Safety First

September 1, 2016

One of the most important pieces of travel advice I can give is to be cognizant of your surroundings. It’s crucial to be aware of those around you and recognize when you might be seen as a target. We were all warned that dangerous situations could arise during our trip and that we should really be vigilant during any of our activities. While this may seem daunting, it really isn’t difficult to protect your belongings in Cape Town.

I think there would be resounding agreement that, besides your passport, losing your cellphone would be a huge hassle when traveling abroad. We tend to only have one person bring out a phone (we need at least one to call Ubers) and to keep the rest home. I’d encourage anyone to avoid taking your phone out and keep it in a zipped or even locked purse or bag. Another useful tip is to stash other valuables – your ID, money, and keys – in your boots. It’s a little more obvious that you’re about to be robbed when you see someone crouching around your feet! Finally, do not let anyone help you at the ATM. This sounds like a no-brainer, but I actually had my debit card stolen and money taken out of my account before I even realized that my card was no longer in the machine (luckily, banks are very understanding when you get money stolen abroad and are quick to refund it). For anything you really don’t want to lose, there is a safe in every room of our apartments.

Hiking is one of my favorite activities on this trip, but it’s important to practice caution in these situations too. One of the most popular hikes is Lion’s Head Mountain at sunrise or sunset. It’s beautiful, but it’s also the easiest time for someone to attempt a robbery because of the darkness. I wouldn’t do the hike unless I was traveling in a group and we had at least one flashlight. Essentially, any tourist destination provides greater risk of robbery, but it can definitely be avoided in Cape Town. All of this safety advice should not deter anyone from a visit, but should instead encourage the safest trip possible.

Written By

Andia Paz

During my dialogue, I'll be exploring Cape Town, South Africa. We'll be working with our academic partner TSiBA to provide business consulting services to township entrepreneurs. The program also delves into topics like unemployment and poverty and other social, economic, and political issues in South Africa. I've chosen this program because it is the best use of my business skills acquired throughout my Northeastern career, allowing me to focus on social impact rather than profit. I traveled outside of the U.S. for the first time only last summer, and it really inspired me to seek out a study abroad experience. I've recently developed an avid interest in the outdoors, and look forward to the hiking that Cape Town has to offer.