Make Your Trip to South Africa a Responsible One
Wherever you are coming from, it is likely that you will find a starkly different environment in South Africa, and as such it is vital to prepare for your trip before jumping on the plane. As with any destination, South Africa carries some health and safety risks, and tourists can be both a help and a hindrance to the country. When done responsibly, tourism can provide a boost to the national economy, provide funds that keep vital nature reserves running, and give locals the opportunity to interact with people from different cultures. When done irresponsibly tourism can stretch a country’s natural resources, encourage begging and crime, and aid illegal and harmful practices such as ivory poaching. By understanding how to stay healthy, safe, and how to travel in way that is respectful of the country, you can easily travel responsibly.
Stay Healthy
Bad news for those with a fear of needles; you will most definitely need to have some injections before you go. Travelers should ensure that they are covered for hepatitis A and B, rabies and typhoid, and should have boosters for diphtheria and measles. In addition to these, it is recommended that all travelers have injections for mumps, rubella, and polio, no matter where they are travelling. Outbreaks of such diseases do occur in South Africa, and they can be very dangerous. You may also wish to take some basic medications with you, in case you are in a remote area in which a pharmacy is not available. Carrying precautionary medicines such as paracetemol, diarrhea tables, ibuprofen, and plasters is recommended. However, if disposing of unused medication, you must ensure that you are doing so responsibly. Irresponsible disposal of unused drugs is a problem throughout the world, and leads to pharmaceutical pollution. Medications should be disposed of via an incinerator at a designated facility. If there is no such facility available during your travels, it is best to hang on to your medication until you get home.
Stay Safe
Unfortunately, crime is still the biggest risk any traveler in South Africa faces, particularly in urban areas such as Johannesburg. Daylight muggings are common in certain parts of Johannesburg, as are violent crimes on the city train system, and there is a common scam that occurs at ATMs. The people perpetrating these scams are often well-dressed and mannered, and will have tampered with the ATM beforehand so that your card becomes jammed. By the time you realize this, you will have entered your pin, and when you go inside to report that your card has been swallowed the thief will steal your card, as well as a few thousand South African rand. While this may sound off-putting it is important to note that there are thousands of tourists visiting South Africa on a yearly basis who experience no problems whatsoever. As long as you remain vigilant in high risk areas, and never walk anywhere after sunset, you shouldn’t become a victim of crime.
Be Respectful of Wildlife and the Environment
One of the biggest reasons tourists visit South Africa is for the incredible wildlife and natural environment. Tourism does have the potential to damage both of these things however, so make sure you are doing your part to protect them during your stay. If you book onto any kind of safari or nature trail, check that the company/person you are booking with is genuine and that their practices pose no threat to the animals. Use your common sense when deciding if a company is responsible, if something doesn’t feel right; it probably isn’t. Of course you should never buy ivory from anyone; this is illegal and encourages poaching. You can care for the environment by using water sparingly, not littering, switching off all lights, air-con, and all plug sockets before going out, drinking tap water, and recycling your waste.
Be Respectful of the Locals
South Africans are known for being very polite, friendly, and accommodating towards tourists, and public behavior (greetings, displays of affection) is similar to what you would find in Western countries. Be respectful of the locals and the culture by understanding it. Learn a few South African phrases before you go, and learn about local customs so that you can respond in an appropriate way when interacting with locals.
