“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers)

Being a tourist entails a number of things. On the one hand, you have adventure and excitement, but on the other—there’s the notorious reputation of tourists heeding zero warnings and taking no guff in terms of respecting rules, laws, and customs. To an extreme degree, it seems.

Redditors have recently been discussing unwritten rules in their respective countries that tourists always seem to break. And it sounds like some of these are often made very clear, and even that doesn’t help the case.

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“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) Stop asking how to catch a leprechaun. It's trafficking, and they are a protected species under EU law.

WalkwiththeWolf , Joe/flickr Report

Final score:

289points

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MomaBear 10 months ago

🤣

52points

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“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) Be quiet at memorials. Stay off the monuments.

The-potatoman , Karen Mardahl/flickr Report

Final score:

253points

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James016 10 months ago

Those stupid selfies at places like Auschwitz boil my blood.

148points

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“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) Do not approach the wildlife in North America. People joke about Australia having all the dangerous animals, then will walk right up to our elk during rutting season and get gored. Same with bears, bison, moose. These animals are NOT tame.

ThisLion329 , Pixabay/pexels Report

Final score:

231points

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Trillian 10 months ago

Don't approach strange animals, period. People have been killed by cows in Austria. They are not your pets.

124points

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Tourists come in all shapes and sizes, and the reasons why they might end up breaking a rule or two (or several dozen) can differ just as much.

This can range from something as simple as a lack of awareness to an utter absence of respect. It’s one thing to miss a cultural norm or or get blindsided by an overinflated sense of anonymity, thinking rules don’t apply to you in another country. But it’s a whole different can of beans if they travel just to spend their time getting boozed out of their minds.

“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) NZ - No littering. A lot of us here will straight up scream at you to pick your s**t up if you litter in our beautiful country. Tourist or not.

GoldenUther29062019 , Mike Mozart/flickr Report

Final score:

229points

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Jeff White 10 months ago

Can I help? I'm not from or in NZ right now, but I would still like to help with this.

68points

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“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) In England please respect the queue.

Jumping the queue will bring forth a seething rage and putrid hatred that spews forth tutting and a passive aggressive muttering rant that's loud enough for others, but not you, to hear

"Oh no you go ahead mate, I'll just stand back here with everyone else, good job I didn't have anything on at all...."

The queue is so deeply entrenched in the psyche of the nation that during the 2011 England riots that lasted a week, during which the social fabric broke down, looters could be seen to queue outside the shops they were robbing.

Please respect the queue!

Ilostmypassword43 , George Redgrave/flickr Report

Final score:

213points

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troufaki13 10 months ago

Respect the queue everywhere! Why is it so hard for some people?

130points

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“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) No tipping - we don't want to start the tipping culture here!

molinana , cottonbro studio/pexels Report

Final score:

211points

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BrownTabby 10 months ago

Please.

49points

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Bored Panda reached out to freelance tour leader Irmante Sungailaite to learn more about the whats, whys, and hows of respectful tourism.

Irmante primarily works with National Geographic Journeys and private clients, taking travelers to a variety of locations across the globe—in 40 countries, to be precise, including Mexico, Central America, Europe, and the Middle East. Irmante herself has visited over 100 countries at this point, but it’s not about the count—rather about the experience.

“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) This one is highly specific, but here in the USA we have a monument called The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The changing of the guard always draws a crowd and you are supposed to remain silent. I've seen a few videos of people talking, laughing, etc. They tend to get yelled at. These are real guards. They carry weapons. They guard the Tomb 24/7/365 in any weather. Do not disrespect them or the Tomb. Stand silently, film, take pics, and that is all. Most of the videos I've seen of people being disrespectful were clearly Americans. Gods forbid these a******s go to another country and s**t all over other people's traditions.

fappyday , Arlington National Cemet/flickr Report

Final score:

176points

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Annik Perrot 10 months ago

Same with the French Unknown Soldier, whose tomb is under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

67points

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“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) If the locals don't understand English, raising your voice and saying it slowly will not help you be understood.

CountMcBurney , SHVETS production/pexels Report

Final score:

174points

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Trillian 10 months ago

Many people understand some English so speaking slower can help. Just don't yell, it's a problem with language, not hearing.

87points

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“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) Do not pick up the cute blue ringed octopus, do not pick up the cute blue ringed octopus, do not pick up the cute blue ringed octopus, do not pick up the cute blue ringed octopus. Do not f*****g do this.

