TRAVEL TIPS


USEFUL INFORMATION FOR SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL AFRICA


SAFETY

Scan your passport and other important documents a before departure so that you have this available digitally. Moreover, hide copies of your travel documents in your luggage. In the case of an unexpected loss you can facilitate the replacement.

Never leave valuable things back in your hotel room. Keep money, passports and securities in the safe. If you do not have a safe in your hotel room, you can use the safe at the front desk of your hotel.

Avoid showing valuable things in public, especially in the large cities like Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town. Do not take anything with you that you cannot spare in order to no give the impression that you are carrying valuable belongings.

After dark you should not walk on foot in smaller towns as well as in larger cities anymore. Listen necessarily during the daytime on local advices if you have doubts to visit a certain region and avoid deserted areas. Valuables and purses should always be worn on the body. 

Credit card fraud is unfortunately widespread in Africa, therefore you should always have a certain amount of caution when your use the cash card. Respect the usual safety measures when handling with cr3edit or debit cards such as the hidden input of the PIN and the separate storage of PIN and card. The use of cash points is safer in the company of a trusted person and in case that meanwhile a stranger is speaking to you or offers his help, we advise to cancel the operation and to leave.

ELECTRICITY

In many of the southern and central Africa countries, the mains voltage is 230 V AC, 50 Hertz. Voltage and frequency correspond to the German values and all electrical appliances available in Central Europe are thus compatible. In addition, some of the larger hotels have in their bathrooms an outlet for 110 Volt devices.

The mains voltage in Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Uganda is slightly different from the mains voltage in Germany. Manufactures of electrical devices calculate the tolerance that you can use your electrical appliances without problems. The mains voltage in Madagascar is less than the power in Germany. Check your electrical appliances, you probably need a voltage converter.

In chargers of laptops, tablets, smartphones and cameras is usually the 'INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz'. These chargers are suitable for all countries in the world.

The electrical outlets in African countries are different from each other and deviate from the Central European system, so that you need a special plug adapter. The destination corresponding adapters are available at electronics stores or travel shops at the relevant national airports. In some hotels you can borrow an adapter at the front desk.

In rural and isolated areas of Africa the power supply is to this day not always given. Therefore we advise to carry a flashlight.

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