Travelling to South Africa

[civicrider]

I have a trip booked for three weeks in November, I am wondering if anyone has been to South Africa? I was thinking about renting a car out of Joberg and heading out to the Kruger National Park and then making my way down to Cape Town before flying back to Joberg. So for anyone that's been here, how safe is it to drive across the country? I've done a lot of reading and some say its so dangerous and your guaranteed to get car jacked or mugged. I plan on leaving Johannesburg right away and only driving during the day. I also read you can't even walk to places from the hotels you stay in because of the crime.

[Manhattan]

Watch your wallet bro.

[msommers]

Kruger was fantastic when I went. Good chance of seeing leopards, though I didn't get a chance.

The nice drive starts at Durben and goes along the southern coast, hitting the garden road before ending in Cape Town (and surrounding area).

Jo'burg I've heard is really not that safe and very busy/business. This was from cab drivers in Cape Town. Cape Town don't go out of the main tourist areas at night. The street kids are likely to pay you a visit.

Along the southern coast is supposed to be a backpacker's haven. Safe, lots of hostels and fair prices throughout. I was in the Cape Town area for a week. Wish I went to the Ostrich ranch to ride an ostrich though!

[pheoxs]

At this point I would be concerned due to the Ebola outbreak. Even if you don't get anything given the paranoia in the states over one person coming back with it you may have problems in the near future coming back. (Detained at the airport for testing and stuff)

[msommers]

I wouldn't be worried at all about that actually. I picked up my Mom from the airport last week coming back from Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.

Maybe if you travel affected areas in West Africa there could be detention but everywhere else that's just ridiculous. It's analogous to an outbreak in the maritimes and a European traveller being detained for visiting California.

[Kaos]

I've travelled to Cape Town and I never once felt worried going out and about. A lot of friendly people out there. Do expect a lot of beggars though.

I've driven to Gansbaai to do some Great White Shark cage swimming. About a 3 hours drive from Cape town.

I can't speak of Joburg but it's a big city, expect a lot of stuff to happen.

[FraserB]

Originally posted by pheoxs
At this point I would be concerned due to the Ebola outbreak. Even if you don't get anything given the paranoia in the states over one person coming back with it you may have problems in the near future coming back. (Detained at the airport for testing and stuff)

He's going to South Africa, he'll be fine. In fact, he probably has a better chance of catching AIDS or HIV (1 in 5 rate).

Post a review when you're back. I'm tentatively planning on going in 2016. Would like to do some cage diving, go to Kruger, Cape Town etc.

[msommers]

Let me know if you have specific questions, Fraser, I'll try my best to answer if you need.

[nickyh]

My folks were there last year, they started in Cape Town and then drove through to Richards Bay & Durban.
They flew from Durban to Johannesburg.

Cape will be safe, for the most part and as you head further inland towards Durban it becomes more of a hit and miss. Jo'burg - I'd stay as far away as I could from there. Seems that Durban & Jo'burg (especially) attract the higher crime.

My folks (white) drove into a part of town in Durban that the minute they were in it - they realized what the F did we just do, but they got away unscathed. Apparently the president of SA had told the locals - kill each other but do not touch the tourists. I'm pretty sure my folks stood out as tourists until they started to speak - then it confused the locals more.

Most of the municipalities are bankrupt - expect to see run down / old buildings, little to no upkeep of landscaping (everything is overgrown), and garbage everywhere.

I would say the majority of people are hard working honest people, just trying to survive. Yes there are bad apples, that is true of anywhere.


Keep any valuables out of sight at all times. Most people lock up anything important in the trunk (boot) of the car and carry little cash. Make sure the car you rent has A/C.
Gas stations are full service, be sure to tip the guys when you need to fill up.
CDN $ go a long way there when converted to the South African Rand, these people appreciate tips when given - so just remember a R20 tip is about $2 here and considering the cost of living is so high, tips are appreciated.

My dad gave a night security guard a winter jacket he was planning on giving his sister, this guy wept. He'd never seen such generosity before, and everytime my parents were around and he was working, he went out of his way to do extra things for them.

You'll love South Africa - but you have to be smart about where you are and what you plan to do / when you wants to do it.

[R-Audi]

The only time people go to Joburg is to fly in and get the hell out.

To give you a quick idea of basic life there.. my family and I had to stay overnight to catch a connecting flight.. hotel we went to was surrounded by 10ft high barbwire fence and had full time security. To walk from the hotel to a restaurant within the gated area, an armed guard escorted you, open another large gate to the restaurant and they then buzzed you in the door.

Cape Town is beautiful and a lot more safe, but Id still be very careful travelling alone by yourself. You still will have a hard time meeting anyone from CT that hasnt been a victim to either a violent crime or robbery.

