Traveling to South Africa

South Africa is a country with incredible scenery and hospitable people, and wildlife that cannot be compared anywhere else. It is such a beautiful place to visit and cross off on anyone’s bucket list but people are hesitant to venture out to due to its bad reputation. Those who are keenhistory buffs may have followed the apartheid’s racial separation the common struggles of the country, which may have turned them off from visiting the country. With all the news about crime on the television and the most famous ebola virus rumors, South Africa is one of the most misunderstood countries.

It literally pays to know business etiquette in South Africa, because there are some subtle differences between South Africa and the US, the UK, and Europe,

Apparently, when you're a foreigner traveling in the developing world, your biggest problems are that you'll be set upon by bandits or get in a horrible car wreck. Nicholas Kristof is a well-travel...

South Africans are generally laid back when it comes to clothing so no need to haul out your best silks and diamonds when heading for our shores unless you're attending a very prestigious event.

Many women travel safely each year without incident. However, when it comes to health and security, women travelers are more likely to be affected by religious and cultural beliefs of the foreign countries they visit. The truth is that women face greater obstacles, especially when travelling alone.

After traveling to Africa and experiencing the struggles and confusion of interacting with a newculture, I saw the need for some sort of orientation device that would adequately prepare firsttimers, but also not be too lengthy and daunting for a person that will only be spending a fewweeks abroad. While current literature contains some of the necessary information, nothing wasin a pocket-style format. This led to the idea of creating a pamphlet that organizations couldprovide to people going to Africa. After gaining approval from the IRB, I sent 21 questionnairesto people that had traveled to Africa. I asked them about preparations before the trip, actions totake while in Africa, and proper attitudes and demeanors while working with local people. Theresponses were quite varied and provided information that would not be obvious to someone thathas never been to Africa. For example, flexibility and humility were more important thanstrength, responsibility, and creativity. The results have been summarized into a pamphlet thatcan be modified by each organization to suit their specific needs.