Public Transport in Cape Town

You definitely don't need a car in Cape Town. You can do almost everything with public transport. Click here for a tra:mag special on the public transport in Cape Town!

+ Southern Africa
+ South Africa
+ Garden Route
+ Kruger National Park
+ Namibia
+ Botswana
+ Zimbabwe

Safety in Southern Africa

 

General

For tourists, Southern Africa is as safe as any other part of the world. Southern Africa boasts a vast array of cultures, communities, sites and attractions. Most parts can be safely visited by tourists provided they take basic common-sense precautions meaning not walking around at night alone in deserted streets, avoiding dodgy areas, not flashing photographic equipment or other valuable stuff (like cellphones, jewellery, mp3 players etc.). Like anywhere else in the world, there are some areas of major cities which are more dodgy than others. It is easy to avoid these and still have a good time.

Driving and parking safely

Carjackings do occur in Southern Africa, so again some precautions may help to avoid this:

• be on the alert when they come to a halt at traffic lights or stop streets
• doors should be locked at all times
• keep windows closed in sunny weather,
• plan your travel route
• make sure that you do not leave valuables in clear view of people

When parking at night choose well-lit or security-patrolled parking areas. Street security guards will usually ask whether they can watch over your car and in return should be paid a small fee – anything from two rand upwards.

ATM (Automatic Telling Machine)

Never allow a stranger to assist you in your transactions. In the case that your card become stuck in the ATM, enter your PIN three times. The machine will now retain your card. You can then approach the bank to release it, or call the helpline number that can usually be found at ATMs for assistance.

• Carrying cash is risky, carry less
• Make larger cash deposits in a branch (not an ATM)
• Never count your money in view of strangers or in public
• Separate your cash and credit cards

Emergency and useful numbers (dialled locally)

• Ambulance 10177 (Free landline call)
• SA Police Emergency 10111 (Free landline call)
• Metro Emergency Rescue Service 10177 (Free landline call)
• For difficulties with emergency calls:
• Ambulance, Fire or Police 1022 (Free call from landline only)
• Child Emergency 0800 123 321
• Hospitals Emergency Connect (011) 375 5911
• AA Roadside Rescue Emergencies 082 16 111

to download tra:mag Safety in Southern Africa
click here (requires Adobe Acrobat©)