1. Personal Security:
South Africa has a bad reputation but in reality it is no less secure for tourists than many European or Latin American countries. Tourists are generally left alone and we will have an experienced South Africa guide to keep watch for us during almost all of our trip. Kruger Park, Hlane and our areas of KwaZulu-Natal are all very safe so you should have no worries while we are there.
However, we’ll be spending about sevendays and evenings total in Cape Town and Johannesburg when we may not have a guide with us and for these times there are some important safety guidelines to follow.
Never go around by yourself, especially after dark. Stay in a group or at least a pair.
Avoid walking around after dark in general. Use a taxi recommended by your hotel.
Keep to public areas. Don’t go off into side streets or suspicious-looking neighborhoods.
Don’t wear flashy jewelry or carry your cameras out in the open.
Try not to look like a tourist.
Don’t accept “help” from a stranger.
Try not to accumulate a lot of cash on the trip. Do not leave it behind in your room or in your
luggage.
Don’t bring a lot of valuables with you on the trip.
IMPORTANT!!!!!:In South Africa they drive ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD! Look both ways before crossing our stepping into a traffic areas (e.g. parking lot) anywhere in South Africa.
The sites below provide you with more information and suggestions.
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2. Drugs, Sex, Alcohol:
All of the usual drugs are illegal in South Africa. Possession is a serious offense that will land you in jail. If that happens to you we will make sure the nearest US Consulate learns of your plight but the rest of the class will move on to our next destination and you’ll need to proceed on your own as best you can.
You would have to be crazy to have sex with someone you meet in South Africa. The country has one of the world’s highest rates of HIV infection and furthermore they don’t believe in condoms.
Drinking alcoholic beverages is, for better or worse, a part of South African culture. The country has a strong European viniculture heritage and away from the wine-growing areas, South Africans appear to drink beer in much the same way as Americans do. The drinking age in South Africa is 18 so you can legally consume alcoholic beverages on the trip if you wish. However, you should do so responsibly and with moderation. Remember, you will be viewed as a representative of your family, your academic department, your university and your country. You should behave accordingly.
Under no circumstances whatsoever can Commonwealth of Pennsylvania funds, including the money you have paid into the IUP Marketplace, be used for the purchase of alcoholic beverages.