- Use common sense anywhere:
Do not walk alone
Do not walk around with expensive jewellery
Do not display expensive items / wallet / backpack
Do not leave valuable items / shopping bags in the car
Be discreet when paying at a shop / street vendor
Do not pick up hitch-hikers
- DO NOT DRIVE AFTER DARK (Never!)
If you have absolutely no choice –
Phone your next stop and tell them when to expect you
and what route you are following.
- Plan your itinerary and route in advance:
GPS is not always reliable in rural areas
Cell phone signal is patchy or not available on rural roads
Ask a local person before you depart, which road is the best
Enquire about known road blockages because of protest action
Know your route exactly, so you are not distracted
Look out for potholes, pedestrians and stray animals
- Adhere to road signs
Speed limit could be 80km/h on a road that looks like a highway
Stop signs could be at unexpected places
- If you get pulled over by police / traffic police
Remain cooperative
Insist on a written fine in case of an alleged violation
It is strictly illegal to pay cash to a traffic / police officer
Legitimate fines should be paid at a police station or
Magistrate’s court only, where a receipt must be issued
If prompted for a bribe, take note of the officer’s name,
the place and time and their vehicle registration number
Report it to the Police – see emergency numbers è
- ALWAYS….
Keep copy of your passport with your travel agent
or store a photo of it on the cloud
Keep list of important contacts with your travel agent / cloud
Memorise at least five most important contact numbers
Have water, toilet paper and energy bars with you
Wear sunscreen when out during the day – even cloudy days
EMERGENCY CONTACTS:
Police / any emergency 10111
From a cell phone 112
Medical 10177
Tourism Information +27 (0)13 755 1988
Tourism WhatsApp only +27 (0)82 321 6018
Helpdesk on N4 route 0800 87 22 64
My Own Contacts:
Travel Agent __________________
Family member __________________
Car Hire __________________
Have the following information ready and remain calm:
(English is widely spoken and understood but not as a
First language. Speak slowly and clearly when calling)
- The nature of the emergency
- Exact location of the incident
(Including nearby landmarks)
- Details about injuries / possible suspects
- Your personal information
- Take the name of the person you speak to
- Ask how long it will take to get assistance
- Follow up to ensure you get help
- Send a brief report of the incident to the
Tourism WhatsApp line