I have just returned from a safari and beach trip to southern and eastern Africa. I was constantly bothered by people trying to sell curios, carvings and trinkets etc to me and my family. What is the best way to say "no" politely without offending anybody. I would like to experience and explore local cultures further on my next safari. I work long hard hours back home and do not want to be constantly harassed on my vacation. Any advice?

Just say "NO" in a very polite way and turn your head away from them. At least they are trying to make a decent living without resorting to crime but unfortunately there are too many and they really do become extremely annoying. I have it about 40 times a day. Its not easy.

"Sitaki nunua. Asante"

Nothing you can do. I was so excited to spend some time in Arusha while passing through on safari, but the vendors and street callers made it impossible, even with polite but firm requests to back off. I ended up having to sit in the hotel the whole afternoon there because it was too stressful, and I am from New York!!

I've actually paid them to go away! If they hang around anyway, I stick my camera in their face and ask them to pay ME!!!!! It sometimes works ... for awhile anyway.

I gave a guy (Handsome was his name) a t-shirt from Hawaii and $10.00 to keep the rest of the hawkers away while in Victoria Falls. He did keep them away and was proudly showing off his shirt when we parted company. On the return trip tried the same thing but the guy (not Handsome) took off with the shirt, a hat and $10.00

I have no problem with people promoting their goods but its a different story when one of them grabs onto you or is in your face the entire time. I experienced this in Zanzibar recently and it spoiled a large part of my day in that area.
They should realise one would probably purchase more if you were left to browse in peace, rather than being harassed (and I am an avid shopper). We were even followed by a guy who was constantly and openly sniffing glue and would just not leave us alone until my spouse threatened him!
Not something one wants to deal with on vacation!!

The best way to deal with touts is to not worry about offending them. I wasn't hassled that way in Kenya, but I've been to India a couple of times and the touts and beggars there were pretty aggressive. My Indian friend said I dealt with them better than any non-Indian he had ever seen because I dealt with them the way an Indian would. I simply ignored them. No eye contact, no apologetic smile. I didn't act annoyed or upset or nervous or threatened. They simply ceased to exist for me in that moment. I'd continue doing whatever it was I was doing. They'd keep after me for a moment or two, but when they saw that I wasn't even reacting to them, they'd give up and move on to the next target.

People who aggressively solicit tourists operate under the assumption that you can be worn down, so the real key is to not get upset. That only fuels them. An upset or nervous person will often buy something just to make them go away.

Hi TravlinFool

I have to ask you then what if the fools touch you? I agree to ignore etc usually works well but I personally have a phobia/hatred of people touching me, whether it is standing in a bank queue and an old lady touches me or some dirty tout that has not washed his hands in 3 years.
I am sure there are other people out there like this as well. Obvoiusly in the old lady in the bank case I do not say anything but when people stand too close to me I often pretend to yawn and stretch and give them a shot with a firm elbow in the chest or jaw - it works wonders and all you have to do is say sorry ha ha. Last time a tout touched me I had just purchased a large walking stick. I spotted some cops not far ahead and sped up towards them. Naturally as I sped up the tout sped up & right in front of the cops I pretended to bend down. It was so quick and so well executed the stick stuck out behind me and connected with the tout. He was walking on fast and the bump actually knocked me over but the stick caught him in the groin area and he could not get up for a long time after. The best thing about it though was the cops thought this guy was trying to rob me or something and as he went down they both jumped on him and pinned him down. I never laughed so much in my life and enjoyed every second!

Thanks for all the responses.

Perhaps the no eye contact/ignoring idea is best. I happen to agree with jackssid as I too do not enjoy being touched/handled by strangers irrespective of where I am. Although they mean well these market areas are often filthy and no doubt unhygienic especially by our first-world standards. I do not fancy another bout of whatever it is I had the last time!

Great story about you and your walking stick jackssid. I am just scared my Kung-fu instincts kick in and then I am the one who gets arrested! Africa jails apparently not the greatest.

Happy New Year Travels all!

jackssid,

Can't help you with the touching thing. I don't have that particular phobia. But yeah, there were lots of shirt tugs and taps on on the shoulders and the arms, but I just ignored them. And the truth is, it really didn't bother me. Not physically, not emotionally, not existentially. I just considered it part of the wonderful chaos of India and went about my business.

Hey TravlinFool

I know why you mentioned India.
Do you realise half those guys go & take a dump behind the bush then come and touch you! I am glad that having e coli all over you when you go back to hotel room does not bother you. Have you read the thread about getting the squirts yet? Maybe in your case it is not about opening your mouth in the shower but picking your teeth after touching your arm or clothing.

I usually revert to speaking Italian or if needed, make a unique language up. That, and not appearing remotely interested usually sends them on their way.

jackssid,

It's not like I lick my arm after it's been grabbed at by random people on the street. I carry plenty of Purel with me, and my hands never touch my face. I also don't wear clothing more than once without washing it. And depending on what I've been doing, I'll change into something else for the evening. Again, not a big deal. Just the cost of doing business.

But, yes, I still get sick in the tummy at least once no matter where I travel. I always thought it was the food. Maybe it's my laissez-faire attitude.

On a side note, I read somewhere that shopping carts are the most germ-filled things you can encounter in life, the ones that have the baskets little kids sit in. Ditto ATM machines.

I have also spent time in India and in Southeast Asia and agree that the best approach for me was to just look straight ahead and keep walking.Frequently I will find that similar items are being sold at various stops along the way,so I will decide ahead of time if I want to buy from a tout and I will have my price in mind.These folks are just trying to make a living-kind of reminds me of running the gauntlet at the perfume counters of the big department stores at home.

Hope there is no need to resort to physical violence and other nasty stuff jambocd - tempting though it may be at times! I do agree that being too polite can backfire for some, though.

If you do want to experience and explore local cultures, stay away from the touristy areas and you are likely to be much less harrassed as a bonus. Dennis matnikstym's idea and experiences are the best I ever heard for the tourist areas (try it without paying in advance, though?) and truly ignoring people (not just hamming it) works most of the time for me too - if you can do it .... I also second aby's suggestion (it should be prerequisite). My wife can't ignore and finds Cyn's unknown language trick helpful - got to be obscure though since some of the touts become quite gifted linguistically!

Another point of view... some of these people are semi-formally employed with a job description of "keep talking and harrassing the tourist until he/she buys something or you cannot follow further - particlarly target the freshly washed and older ones" and in some places they may actually be given daily performance appraisals by the street bosses - with the stick preferred to the carrot as prime motivator... so my protestations are only going to work if I am scarier that the street boss (unlikely) or there is an easier mark available (warning: I will point you out if you are there ;-) ). There is probably also a 'queue' at certain places, and if they don't get you to buy, they may have to return to the back of the queue aftewards (and maybe not, but I am not making these things up). Also, as safarichat said they are just trying to make a living - some are probably pretty bad people and some will seem really quite nice when you get to know them a bit.

Also, if it helps, look on it as a kind of street theater, in which you have to play a role whenever you come onto the stage.

As for worrying about poor African people touching you - well I'm afraid that might happen in Africa (okay, I'm probably distorting.. but you get the point).

And if it's just too bad, you are in the wrong place - don't think about your right to enjoy a quiet stroll... just leave.

In Victoria Falls they are merciless, though most polite. What worked best for us was to agree with one to be our escort/guide each time we went out. He took his job quite seriously and kept all the rest at bay. At the end of the walk, we paid him $10 and there were smiles all around. Be sure not to pay until the end, however, as the temptation to take off may be more than he can resist. It helps to remember that these people are doing what they can to support themselves, and many are also supporting untold numbers of family on the little they earn.