Travel Tips Avoiding Trouble African Travel

O ther than avoiding              sessions on a sunbed before        trouble spots and regions       leaving home because by and large  of instability in Africa,       there is nothing much you can do   your journey should go well if        to avoid looking wet behind the    you use common sense while            ears especially when you have      traveling around Africa.              just got to your destination.                                                                               For most travelers to Africa, the     To minimize on your chances of     main hassle is always finding how     being conned or talked into        to best fit in as much as             buying stuff you might neither     possible so as to avoid standing      want nor need avoid buying stuff   out which could lead to you being     the likes of curios or suveniors   a target for hustlers and hawkers     for the first few days or until    mostly in tourist areas who will      you at least have an idea how      be trying to sell you just about      much stuff costs.If you must, try  everything from safaris, to even      bargaining because often hawkers   drugs depending on where you are      and street vendors might           in Africa.                            initially offer you goods at                                             outrageous sucker prices.          No need to wear old clothers in                                          the name of trying to fit in.         When it comes to insecurity,       However with clean or new clothes     robbery and theft rural areas of   lots of luggage, a little             Africa tend to be extremely safe   awkwardness, and if you are white     and until recently robbery and     skinned you are sure stick out        theft were unheard of. In Towns    like a sore thumb.                    and cities it is a completely                                            different story which act as       You could dress down a bit to         magnets for rural Africans         avoid the attention and you           looking for a “better life” than   certainly don’t really need long      their parents in the villages.     Unfortunately the majority wind       crowded market places, the         up eking a living by any means        streets around ferry ports or      possible because jobs even for        docks,places with poor or          university graduates are very         nonexistent street lighting. In    hard to find leave alone the          there areas avoid walking with     semi-skilled or unskilled.            jewelery and if you have lots of                                         cash on you be vigilant and avoid  It should be a bit comforting to      any action that might signify to   know though that even in cities       someone that a particular pocket   with the worst reputations for        has got valuables or a certain     crime in Africa, namely Lagos,        hand or backpack has got cash      Nairobi and Johannesburg, only a      because pick pockets tend to       handful of travelers run into         target these.                      real problems. In fact travelers                                         to Nairobi are often left             Speaking of cash, avoid carrying   wondering what on earth all the       cash. Most countries in Africa     fuss about safety was about when      now have ATMs and you can search   it’s time to leave.                   if the African country or city                                           you are traveling to has ATMs.     Having said that one should                                              exercise caution especially           Most of Africa’s ATMs tend to be   walking in the streets at night       either inside banks, or in         because like any other city in        shopping centers with security     the world, walking in certain         guards. Avoid lingering around     areas unaccompanied at night          once you have with drawn and take  could be asking for trouble.          the same precautions you would                                           take while withdrawing money       There are certain areas a tourist     anywhere.                          or traveler should always be wary                                        of. These areas are bus stations,     Although chances of being robbed   are slim should you be mugged,        investigate your “precious”        don’t resist, since the thief         camera.                            might have a knife or a gun. It                                          should be over in an instant and      It is worth noting that thieves    you are unlikely to be hurt.You       caught in the act are usually      should go to the police station       mobbed - and occasionally linched  for a statement but don’t expect      so should you shout “Thief!” be    that the police will do a great       ready to intercede once you’ve     job in getting your property          retrived your belongings           back. Most of these policemen are     otherwise the fellow who stole     often under paid,lack the             your purse could very easily lose  resources or have more important      his life for it.                   stuff to deal with than                About the Author Jerry Wanga is editor of http://naady.com is an online website on African Safaris and Balloon Safaris in masai mara and Tanzania. You can view more info on the website. Published At: www.Isnare.com