Driving you should be ok, but a few tips:
-All valuables in your trunk. People will literally smash the window to grab a purse
-Be very careful driving at night, and watch for the 'high hijacking area' signs. (They actually exist)
-Typically at night you dont stop for any stop sign or traffic light.. more of a yield and go.

This may sound extreme, but itsw better to be safe than sorry. Ive been to SA twice, and my Wife and her family grew up there. (Moved back 20 years ago, but they go back regularly and have friends and family that still live there.)

[nickyh]

Not to scare you, but spend some time on this website reading though the different provinces and what is going on there.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa

Also, i'm sure it goes without saying - cellular phones are the most stolen item there.

A friend of mine recently went through a home invasion, they took her purse, demanded any extra cash and took all the cell phones in the home.
My god-father a few years back was killed during a home invasion.

[max_boost]

Originally posted by R-Audi
The only time people go to Joburg is to fly in and get the hell out.

To give you a quick idea of basic life there.. my family and I had to stay overnight to catch a connecting flight.. hotel we went to was surrounded by 10ft high barbwire fence and had full time security. To walk from the hotel to a restaurant within the gated area, an armed guard escorted you, open another large gate to the restaurant and they then buzzed you in the door.

Cape Town is beautiful and a lot more safe, but Id still be very careful travelling alone by yourself. You still will have a hard time meeting anyone from CT that hasnt been a victim to either a violent crime or robbery.

Driving you should be ok, but a few tips:
-All valuables in your trunk. People will literally smash the window to grab a purse
-Be very careful driving at night, and watch for the 'high hijacking area' signs. (They actually exist)
-Typically at night you dont stop for any stop sign or traffic light.. more of a yield and go.

This may sound extreme, but itsw better to be safe than sorry. Ive been to SA twice, and my Wife and her family grew up there. (Moved back 20 years ago, but they go back regularly and have friends and family that still live there.)

It's a bit mind boggling to hear about things like that. Having an armed guard at the bank, restaurant or wherever you are going. America NRA would be proud though

[in*10*se]

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/1341368
This is the AWESOMEST place i stayed in in cape town. Do it. you won't regret it.

http://www.apexpredators.com/
must do on the way to capetown.

i just got back from 2 months in africa. joberg, higher crime (from what i've heard on my travels, for cells)

go watch a sunset from camps bay in capetown
go to cape point
go climb table mountain

thats all i got for capetown.
south africa is the most developed for all of africa.
make sure your travel insurance is good, i've seen some crazy shit where insurance is denied and the "public health" care in south africa is not good. i cannot emphasize that. 10k claim was denied and the girl's completely broken arm now looks like frankenstien.

[civicrider]

Sweet thanks! I definitely plan on doing the shark cage diving!

[R-Audi]

A tip for Shark diving.. unless you have a lot of open ocean boating experience.. LOAD UP on gravol.

When I went it was something like 90% got sea sick... no exaggeration. My Wife and Mother in Law had to lay down for the majority of the trip getting sick and didnt even go in the water.
When the boat was moving it was fine, its when you were anchored and the boat constantly went up and down for 2-3 hours while people dive that gets you! Ive been on quite a few boats and never been sea sick... I puked my guts out. Worst feeling ever.

I asked why they dont mention it when booking, and it was because they didnt want to scare people off. 80-90% getting sick is standard apparently!

[msommers]

That's really surprising. We had a boat full of probably 15 people not a single person got sick Such weak stomachs Incredible experience regardless, you HAVE to do it!

20130702-P1000276 by msommers00, on Flickr

20130702-P1000254 by msommers00, on Flickr

20130702-DSC_3283 by msommers00, on Flickr

20130702-P1000283 by msommers00, on Flickr

20130702-P1000280 by msommers00, on Flickr

[Mitsu3000gt]

Africa is my #1 most wanted to go to place, but it scares the hell out of me. The creatures, crime, Ebola, kidnappings, extremist groups, pirates, etc. I realize much of this is not in South Africa, but there sure is some nasty stuff going on there, and you would stand out like a sore thumb as a white, Western, tourist which would be extremely bad in certain parts.

South Africa sounds like it's not too bad though, minus the higher crime in JoBurg, but nobody really hangs around there anyway.

[msommers]

It's not nearly as bad as everyone thinks it is. You just need to practice some common sense and maybe be a bit more mindful of your surroundings and possessions.

[max_boost]

How did you guys do the safari at Kruger? Booked a tour? With? Recommend 3/4/5 days?

Did you drive from Johannesburg? Fly from Johannesburg to Kruger?

I have 15 days was thinking of flying in Johannesburg, a day or two of their local stuff, fly or drive to Kruger 3-4 days. Back to Johannesburg and fly to Cape Town and stay 7 days and back home.

Thoughts?

[max_boost]

What's the min. you guys are willing to risk for a layover? I have an option of 2 hour layover in Amsterdam through KLM but that scares me. YYC to AMS to JNB or should I go with the 7 hour layover through AC at Heathrow?