DrakeAU , Etienne Gosse/flickr Report

Final score:

166points

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Mister E 10 months ago

Why would you pick it up? I thought it was well known that vibrant colors on animals means they are venomous? Avoid touching it even!

60points

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“I’ve seen all sorts of travelers—the most outrageous ones are doing something right in front of the sign that actually says not to do it,” elaborated Irmante on what makes some tourists break rules.

“It depends on the person’s education and manners if they obey the rules, written or not. You can be wearing shorts in a place that it straight up means that you’re not from there. So you’re just giving yourself away. Yet, not following unwritten rules can be complicated sometimes, especially when you know no locals to advise you otherwise.

#10

• Don’t try and do a Scottish accent. Barely any of us talk or sound like Shrek and it just pisses us off.

• Don’t claim to be Scottish just because your great great great great great grandfather was Scottish - newsflash, you’re not Scottish.

• Don’t talk about religion - it’s a touchy subject with a lot of sectarianism between Protestants and Catholics.

• Don’t mistake us for England, or ask us to speak more English.

Maleficent-Eagle9659 Report

Final score:

158points

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Randy Sanders 10 months ago

I met a man with a very thick Scot accent, that I could barely understand. I just said that I was sorry but that I could not understand him, due to never hearing it in America. Long story short, we got drunk and talked for hours.

10points

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#11

“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) In Medellin, Colombia, do not glorify Pablo Escobar. We don't want to hear about the museum, the tour or you greeting his brother. It was awful for those who lived through it and there are so many other things to do.

FewTax2 , YenaMagana/reddit Report

Final score:

149points

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Lavern Defazio 10 months ago

Ive seen clothing glorifying this in the US. Not cool.

42points

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#12

“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) If there are red flags on the beach it means “NO SWIMMING”
Which also means NO SNORKELING. NO DIVING. NO SURFING. NO PADDLEBOARDING.NO BODYBOARDING. NO SELFIES ON THE REEFS. FFS.

algunadiana , Andreas Schnabl/pexels Report

Final score:

145points

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Somebodys grandmother 10 months ago (edited)

Yes! This. Every year tourist drown on our beaches. They don't know the sea, the tide, the wind, the "horseholes", the stream.... It is not a swimmingpool- it's a open ocean... Denmark

47points

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The most common reasons for breaking rules, however, are failure to get to know the country’s rules and customs, and being flat out rude, as Irmante notes:

“Tourists either are so ignorant and fail to familiarize themselves with written or unwritten rules when heading to a certain destination or are just straight up rude not to comply with social norms.”

“They might feel that certain boundaries don’t exist to them and that way they cast a shadow of shame on all of the traveling community. Traveling with conscience, understanding, respect and an open mind is really the way to go.”

#13

“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) Don’t pet the fluffy cows and stay on the boardwalks in Yellowstone. It’s actually a written rule, but apparently it’s too difficult to comprehend.

Trick_Few , Yellowstone National Park/flickr Report

Final score:

142points

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Zaphod 10 months ago

Yellowstone is a world treasure. I have been on two long camping trips there. I've seen moose, elk, otters, bison, and even a grizzly across the Hayden Valley. If you break camp each day, you can work your way around the park and see all of the famous attractions in 4 days. 10/10

37points

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#14

Use headphones or turn your volume off on your phone.

NomadicallySedentary Report

Final score:

138points

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Blyss Blyssylb 10 months ago

YES! THIS! IS! SO! RUDE! WHEN! PPL! LISTEN! TO! WHATEVER! ON! THEIR! PHONES! LOUD! ENOUGH! FOR! MY! DEAF! A$$! TO! HEAR!

46points

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#15

“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) Use of sun protection, I know its technically the same sun, but it works a bit different here in Australia.

delayedconfusion , Armin Rimoldi/pexels Report

Final score:

135points

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Jeff White 10 months ago

As far as I understand, EVERYTHING works different in Australia. Like you have a Nuclear powered Sun (ignoring the fact that the Sun is nuclear powered).

44points

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Besides getting into heaps of trouble themselves, the willy-nilly kind of tourists make those around them have to deal with the consequences of their actions as well.

And this is besides the idea of unsustainable tourism—practices performed by those trying to make a quick buck in the travel and tourism industry that cause harm to the destination’s environment, society, economy and more.

