Kidnaps have patently become rampant in today’s tourism sector affecting the smooth flow of safaris. Cases of kidnaps are reported each and everyday where park rangers are mostly affected and sometimes travelers. The latest kidnap news was in May 2018 were two Briton travelers were abducted on their gorilla trek in Virunga national park Democratic Republic of Congo but luckily freed after three days. Their kidnap was a quake to the tourism industry leaving the 25 years old Rachael (a park ranger) dead in trying to defend travelers. This led to the closure of Virunga national park and all gorilla safaris till 2019 when the park is hoped to have stabilized. Any tourism place can be unsafe and the same time safe for tourism. Falling a victim of kidnap can happen to anyone on a safari but keeping keen and careful help you to do your safaris successful. Advice on how to avoid any chances of falling a kidnap victim is what every traveler would want. Below are tips on how you can avoid risks of kidnap on your safari.
Check the foreign travel advice website
Before you confirm a safari to any destination, please check the website of the foreign office travel advice and confirm the safety of that place you intend to visit. This help you find out the security state of the country and other alternative places that are safe ion case the former is not safe. Frequently, websites of foreign office travel advice frequently have updated security information on every country. Whenever you see a warning to a certain destination, avoid that place. If you visit any travel advise site these days, you are likely to find a warning to Democratic Republic of Congo till further notice. Therefore, all travelers are required to find out the security status of a place, confirm its safe and confirm your safari.
Be confident and friendly
Much as you cannot be very free in a new environment, travelers are advised to be confident, look natural and keep low profile just like a commoner in the area. Confidence helps you build trust from local people around you who in turn freely tell all facts about the area. In case you are using public transport, be firm while bargaining and be sure of where you are going. Failure to know your stop points and the routes to use is a key cause of kidnaps. In addition to confidence, build bond with people you come across since the friendlier you are to people, the safer you are with them.
Keep in touch with your people home
Keeping live communications with your people back home is highly recommended. This can be done though phone, emails, watsup and text messages updating the people you trust about your location, routes and schedule Also, updates help in police investigations incase of any problem since it police first traces the last people the person talked with and those people the victim was seen with. The quicker the access to this information, the more chances of rescuing a person from danger. In case you have a late pick up, ask your consultants of the driver guide, the photo, vehicle number and contacts to avoid being picked by wrong people. Never get into a vehicle without confirming that your are picked by a right person representing the travel company you booked with.
Learn and know your surroundings
Travelers are advised to always tour their surroundings whenever they reach a new area. A map study of the area is very essential since it shows all the surroundings, the routes, nearby towns and police offices. Knowing what’s in your neighborhood help you avoid risky places like dark corners and safe places to run to in case of any need. While at the hotel or lodge, travelers are reminded to check the emergency exit routes in case of any attack or related problems. After knowing your surroundings, try hard to blend in and act as a native, which help you not pick un necessary attention from people.
Be responsible for your life
Where ever you are at any time of the day or night, be alert and responsible for yourself. Travelers are advised not to wholly trust new people they come in contact at waiting places, airports, and shopping malls and even at the hotel/lodge. You may talk to them freely, but do not rush to share confidential information with people you do not know. Also, avoid walking recklessly in risky places at hours. Walking at night in anew place is very risky and travelers are warned to avoid it. Also, do not expose valuable devices like cameras, and phones, which can attract people’s attention. The restaurants you visit for meals should of in safe places and accessible. Also, keep your plans to yourself not sharing your next moves with other people except your guide and family. also, avoid publishing confidential information on social medias like the flight times, and the routes you use with people you do not trust.
In general, whichever safari you are planning, be extra careful. Following the above tips to avoid falling a victim of kidnap, keep friendly and confident with the new environment, be fully responsible for your self and enjoy your safari.
