Ah, the great outdoors. Fresh air, freedom and... bugs.
There're out there, and out to get you - and some of them pose a more serious threat than just a few itchy bumps. Insects and their ilk do go with the territory when you take to the wilds, but there's still a lot you can do to avoid them.
Snakebite shouldn't be top of your list of worries, but every year lives and limbs are lost this way - usually unneccesarily. These are the latest recommendations on what to do.
Some are so poisonous they can kill you; others can cause severe pain. These are the marine creatures you don't want to bump into on your seaside holiday.
Only a few species of spiders are dangerous but all scorpions in South Africa are venomous. Here are first aid tips.
What do you do when a swarm of bees heads your way? Memorize these tips for summer.
It’s a peculiar way to spend a weekend perhaps, but snake handling has some unexpected health benefits.
Insect bites are a common problem and may be difficult to diagnose. We explain how they can be treated.
Where are you taking your family on holiday next time? Just check whether it is an area where malaria is prevalent.
The choice of which drug to use to treat malaria depends on where the patient acquired malaria, whether prophylaxis was taken, and what form of malaria the patient has.
Love being outdoors? Then be aware of the fact that tick bite fever is common in South Africa – especially in people who haven't built up an immunity against it.
Tick bite fever (rickettsia) is caused by a bacterial infection transmitted by ticks. This condition occurs in many areas of the world and is known by a variety of names
Myths, misinformation and mystery tend to proliferate around snakes. Even if you think you know a thing or two about these amazing creatures, you might not know it all - yet.
Everyone remembers the searing pain of their first bee sting. What is the difference between a bite and a sting and what should you do when you receive either of these two things? What can you do to avoid being bitten or stung?
South Africa has several venomous snakes. Here's how to prevent snake bites and what to do if someone gets bitten.
Tick bites seldom lead to serious problems, but some ticks may transmit organisms which could lead to illness.
What happens to your body when bitten by a mamba - or another snake - and why can it be lethal? Pic: Beeld
Insect bites and stings are common and, although bothersome, seldom have serious consequences.
With all the hype surrounding recent shark attacks, it is easy to forget the other dangers that lurk in the ocean - both at home and abroad.
Occasionally stories surface about people being eaten by maggots. Just another internet hoax. Or is it?
Use this interactive map to assess the malaria situation in different parts of South Africa.
A near-fatal scorpion sting on the toe tends to really drive the message home: always wear closed shoes in the bush…
You're camping in the bushveld. You find a tick lodged between your big- and second toe. What do you do now?.
There’s something about that viciously efficient combination of grasping pincers and curved sting that sparks terror in the human brain.
Would you know a black button spider if it bit you? No-one has died of a spider bite in Southern Africa for decades. But bites can still be serious, and some potentially lethal.
