Tips on Dealing with Tsetse Flies in Masai Mara

The Maasai Mara is a beautiful park to visit. It has some of the most amazing wildlife experiences and really breathtaking Safaris. However, the one thing you may be wondering about is whether Masai Mara has tsetse flies and if you should be worried about them.

So the question is are there tsetse flies in the Masai Mara? Yes, You will find Tsetse flies in the Mara. However, they are not very many and you do not expect to get bitten unless you go out walking in the bush, which will most likely not happen since almost all your tours will be in a tour van. However, there are a lot of other bugs you should be concerned about and you should prepare in advance to deal with them. In this article, I’m going to talk about tsetse flies in the Maasai Mara Game reserve and other bugs that you expect to find there. I will also share how to deal with these bugs and what you use to protect yourself.

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What is a tsetse fly?

Tsetse flies are small insects found in Sub-Sahara Africa. They closely resemble the house fly and are almost identical in size and appearance. I have encountered the insect about 3 times in my life and, unless you inspect it closely, you might not tell the difference between it and a normal household fly.

They feed on the blood of animals (this includes us) and this is one of the main reason why people really fear this bug. The other reason why people fear them is because Tsetse flies transmit the sleeping sickness disease which can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Here is an encyclopedia article giving a more in-depth explanation of what a tsetse fly is.

What does a tsetse fly bite feel like?

I have been bitten thrice by this creature and the bites are quite memorable. The bite from a tsetse fly feels like a sharp prick from a pin or needle and you definitely feel it. The pain does not last long but it’s sharp and jolting. After getting bitten, the area where the bite happened may feel raw and a small bump will appear there. It usually disappears in a day or two but it stops hurting after the first few minutes.

Do I expect to be bitten by a tsetse fly in the Mara?

Since the Mara is located in Kenya and the region has perfect conditions for TseTse flies, you will expect to find them in the Mara. The fly likes hiding in bushes and tree barks and you are most likely to encounter a tsetse fly when walking in the bush.

The reason it is very unlikely for you to get bitten by a tsetse fly when in the Masai Mara is the fact that you are rarely going to get out of your van during your game drive and this reduces your chances of you encountering this bug. In addition to this, the populations of this fly are not very high and bites are rare.

Having lived in Kenya all my life, I have only been bitten thrice and all of these were times I was on the farm near thick bushes.

What to do when I get bitten?

Even though the chances of getting a tsetse fly bite are rare, here are a few things that you need to do when you get bitten by a tsetse fly.

You will feel an itch where the bug bit you but do not succumb to the temptation to scratch. It will only make it worse.
Apply some ointment to make the itch and initial pain go away
Do not panic its only a bug and its bite is not deadly.
On rare occasions, people have gotten sleeping sickness from a bite from this bug however this is not very common.

Can I get sick from a tsetse fly bite?

The risk of illness from a tsetse fly bite is low (read the article that talks about it here) Tsetse flies transmit sleeping sickness and this is can be passed on from animals to humans.

With the risk being low, you should not be worried. Here is a good reason, I have lived in Kenya all my life and o have only been bitten by a tsetse fly 3 times. (The bug bite is really memorable so I have kept count. 🙂 ) On top of this, I have not come across or heard of anyone who has sleeping sickness. This is bit to say that people don’t get the disease, I’m just giving my personal experience.

However, in the rare occurrence that the tsetse fly that bit you was infected, you should watch for the following symptoms

Headache,
Fever
Muscle ache.

Read more about these symptoms on HealthLine

As I end this section, I need to let you know that I am not a medical professional in any way, so you should always confirm your medical decisions with a licensed professional.

Other bugs in the Mara I should prepare for

The Maasai Mara is an untamed wilderness. Apart from the dirt roads built for tourists, it’s basically untouched. This means that all the bugs of the wild will be in abundance here. It is for this reason, you need to come prepared to deal with them. Below is a list of some bugs you need to prepare for when coming to the Mara

Mosquitos

These are in great abundance, especially in the wet seasons. (March to June and October and November). Their populations are much higher than tsetse flies and their buzzing more annoying than anything you have encountered.

In addition to this, malaria is much more prevalent in Kenya than sleeping sickness and you would, therefore, need to prepare actively for these bugs.

Bug repellent will help to keep mosquitos and other bugs away during the day. And you can use bug-spray in your room to kill the mosquitoes before you go to sleep.

On top of this, it is crucial for you to confirm with your hotel or camp that the beds have treated mosquito nets. There is nothing more annoying than the buzzing of a mosquito in your ear at 2 am in the morning.

Anti-Malaria pills

Malaria is prevalent in Kenya and you need to come prepared. Antimalarial pills will help you not to get sick. Ask your doctor about where to get these before you travel.

Ticks

These are as rare as the tsetse fly and you will only get bitten by one if you are walking in the bush. Their bite is as painful as the tsetse fly, so you will definitely notice it.

To avoid an encounter with this bug, avoid getting out of the tour van and if you will be walking outside, avoid bushes and tall grass. (this will help you with snakes too)

Flying bugs that do not bite

there are a lot of strange bugs in the savannahs of Kenya and you will find some of them very scary. They are attracted to light and will usually fly around lightbulbs and lamps at night.

Most of these bugs are harmless and you should not be afraid of them. However, they can be very annoying especially if they get in your hair or underneath your clothes.

The best way of dealing with these is making sure that you switch off any unused lights and keep all your doors and windows shut… especially at night.

Flightless bugs that bite

These include fire ants and the dreaded safari ants. Their bite is very painfull but not lethal. They are easy to deal with: Just watch where you step and when one gets on you, flick it away.

Flightless bugs that don’t bite

These are the thousands of sugar ants and caterpillars that you will run into when at the Mara. They may appear scary but most are harmless. That being said, Do not hold them with your bare hands since many have a really bad odour that is used as a defensive mechanism against predators and this can be difficult to get off even with water and soap.

General rules for dealing with bugs in the Masai Mara

Switch off the lights in your room when you are not using them. Bugs love light and leaving the lights on will attract large numbers of them in your room.
Make sure that all doors and windows that have access to the outside are well locked. Any slightly open window, especially at night will allow the bugs to get in.
It can get pretty hot at night, find accommodation that has A/C to ensure that you don’t need to open your windows.
Find some bug spray and use it after you come from your day’s activities. Leave the door and windows shut and you will find all the mosquitoes and flying bugs dead when you return from dinner. After this, make sure you keep your windows and doors shut to prevent new bugs from entering.
You may find small lizards in your room and I would advise you not to kill them. This is because they feed on the flying insects and they will act as your personal bug killer.

Conclusion

Butterflies and other insects in the mara maybe scary when you think about them but in reality, you’ll get used to them after the first night periods I would advise you not to be too worried about them but make sure that you come prepared and follow some of the instructions I have stated above. I live in Kenya and I love this country and I’m sure you will too so come and have a blast.