It is one of the most frequently asked questions and if you were to Google this question, one of the first answers you will get is “yes, South Africa is safe for tourists” and then you will get the mention of Cape Town and its winelands. But often this question does not take into account the rest of our country, which is vast and packed full of beautiful tourist attractions.
For the most part, it is quite true that South Africa is a safe destination for tourists, but there are some areas which are a no go, even for the locals who know the areas well.
As far as the Kruger is concerned, safety, while it can’t ever be a guarantee no matter where you travel in the world, is quite good. The incident involving a German tourists, which happened a few weeks back, happened on a stretch of road that has a reputation for being dangerous and it is even avoided by locals. But how would a tourist know where it is safe to travel and where it is not?
How to improve your safety when travelling to the Kruger National Park
We don’t mean to make this about tour operators, but booking a tour can be the safer option for a number of reasons, the main being that the tour operators are so familiar with the areas both in and around the Kruger that they know where it is safe to travel and where it is not.
But having said this, not everyone wants to tour with a company. A self-drive trip is often one that suits countless tourists mostly because it gives you the independence to determine your own trip. If you want to travel on your own, here’s some things you can do to stay safe.
Do your research and ask questions
The internet is a most wonderful tool and if you go to traveller forums and Facebook groups dedicated to the Kruger and ask the community for advice about which areas and roads are best to travel and which to avoid, you can get some good advice that you wouldn’t get elsewhere. These forums are generally full of honest people who have travelled to or who live in the area, so the advice should be good. If you are uncertain, you can follow this up by finding other sources and you can also speak to the local tourist authorities in the area.
Hire the right vehicle
When travelling on your own, you should never hire your vehicle from just any company. Experiencing a breakdown on the road is inviting danger. Again, do your research and get advice about the best company to hire from, but be sure to not fall into an advertising trap as there will always be people who pop up and suggest their friend’s company. Go with someone official, as they will also be able to offer you insurance and roadside assistance, two things you do not want to be without when travelling to the Kruger.
South Africa is not as safe as other countries in the world, but these days not all that many countries get to say they are the safest anymore. The best thing you can do when travelling is to be aware of your surrounds, do your research so you can avoid certain places and roads, make sure that the car you hire is reliable and make sure that you have someone to call if the car gives you issues.
