Personal Safety:
- Know the police station’s location and number, as well as other relevant emergency numbers
- Always inform someone when you plan on leaving and coming back
- Do not display valuables like cell phones or jewellery in public or in your vehicle
- Keep your handbag closed – and do not leave it unattended
- Do not carry large sums of cash with you
- Insist on having credit card transactions processed in your presence
- Stay away from dark, isolated areas during evenings
- Plan your route beforehand and do not ask directions from strangers.
Safety at the airport:
- Make sure your bags and luggage have locks and name tags
- Watch out for staged mishaps, like someone bumping into you or spilling a drink; this could be a ploy to divert your attention and steal your bag or passport
- Do not allow people to tamper with your bags. Plastic wrapping for luggage is advisable.
Safety at the hotel or guest house:
- Ensure that identifiable hotel staff assist you with your luggage upon arrival
- Never leave your luggage unattended, unless it is locked away in your room
- Store valuables in the safety deposit box
- Keep your room locked at all times
- If someone knocks, check who it is before opening the door
- Meet visitors in the foyer, not outside your room.
General safety tips:
- Keep a photocopy of your passport and other important documentation in your hotel or guesthouse
- Keep a list of your credit card, bank card, passport number and airline ticket numbers. Keep the originals in a safe place.
- Write down the serial numbers of your travelers’ cheques and keep the list safe
- Write down the serial numbers of your cameras and other valuables and keep them in a safe place.
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