
We have no connection with the manufacturers of Rid, the Safari store, or Top Brands for less. The above was an unsolicited endorsement of the product based on its effectiveness and not on any arrangement that might financially benefit Kabiza Wilderness Safaris.
We have sent an email to RID to buy a few cases for our clients. Sadly, we never heard back from them. That, however, does not take away from the effectiveness of the product.
Links to both the Safari Store and Top Brands for less can be found at the end of this article, along with further helpful articles on fighting the bite on Safari.
Rid-works on Mosquitoes and Tsetse Flies.
Using RID Insect Repellent – The Best Insect Repellent for your Safari
- How much RID Insect Repellent do I need to bring on Safari? Up to 4-day Safari: 1 x bottle per person; Up to 8-day Safari: 2 x bottles per person; Up to 12-day Safari: 3 x bottles per person.
- Applying RID Insect Repellent: Apply insects to both your skin and Clothing. Spray the repellent into your hands and then use it on your skin for your face. Please do not get it into your eyes, and follow the instructions on the bottle. Apply it all over your trousers, shirt, hat, and shoes for Your Clothing. Please do not use it on undergarments.
- When should I re-apply Rid Insect Repellent? Always re-apply insect repellent after physical activities, sweating, swimming, or toweling yourself down.
- Apply Insect Repellent Outdoors: It is best not to spray in enclosed areas.
- Please do not apply open wounds or scratches: It is safer not to use insect repellent on them.
Kabiza Wilderness Safaris does not sell RID in Kampala. We tried to have it available but never received a reply from the manufacturer. However, we continue to recommend RID because it works effectively.
“Everything in Africa Bites, but the Safari Bug is worst” – Brian Jackman.
To be harassed by insects is most annoying during your Safari. We urge you to take the appropriate preventative measures that we have covered in detail.
RID Insect Repellent is effective with most insects. There is, however, one bug whose bite it cannot and does not prevent. That is none other than the famous Safari Bug.
The Bite of the Safari is what brings Travelers back to Africa again and again. Karen Blixen, the author of “Out of Africa,” exclaimed late in life, “If there were one more thing I could do, it would be to go on safari once again.”
The safari bug bit Ernest Hemingway. “All I wanted to do was get back to Africa. We had not left it yet, but when I would wake in the night, I would lie, listening, homesick for it already.”
We hope that the safari bug bites you but no insects.
Read more about Protecting yourself from Insects on Safari
Where to buy RID – the Best Insect Repellent for your Safari
Top Brands for less – delivers in the USA – Canada, and almost anywhere:
Readily available in Stores in New Zealand and Australia:
