|
| |
| • Take out holiday
insurance before travelling; |
| |
| • take your anti-malaria
medications regularly |
| |
| • take your footwear
off before entering a house; |
| |
| • greet
people with your right hand; |
| |
| • ask for permission
before taking
photos; |
| |
| • avoid walking
alone at night or in isolated places; |
| |
| • be cautious
of giving rides to people you don't know; |
| |
| • know very well
the person you give your address to; |
| |
| • put money
in a safe pocket or purse; |
| |
| • introduce potential
friends to your host family
or colleagues; |
| |
| • visit public
places and use public transportation when possible; |
|
| |
| • expose large
sums of money when
on holiday; |
| |
| • display physical
affection in the open; |
| |
| • smell food
before eating it; |
| |
| • point at individuals
with your finger; |
| |
| • hold food with
your left hand; |
| |
| • be judgmental
about religion; |
| |
| • be overly friendly
with people's wives or husbands; |
| |
| • offer your
left hand to receive things; |
| |
| • handle animals
(especially monkeys, canines and cats); |
| |
| • swim in fresh
water, particularly the river; |
| |
| • drink
alcohol in an Islamic compound |
Detailed
Advice:
1) Don’t walk alone at night. No matter how safe an
area may seem, in some areas it gets very, very dark
so it’s nicer and safer to have a bit of company and
a pocket torchlight.
2) When you go out, do let someone know where you're
going. This is very important for overnight trips and
make sure your room mate or someone else knows your
destination and about when you expect to return.
3) Things to carry on/with you when you go out:
• some form of photo I.D.
• your holiday insurance
card
• your emergency contact card
• only as
much money as you need for
the day
• a copy of your passport
4) Don't Carry:
• Large amounts of cash, unless
you are planning to make a substantial purchase
• Your passport (unless you need it for business,
such as changing money, OR if you are travelling up-country
or out of the country)
• Any unnecessary valuables
5) Do keep close guard of your bags, especially when
you are in the market. Don’t keep money in a back pocket.
Book bags that can be easily unzipped would best be
guarded on one shoulder and under you arm rather than
on your back where you can’t always see or feel what
is going on. One expatriate had her bag slashed and
the contents removed as she roamed unaware through bustling
Serrekunda.
6) Don't go out at night or to lonely areas with people
you don’t know extremely well. If you are a woman, it
is especially unadvisable to go out with a group of
guys unless you are very close buddies—even then, safety
in familiar numbers. It is best to invite someone to
the pool bar or somewhere public during daylight hours,
so you can get to know them well before making any private
rendezvous in the evening.
7) Don't tell strangers where you live, though of course
there are reasonable exceptions to this rule, as you
will make many friends on the street from whom you would
appreciate a visit from in the future. Use common sense
in this matter. Many people will ask where you live
as a way of striking up conversation—if you want to
be subtle, you could say you live in Bakau
New Town and you are staying with friends.
8) Do keep valuables (e.g. plane tickets and passport)
as well as larger sums of money in a safe or EXTREMELY
well hidden in your room. A suitcase or large bag with
a lock might be a good option. Hiding places not to
try, because they are so often used: in the refrigerator,
under the mattress, in the night table. Always lock
your windows and doors before leaving the room.
9) If you plan on making a big purchase or changing
a weeks worth of money, it is best to carry your wad
of cash in a money belt or neck pouch hidden under your
clothes. Keep a few dalasi for small purchases in an
easier to reach place, so you won’t flash your cash
every time you want to make a purchase. When accessing
your money belt, do it as secretly as possible, even
if it just means turning your back to the wall.
10) If you are at the beach,
don’t bring more than a few dalasi if you plan on splashing
about in the water with your gear on the sand. It is
best to take shifts in the water, always leaving at
least one person behind to guard your towels, shoes,
and valuables.
11) If the worst and unlikely happens and a crime
is committed against you, you need to report the crime
to your holiday rep or the local police if you are travelling
independently. They will provide advice and assistance.
It is imperative you file a crime report with the police.
Don’t feel shy about this - even the most macho guys
and wisest, money hiding women can be targets for criminal
activities. If you don’t report a crime, you can’t expect
anything to happen to the criminal, who is likely to
go for another tourist unless his activities are stopped.
In addition, insurance companies at home will need the
police report number in order to reimburse you. |
