Corruption and Black Africa, Goes without saying ... Am I a racist?

When asked for beer money at Jo'burg airport when picking up rifles, I have sometimes shook their hand and thanked them instead. Other times chickened out and handed over a dollar but no more. Because I don't my rifles going missing when I pass through next time.

In Zimbabwe the first time, a bribe could have saved a day's wasted time. I didn't know how to ask whether they wanted a bribe that time. In the end got around the issue and no bribe paid. But a lot of ffffing around.

Paying a bribe passing across land borders is often required. I have passed through these borders Kenya/Tanz, Tanz/Malawi, Malawy/Zambia, Zambia/Zimbabwe border many times, Zim/Bots a number of times. And none of these are bad ones.

Like Central and Western Africa.

One thing with bribes, if they think they will get one from you and a large one, they will try for it. Bribes spread and grow in size with experience of travellors and their nationality over time. Not paying them though you risk getting a serious fucking around ...