South African police have stepped up security outside Kruger National Park following the recent hijacking and robbery of two tourists, writes Joanne O'Connor.

An extra 50 police officers have been employed to patrol main roads leading to South Africa's most famous game reserve following an incident earlier this month, when a couple from New York and their tour guide were forced off the road by a van carrying eight men and robbed at gunpoint of their possessions and vehicle.

The robbery took place about four kilometres from the gate of the Sabi Sand, a private game reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park. No tourists have been attacked inside the park - which attracts more than 1 million visitors a year - but there have been at least four robberies so far this year on roads outside.

Kruger's own team of security officers is working closely with police to address the problem. Seven arrests have been made in connection with the most recent incident, which took place on 8 September.

David Mabunda, director of Kruger National Park, said: 'The situation is under control and we want to avoid an alarmist approach. We advise visitors to avoid taking short cuts and stick to the main roads, and to exercise the same caution they would use if they were travelling around any European city.'

Sheena Noakes, product manager for South African Airways Holidays, said clients embarking on fly-drive itineraries were advised to lock their car doors, avoid travelling at night and stick to the main roads. She added: 'We have never had any problems with clients driving in South Africa. I have driven through the park on my own and never felt unsafe.'

Official: Britons immune to holiday love bug

The British are more interested in eating lunch than making love when on holiday, writes Desmond Balmer . A NOP poll found that while 91 per cent of those surveyed wanted to find good food while on holiday, just 29 per cent were searching for romance.

The poll, conducted for Yell.com, the Yellow Pages website, also showed that holidaymakers were three times more likely to be bitten by a nasty bug than to fall in love. While 84 per cent found new friends on holiday (balanced by the 82 per cent who found irritating people), 70 per cent were bitten by insects and just 22 per cent found romance.

There was a racier result to the question about what people lost on holiday. Almost a quarter said they lost their inhibitions, 22 per cent lost their clothes and 18 per cent lost the way home (men were twice as likely to forget where they were staying).