Security advice for travel to South Africa

Posted: 25/05/2014

Personal Safety Tips for travel to South Africa

Your personal safety should be your top priority at all times whilst you're travelling. Sometimes we get a bit complacent as we travel around and nothing happens to us.

RPS wants you to be a "What if" person. Think what if? Can you recover from a security incident because you have done your planning and are prepared. 

South Africa is not the safest place on earth for travel and we recommend you consider the following points when travelling there. Don't become an "if only....." person. If only I had backed up my phone I would have been able to recover all my information when my phone was stolen...

Plan your trip well. Photocopy and scan in important travel documents so you have a copy if they get lost of stolen.

If in doubt about the safety of an area, ask at your hotel or ask locals.

Leave your extravagant jewellery at home and avoid carrying a large amount of money on your person.

Carry a purse or bag close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Our personal safety tip would be to put a wallet in an inside coat or front trouser pocket not a back pocket.

Be aware of your surroundings and the people around you and try not to walk around remote areas at night. Take a taxi.

If yu are staying somewhere for a while, get to know where the hospital is, police and fire stations, public telephones, hospitals, petrol stations and restaurants, or stores that are open late.

Trust your instincts. If something or someone makes you uneasy, avoid that person or leave. Don't get in taxis if the taxi driver makes you feel uneasy.

Let people of your whereabouts and likely time of return, especially if you are travelling on your own.

Watch out if people start milling around you. This could be a sign you are about to be robbed.

Always appear calm and confident, and know where you are going. Don't get your map out in the street. Go into a shop or hotel to look at it.

When leaving your house for long periods, don’t mention it on your answering machine message/social media.

If you are unfortunately mugged or attacked, try not to resist, especially if the attacker has a weapon, give up your purse or valuables, with no questions asked and move away.

Everything can be replaced but a human life....

For more security top tips and in depth training and information contact RPS on [email protected]

Photo: http://www.gapyear.com/countries/south-africa

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