Cape Town General Health and Safety

General Health and Safety

Although Cape Town has its fair share of violent crimes, you are safe if you keep your wits about you. As a visitor, you are less likely to encounter problems while visiting the townships if you are escorted by a township resident - although, you shouldn't really venture into the townships without a fairly large group of accompaniment. Official township tours for visitors to Cape Town are your safest bet; revealing a very interesting lifestyle to the more curious tourists. Pickpockets and bag snatchers are abound in the CBD, as are conmen and cholos, although, during daylight police make themselves known. Simply put, leave everything you value - especially your papers and tickets - in your hotel room safe if you plan to stroll through Cape Town. At night, make sure you stay on well-lit and crowded streets. Crime is especially high in Cape Town's CBD, Seapoint, Greenpoint, Salt River, Observatory, Mowbray, and the Cape Flats. Glue sniffing children and junkies are a minor problem, called 'strollers' by the locals - these urchins will strip you bare if you do not stay alert. You should try not to appear to be a tourist, and you will not be targeted. Targeted tourists are generally spotted wearing cameras, shorts and golf hats - try not to do this. Do what you can to blend in, and if anything happens - don't try to be a hero, rather give them what they want, and keep your life.