Would you go to Cape Town on your own?

[EachandEveryone]

I’m 56 on that cancer cycle watching and waiting before my next treatment. I have aches and pains but I’m feeling well just not well enough for a hiking holiday. Ideally I would love to go to Cape Town and take some trips from there. I’ve been looking. At Exodus etc but they are coming up at 3 grand for a week to camp on a safari. Without flights! I’d like to do the wineries and see the animals but I couldn’t afford to do both through them, does anyone know if it’s possible to book through an agent in SA or would you 100 percent book everything through a company here? I was going to treat myself and fly business but the flights seem to be overnight there and back so it wouldn’t really be worth it would it?

is there any other country you would suggest? Anything nearer to home? I will be travelling alone.

Sorry to hear about your health issues, I hope you are doing ok?

I personally wouldn't go to Cape Town alone. I have never been but I would have concerns that it's not safe.
Others with more info might be able to better advise.
I wonder though, if you did choose somewhere else, what are you most looking for from a destination as I am sure lots could advise on that as well.

No I wouldn't. There was a thread on here recently about SA. I'll be honest, I wouldn't go there ever, alone or not.

No sorry don’t go there alone. I’ve been quite a few times (married to a South African), I’m nervous there even with Dh. Things actually felt worse when we were there last spring.

Why not? A friend of mine in her sixties goes to Cape Town on her own every winter.

I would recommend finding a travel agent local to you to put together a trip. They can organise flights, accommodation and the excursions you’re interested in, together with transfers etc so everything is easy and seamless. It’s no more expensive than doing it all independently as they’ll be able to get industry discounts. Just tell them your budget and what sort of things you want to do.

Have a lovely time!

I don’t think I’d go there with a convoy of armed guards, never mind on my own.

No, I wouldn’t go, there is just too much violence. I have colleagues that live in South Africa and they are all desperate to move out of the country.

I travel a lot alone but SA is one of the countries I’d only go with or to visit friends who know it well and know which areas to avoid and how to stay safe. Or, with a very organised tour group who also have this local knowledge. My SA friends who live in London visit Cape Town often and are very casual about it - but they’ll have all their local knowledge and learned instincts at the back of their minds even if they aren’t thinking about it.

I wouldn’t go to South Africa full stop. If it’s hiking and wineries that you’re most interested in, applied for choice in Europe: Basque Country of Spain, Croatia, Austria has vineyards in Vienna and great hiking. Slovenia. Alto Adige region of Italy.
Australia and NZ are also amazing but a lot further obviously.

Personally, no I wouldn't. South Africa is well known for its high crime rates. I'd go as part of a tour but not on my own with absolutely no knowledge of the country or at least some friends/relatives over there. I certainly wouldn't want to be sleeping alone in a camping situation. I'd think twice about doing that in the UK!

What are your main interests? If you want wine tasting for example there are places nearer to home (France, Italy). If you primarily want to see lions in the wild then anywhere is going to be expensive.

I did go on my own, and walked around everywhere, and booked on one of the safari tours a short flight from Cape Town, but it was about 19 years ago - 2005. I booked my own flights and hotel and I loved it, but I think I was very lucky. When I told locals where I had been they thought I was crazy - they drove everywhere. I don't know if nowadays it is better or worse than then.

No. I'd only go on an organised tour and I don't say that about many places.

I travel a lot as was a FO kid and lived for a while in Johannesburg, but I wouldn't travel to S Africa on my own. Shame because its a beautiful country with lovely people, but v dangerous

I'm struggling to understand the replies so far. I've been to sa three times in the last 5 years and without a doubt would be happy enough along on the cape town side. Visiting the winelands would be blissful. You will be totally fine

I wouldn’t do SA on my own. Even the transport minister was recently held up and robbed, despite having bodyguards.

Re business class flights for an overnight flight though I do think it’s still worth it because usually they have seats that can loe flat as beds so it’s a lot easier to sleep than economy/premium.

If you want to do a safari would it be cheaper to do that in another country (Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi etc?) and then join a SA tour for the winery part?

No. I met a really interesting South African man last week and he told me he’d never go back as it was so unsafe. Beautiful country but too much violence and corruption according to him.

The winelands and the “good” animals are at different ends of the country.

I’d pick one and do really very well if I could afford it.

I’d think the safari/bush camp holiday in the north could be extremely relaxing and very doable on your own. A lot of the camps are super luxurious and you’ve got no reason to leave camp, other than the actual game drives which are organised by the camp anyway.

flying in to OR Tambo and getting a same day connection to somewhere like Hoedspruit - you can arrange be collected from there by the bush camp so no reason to worry about being on your own. There’s a lot less to juggle in terms of logistics.

Thornybush is glorious, as is The Royal Madikwe, if that is in your price range.

The only thing I’d worry about is a) whether the malaria meds would interfere with your condition and b) proximity to a good hospital if anything should happen.

There are safari lodges in non-malaria zones. Shamwari is one that comes to mind but I’ve never been.

The winelands is great but there is a lot to coordinate in terms of logistics - plus the need for safe and reliable transport around the various farms as you’re on your own.

I’d do business class if I could afford it. It’s a long overnight flight and it’s really nice to be comfortable, particularly if you’ve been unwell.

No. My bosses are South African and they say it's too dangerous to stop your car in traffic. You're allowed to run red lights at night, the robbery and murder rages are so bad.

Murder rates*

Thanks for ypur replies. Its a big no then. Thats all I wanted to hear. I would love to do Australia but Im not sure how I would be on the flight all tha5 way. I would be frightened of my legs ballooning.

where else is good to go on ones own? I do need some kind of relaxation involved as I need to mentally prepare myself for what could be around the corner. Those accompanied trips to Europe are outrageously expensive. Who pays two grand to get trains in Italy?

is there anywhere in the States that would suit me, I wonder? Ive done NYC and Boston many times. Same with LA and I wouldnt go back to San Fran. I dont drive though.

How about Canada and do a mix of organised trips and your own thing? Or Spain?

I know what you mean about the accompanied European tours being stupidly expensive. I've done a few Exodus / Explore ones over the years, but always longhaul. No trains involved, they drive you everywhere. I don't drive so it's either do an accompanied tour or never see these places, if friends don't want to go. I wanted a shorter flight this year and looked at the European trips - there's no way I'm paying what they are asking to be accompanied on and off trains.

For South Africa, I went by myself 30 years ago, Cape Town was fine and I picked up an organised tour there to see sights. But it sounds like it has become a lot more dangerous since then.

Yes. I went to Cape Town on my own in 2010 (but after the World Cup 😂). Stayed in a lovely B&B just out of town, but close enough to walk to the V&A waterfront. It was fab.
If not keen on walking, taxis are cheap.

My husband had been travelling, so joined me there after a few days, but I'd have been happy to stay there solo for longer. It's one of my favourite cities in the world, and I'd love to go back.

is costa rica an idea?
a tour trip

What time of year? Are you planning on going soon?
And what do you envisage doing there when you get there (assuming no animals to see etc)

Pretty much anywhere is fine to go solo - it's about mindset, and using common sense (don't wander around wearing a Rolex, for example). There are people on this board who are too scared even to go to London alone, so the excessive and irrational fear of others shouldn't govern your choices. Just go somewhere that interests you and you'll have a great time.

pool, shopping, food, sight seeing, walking but not hiking my ankles arent great. Oh some local entertainment would be good.