BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY
The following are proven basic safety precautions that all sensible visitors should take to ensure their visit to South Africa is a pleasant and safe one:
At the hotel: |
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- Never leave your luggage unattended.
- Store valuables in the hotel safety deposit box.
- Keep your room locked, whether you're in it or not.
- If someone knocks, check who it is before opening the door.
- Only hand your room keys to the reception desk when you leave the hotel.
On the street: |
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- Avoid ostentatious displays of expensive jewellery, cameras & other valuables.
- Use credit cards wherever possible.
- Do not carry large amounts of cash around.
- At night, steer clear of dark isolated areas.
- It's always better to explore in groups when leaving the regular routes.
- Plan your route beforehand.
- A policeman or traffic officer will be glad to direct you, if you're lost.
- If you want a taxi, your hotel or nearest tourism information office can recommend a reliable service.
In the car: |
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- Plan your route in advance.
- Keep your car doors locked at all times.
- Lock valuable items in the trunk.
- At night, park in well-lit areas.
- Never pick up strangers.
- If lost, or in doubt about the safety of an area, phone a police station for advise.
- If you are stopped by a policeman or traffic officer, request to see their identification cards and record names and number.
- You will never be required to pay cash to a traffic or police officer for traffic violations or other citations. Fines are only ever paid at Magistrate Courts, the Traffic Department or municipal offices. You will always be issued a formal printed receipt. If you are denied these rights, report the matter immediately to the nearest Police Station.
Gate times for December: |
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- Park gates open : 05h30
- Camp gates open : 05h30
- Park gates close : 18h30
General South African emergency numbers:
Police, fire brigade, public rescue services - 10111 or 112 from your mobile phones.
