South Africa has developed a bit of a negative safety reputation in the past number of years. However, just following a few simple tips and guidelines will ensure that you have a safe and happy trip to South Africa with nothing at all to worry about.
General
1. A good travel tip for any country you visit is to keep a copy of the first few pages of your passport, airplane tickets and visas separately from the originals.
2. Try not to leave your valuables at your accommodation when you leave for the day, or use a safe if your establishment provides one.
3. Safety within cities and at airports
4. Avoid, if possible, walking alone in quieter areas in the cities. Avoid walking at night – rather just use a car or a taxi to get from place to place.
5. Try to keep your valuables tucked away safely and if you are carrying a bag ensure that it is secured to your body.
6. Avoid wearing flashy jewellery that will attract attention when out in public.
7. Keep any money that you are carrying out of sight and close to your body.
Safety when driving
As a visitor to a foreign country, driving your own vehicle is an opportunity to experience the local offerings at your own pace. However, the rules of the road are often different, adjusting to local driving conditions can be difficult and getting an international driving permit is an annoyance.
A number of companies in South Africa rent vehicles with well-trained, experienced drivers. These drivers have their own public driver permit and are available to drive you wherever you would like to go. If this is an option for you, getting a driver is a much safer, stress-free option.
If you do, however, choose to drive yourself, the following important points should be kept in mind:
1. If you are driving yourself around the cities, keep your bags and valuables in the boot (trunk) if you can. Try to avoid leaving objects lying on the front seat.
2. Keep your doors locked when driving.
3. Be aware of your surroundings when approaching an intersection or stopping at a traffic light. Watch for anybody suspicious hanging around the sides of the road. If someone approaches your car, drive away.
4. Avoid stopping on the side of the road where possible.
5. When you leave your car, always ensure all windows are tightly shut and all doors are locked. Even if you are just stopping for a few minutes.
6. Avoid leaving valuables in your car where possible.
7. Obey the rules of the road (obviously).
8. When driving in the countryside, be aware of people and animals crossing the road – it tends to happen suddenly, so stay alert.
9. Avoid driving at night in the country as roads are often potholed and it is harder to be aware of animals crossing.
Following these simple precautions and using a fair helping of common sense will ensure that you stay well out of trouble on your trip. Check out our need-to-know section for other useful tips about South Africa.
Safe and happy travels!
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