Bottled Water a Must!
Author: Papa Awori
When traveling in any African country, the number one rule is "Don't drink the water," and that includes ice. In the major cities, bottled water is available for purchase at grocery stores and hotels. Well known brands of soft drinks are generally safe. Avoid fruit juices that are diluted with water. Milk is generally unpasteurized and could pose health problems unless it has been boiled and stored correctly.
If you plan to travel away from the major cities and tourist areas, you will need to make your drinking water safe. The simplest way to purify water is to boil it thoroughly for five minutes. If you can't boil it, you can use iodine in tablet or tincture form. Simple purifying systems such as Micropur water filters are useful for long trips.
Traveler's tip: If arriving at night, you can get a bottle of water on the plane and stow it in your bag for later. Request your water early in the flight as they are always in short supply.
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