West Africa with 18 month old in February

[yentil]

Anyone know about the climate in Ghana at this time. I heard there can be a dry wind from the sahara around this time?

also am I mad for even thinking of taking an 18 month old to west africa? (i am meeting my father for the first time so really need to go).

my main concerns are weather, bugs, and what will she eat?

Hi Yentil - I've searched in vain many a time on Mumsnet for threads about Africa - so I felt I had to answer yours. You are probably referring to the harmitan - as the saharan dry winds. There are various websites that should give you an idea of climate in Ghana at different times of the year which would be more precise. Have you been to Africa before? I don't think you are mad at all taking your 18month old - they will love it and be adored by all. Bugs are fine as long as you are informed - go to a travel clinic and just be sensible about covering them up from mosi's and choosing where you eat. Unless you are really heading out into the country you should find food no problem - Accra will have lots of places that will be of high western standard - and fruit stalls everywhere which are also fine if you wash and peel stuff. Basic hygiene is the most important, safe water and lots of hand washing. Just do a lot of reading, talk to your travel clinic and have a fantastic time. I have seen one lady posting on mumsnet who seems to live in Nigeria at the moment so maybe she will spot this. maybe you could do a search for her by putting Nigeria in the search??

good luck!

yentil I am in Cameroon a bit further south from Ghana. In feb here we do get the harmattan winds which mean that the sky is all hazy and there is a lot of sand in the atmosphere from the sahara. I suspect as Ghana is further north probably it experiences more severe effects from the harmattan than we do. However the effects of the harmattan vary year in year out - occasionally the airports in Nigeria close because it is so bad and other years it is hard to make out at all!

Ghana is one of my fave African countries and fabulous for taking an 18month old to. The main worries are of course malaria and tummy upsets, but if you are sensible and use repellent, sleep under a net, long clothes from dusk onwards and good basic hygiene/bottled water you should be fine. There are plenty of places in Accra to eat of high standards, and if you are going upcountry you should be able to buy baby food in jars imported from South Africa or the UK.

The weather is of course hot and very sweaty but our 2 dc who have been brought up in sweaty African climates seem not to bat an eyelid! They both drink plenty of water and wear lots of sunscreen.

Sorry not to post sooner but I don't post so often. I do hope you go and have lots of fun.

Blimey, if you were coming the other way I'd think you were Madonna! Watch out for her btw!

Water is your main concern, use only bottled for drinking, cooking and washing your food. Only eat out at proper restaurants, recommend to you. Steer clear from meat. Even if your veggies have been washed, wash them again in bottled water before cooking.

Your 18month old will need a variety of jabs, see your gp about this.

You're not mad to think of going, so long as you are very very careful! Good luck with everything!

thanl-you for replies. just posted again about the vaccinations and side effects (if any) i should expect.

i do fel guilty subjecting her to even more injections; but feel its for a good cause.