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Safety tips

Safety has become an important issue throughout the world. Be sensible about it and take the same precautions whilst visiting here, as you would at home and in any other country. The Tourism Safety Task Group of South Africa has compiled the following tips for tourists to bear in mind:

At the hotel:

• Never leave your luggage unattended.
• Store valuables in the hotel's safety deposit box.
• Keep your room locked, whether you are there or not.
• When someone knocks, check who it is before opening the door.
• Hand in the keys at the desk whenever you leave the hotel.

In the street:

• Avoid displaying expensive jewellery, cameras and other valuables.
• Don't carry large sums of money on your person.
• Steer clear of dark, isolated areas - especially at night.
• Explore in groups, rather than alone, and stick to well-lit, busy streets.
• Plan your route beforehand.
• Ask for help from a policeman or traffic officer if you get lost.
• If you need a taxi, ask your hotel or nearest tourism information office to recommend a reliable service.

In the car:

• Plan your route in advance.
• Keep the car doors locked at all times and the windows wound up.
• Lock valuable items in the boot (trunk).
• Park in well-lit areas at night.
• Don't pick up strangers.