#16

“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) Yosemite is in fact NOT Disneyland. You do need to wear more than flip flops when hiking up a cliff and the bears are not, I repeat, NOT animatronic.

seadondo , Leonardo Pallotta/flickr Report

Final score:

124points

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Anyone-for-tea? 10 months ago

I have heard you need bear proof bags for hanging your food off a tree, but I didn’t know that about cars!

19points

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#17

“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) More specific to my region: stand on the right, walk on the left.

Stop blocking the escalators like a human iron curtain. The poor government workers have already lost enough of their souls, don't make them mutter "on your left," as you dawdle around in bewilderment.

WassupSassySquatch , oatsy40/flickr Report

Final score:

118points

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James016 10 months ago

Certainly on the London Underground there are many signs saying "Stand on the right" There are 2 in the picture.

37points

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#18

“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) Do not sit in seats reserved for the elderly, infirm, or pregnant women on subways and buses. South Korea.

Epiphanes21 , Ann-Sophie Qvarnström/flickr Report

Final score:

118points

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Kurichfield 10 months ago

It's ok in Japan, but give up your seat when someone that needs it gets on

63points

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See Also on Bored Panda

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

Unsustainable tourism is caused by a purely profit-driven approach to tourism, lack of regulation, global economic disparities, consumer demand, and lack of awareness. And that can affect the environment, the people living there and the economy.

And yes, it can get as bad as the travel sector benefiting completely and the people whose land and very soul is being sucked out getting zilch.

#19

“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) Stand to the side and let people off the train before trying to board the train. So many times in NYC I've encountered groups of Chinese tourists trying to bumrush the train as soon as the doors open.

im_on_the_case , Keira Burton/pexels Report

Final score:

116points

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Susie Elle 10 months ago

If you do this in The Netherlands, expect to be body checked by whoever is trying to get out of the train. This used to be common sense when I was younger, but nowadays people seem to just wanna force their way into a train at any cost

69points

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#20

Trying to pet the local moose.

Look, I know it's a majestic creature right in the middle of the city but it's a really, really bad idea to start thinking it's Bullwinkle and try to get a selfie with it.

On second thought...you do you. Go give him a big old skritch on the snoot. Us locals will be watching...from way over there.

Suspicious_Hornet_77 Report

Final score:

115points

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Donkey boi 10 months ago

How do I know if it's a local moose, or one from out of town?

65points

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Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

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#21

Please, for the love of god, don’t walk up the steps to the pyramids in Mexico. Aside from it being against the rules, it is taboo and incredibly disrespectful to the indigenous communities. Take pictures and admire from a distance but don’t climb them. And especially don’t get an attitude when a local yells at you to get off.

mexheavymetal Report

Final score:

107points

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WoodenLion 10 months ago

the locals could/should do more than yell.

24points

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“How and why you go around the globe normally determines what sort of traveler you are. Traveling in groups with a guide or at least having a local guide can give such a great insight into not only how to behave in a certain culture but also gives a chance of a local insight that results in valuable local insight and amazing experiences,” added Irmante.

“Traveling responsibly and being aware helps to avoid making a total fool of yourself and shedding a bad reputation. Being a blasé traveler could become a sustainability issue—but in a social way –traveling is precious and any connections we have on the way could have a butterfly effect—so let it be positive."

#22

“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) Don't swim in brackish rivers in the Nortern Territory.
Oh wait, that's a written rule tourist's always seem to break.

DeusSpaghetti , Lindy Buckley/flickr Report

Final score:

100points

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Jeff White 10 months ago

Curious, why not?

19points

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#23

"Hi, how are you".

In Estonian culture it's rude to ask it if you're actually not prepared to listen to my whole life story. To us this is a very intimate question.

To top it off, a surprising amount of times I've been berated by a foreigner for not welcoming them in this exact way. Like I'm supposed to be a psychic and know what culture their from. Or their way is the only universal way to welcome someone. I've been extremely offended by this. Someone came to my country as a guest and didn't even bother to Google how to say hello. 😤

kenakuhi Report

Final score:

100points

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A Nelson 10 months ago

Thank you this is quite helpful and easy to forget that there are different ways to introduce yourself respectfully

35points

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#24

“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) Don’t pose for pictures with the big waves and pretty rocks behind you. Too many people get knocked down by a sneaker wave and are swept out and they drown. (Pacific Coast of California.) Stay away from the edges!

