Your next move will depend on how much you like outdoors compared to cities. Port Elizabeth is a fairly small city by most standards and it’s around 80 Kms from Oyster Bay, so most places you’d want to visit in area can be reached from both locations. Whichever way, make sure you visit Addo Elephant park and Shamwari game reserve for a bit of a safari and big five.

From Port Elizabeth, I would fly up to Jo’burg and head out of country, or if your time/budget allows, jump on a plane to Durban and work your way up to Jo’burg. As much as I loved Durban many years ago, I personally would not spend any more time there. Do your own research about Durban. Beautiful beaches, hot waters and hot weather almost all year long, but… I would rather go up north for some scuba diving in Sodwana. Enough on that, from Durban I would rent a car and travel up to Jo’burg, with a 3-5 day stop in Drakensberg.

I spent a couple of days in Drakensberg with a friend once and on first morning I went for a walk before sunrise. When I got back to camp a couple of hours later, my friend had woken up and was standing at side of tent and waved for me to be quiet. He was busy taking photographs of a couple of guinifowl and was amazed that we were so close to “nature”. I was amazed that he would be impressed by something so small. During my first walk I had sat on top of a little hill to watch sunrise and had a deer walking around a couple of meters from me. I had also watched a falcon gracefully flying around between hills, seen quite a few rabbits and “dassies” (don’t know their English name) and monkeys and I had had a swim in a natural pool below a fair-sized waterfall. If you like waterfalls and little mountain streams, Drakensberg is a must!! The world’s second highest waterfall can be found in Drakensberg The Drakensberg is about halfway between Johannesburg and Durban. Very roughly, it’s about 350KMs in either direction.

This is just one possible trip if you’re coming to visit South Africa. As I mentioned, there are many other beautiful and interesting places to visit in our country. If your main objective is a safari and seeing big five, then look into Kruger National Park and surrounding game reserves. If you want to go scuba diving there is absolutely NO choice, go to Sodwana bay.

-keep an eye out for your luggage both to and from your hotel room.

-locate all fire exits, fire extinguishers and elevators.

-Do not use stairs to get to your room. Always take elevator. Any secluded part of hotel is never a good idea to be in i.e. stairwells, parking garages, dark hallways etc.

During your stay ...

-make sure windows and between-room door are all locked.

- use all locks on your door every time you’re in your room, especially dead bolt, flip lock or chain at night.

-put all valuables in room safe and make sure it is one that is bolted to floor. Never leave jewelry, credit cards or cash lying around your room.

-if someone knocks on your door, don’t open it right away. Keep door shut and use peephole and ask person to identify themselves. If you don’t know them, don’t open door. If they claim to be hotel personnel or security, call down to front desk to make sure hotel sent them. If their story does not check-out and there is no reason for person to be there, tell them to go away and then notify front desk.

- Consider purchasing a portable room alarm. They can hang on inside door knob, or a floor device that sounds an alarm if your hotel door is opened. To get these room safety devices, go to http://www.safetyquestproducts.com/alarm.htm they’re small and easy to travel with. They can fit into a pocket or purse.

- always leave ‘do not disturb’ tag on outside of your door.

- When leaving put lights and T.V. or radio on to let no one know you have left room and it is unoccupied.

-if you loose your key, report it immediately to hotel’s front desk and ask to be moved to another room.

-immediately report any suspicious activity to Hotel’s staff.

When you check-out…

-search through your belongings to make sure all forms of I.D. are safe and nothing is missing with personal information on it.

-request an escort to your vehicle in parking garage or lot.

-check inside of vehicle before getting in.

By following these hotel safety tips, you can increase your protection from a personal assault or theft. Making your business or vacation trip safer and being less of a target for a criminal.