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Visitors
to the eastern lowveld of Mpumalanga and
Northern Province, the Kruger National
Park and the game reserves in KwaZulu-Natal
should take a course of anti-malaria
tablets before entering these zones. In a
malaria region, it is preferable to wear
long sleeves and trousers at night and
avoid dark colored clothes. The bilharzia
parasite is present in streams, rivers,
lakes and dams in some of the northern and
eastern parts of the country. Hence
visitors should not drink from or bathe in
these waters. The Eastern Cape is
bilharzia free. It is safe to drink the
tap water throughout South Africa.
Visitors should ensure that they take a
medical insurance before they arrive in
South Africa. Most hotels have a list of
doctors, whose names may also be found in
the "medical" section of
telephone directories. No vaccination
certificates are required from visitors
coming from the UK, however visitors from
a yellow fever zone must have a valid
certificate.
You
may have heard a lot about crime in South
Africa. But the country in general is not
an unsafe place for international
tourists. Do not announce to the world
that you are a tourist. For example, a
camera displayed prominently identifies
you as a tourist - carry it in a bag. Do
not draw attention to yourself by
flaunting large amounts of cash or
jewellery. When returning to your hotel or
motel late in the evening, use the main
entrance. Close the door securely when you
are in your hotel room and use all the
locking devices provided. Entrust your
valuables to the hotel safety deposit
boxes. Do not needlessly display guest
room keys in public or carelessly leave
them on restaurant tables, at the swimming
pool, or other places where they can be
easily stolen. Always keep your baggage or
handbag close at hand and never leave
items unattended.
Avoid
dark, unlit places. When driving, be
observant and look around before entering
car parks. Park in well lit areas and
never pick up strangers. Ensure that car
doors are kept locked at all times. Do not
leave packages or personal items on the
seat of the car, put them in the boot.
Plan your route in advance, use maps and
when in doubt as to the safety of specific
areas or which route to take - contact the
police.
On
the whole, it is necessary to take basic
safety precautions to avoid becoming a
victim of random crime. Prevention, is
certainly better than cure.
Dial
10111 for the police and 10177 for an
ambulance.
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