SnooLentils3066 , Anastasiia/pexels Report

Final score:

98points

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Bewarethere@gmail.com 10 months ago

Maybe that's just natural selection

41points

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Irmante continued: “As a tour guide and tour leader, I introduce my groups and clients to the local traveling nuances. I make sure to empower my travelers and make them aware of the power they have to the local communities we visit.”

“Being a tourist is probably the worst that can happen when exploring the world. Being in an area allows you to connect your culture to someone else’s. Make a friend in the destination you’re headed to, get a hold of a travel guide covering all of the odd habits, rules, customs and traditions, and at least google how you should and should not behave.”

“Traveling and tourism is such a powerful tool of creation as well as destruction. As a traveler, you hold an immense responsibility to do it the right way. So educating yourself prior to the trip, connecting with locals or someone who can run you through the local rules will ensure seamless yet powerful coexistence and outcome of the travel world.”

#25

Do not go to Ireland and order a "Car Bomb" unless you want to be punched in the mouth.

arrows_of_ithilien Report

Final score:

98points

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Jeff White 10 months ago

Fair

33points

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#26

“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) Don't walk on the cycling lanes.

draaijman95 , Joybot/flickr Report

Final score:

93points

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Dominik 10 months ago (edited)

And don't park you freaking cars on the cycling lanes or use these as overtaking lane. It's super dangerous. Still to many countries/places where drivers see these as perfectly legit (temporary) parking lots

36points

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#27

“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) Obey the signs seems to be planet wide.

Ruathar , Fabio Eckert/pexels Report

Final score:

81points

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ColorEd 10 months ago

That's not an unwritten rule.

14points

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“Ignorance is bliss, but not when it comes to respect, coexistence and witnessing the beauty of the world. It’s naive to think that traveling starts with everyone else but you. You as a traveler not only make it but maintain it and spread it to everyone around you. So don’t chew gum in Singapore, carve your name on the Coliseum, take smiley selfies in Auschwitz, bring archaeological artifacts from Iraq, climb pre-Hispanic structures in Chichén Itzá or dangle off a cliff trying to drive through Canon del Pato,” concluded Irmante.

#28

No peeing in public!!!

Source: I see specifically mainland Chinese doing this, whether it's in Hong Kong or Toronto. It's disgusting.

Chuchoter Report

Final score:

76points

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Jaquibear 10 months ago

In Giethoorn in the Netherlands (a very pretty village visited by hordes of tourists), I spotted "No peeing/pooping" signs on gates leading to private homes. "Why?" I asked a local. "Because the Chinese tourists enter our gardens and c**p on our lawns!"

58points

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#29

“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) When ordering in a busy pub, please have your entire order ready. Don't order two things, then add another one on, then go back to the table to ask Deborah what she wants. And if Guinness is in the order, ask for that first.

Kyadagum_Dulgadee , [puamelia]/flickr Report

Final score:

70points

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Auntriarch 10 months ago

If there's only you, order a Smithwicks first so you have something to drink while your Guinness is pouring

31points

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#30

“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers) don't dismantle the coliseum please

dekuius , Philip Warp/pexels Report

Final score:

68points

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Jeff White 10 months ago

Or even really touch it. Come one, there cannot be a single person in the World that doesn't understand that you should not scribe your initials or name onto such an obvious World Heritage Site.

50points

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Note: this post originally had 55 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

You can follow Irmante on her Instagram where she shares her travel experiences.

Also, be sure to share some unwritten rules in your country or area that you see tourists shamelessly breaking in the comment section below!

But if you feel like you need more rules in life, here are some more—also unwritten, also on tourism.

What do you think ?

All good, however I'd like to add that not all tourists are intentionally being a******s. Sometimes we just missed the detail or didn't know something, and for all of you "ReAD Up oN ThE CoUNTry YoU'Re VisITiNG" sayers - I certainly do, but I can't perform a complete study on a country's ways any time I go abroad. I do my best, but I can't know everything.

20points

To sum it up: Have some manners and stay away from local wildlife.

18points

David Paterson 10 months ago

And keep your car doors locked in some countries.

2points

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T'Mar of Vulcan 10 months ago

If you're in Mzansi (South Africa) and go to the Kruger Park, FFS don't get out of your car and try to pat/take selfies with the lions. THEY WILL EAT YOU. It's happened at least twice in recent memory. Do not be a moron.

11points

censorshipsucks 10 months ago

can confirm. Also the lionpark in midrand.

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“What’s An Unwritten Rule In Your Country That Tourists Always Seem To Break?” (30 Answers)

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