Can anyone tell me about South Africa?

[TumtumTree]

We have always wanted to go to South Africa and are thinking about a trip next year (Covid restrictions permitting).

I remember a few months ago there were terrible reports of looting and violence relating to the trial of the ex president Zuma. Is this likely to recur? The foreign office website doesn't mention it being a problem. Is it safe to travel there?

I went to South Africa in 2019 and researched safety issues beforehand. I’d suggest you Google up to date travel safety advice there beyond the Foreign Office stuff. There is a fairly high level of violent crime (often using guns) there, so it’s important to take certain precautions to keep yourself self. The big cities can be dangerous at night, so select a hotel in an upmarket, busy area with restaurants etc very close by. Don’t walk beyond the busy, well lit area. There are car jackings - mainly at night, although there have been cases on the quiet roads leading to Kruger National Park in the day time. I know that all sounds scary, but you’ll be fine if you are sensible.

I did a bit of a ‘Thelma and Louise’ road trip over 3 weeks with my daughter. We Started in Johannesburg for a couple of days. We got out and about with a tour guide in the day time, but didn’t leave the hotel at night despite their incredibly limited vegetarian menu because I hadn’t learned my lesson of where to book at that stage! We then Flew down to Richards bay (towards Durban), collected a hire car and stayed in St Lucia, fairly small town on the Coast. It was very safe and we didn’t need to be careful. We stops in several small (very safe) places as we drove up, over the border into Swaziland (very friendly, safe country), driving all the way through and back into SA where we drove to the Hazyview area to rest in Rissington Inn. We ditched the hire car there and arranged a car and driver to take us into the Kruger and spent a truly amazing, fabulous 6 days then. Then took private transport again to the nearest small (quaint) airport to fly back to Joburg, then home.

We absolutely loved it and I have been trying to get back ever since. I was booked to return (this time with my husband) in May ‘20. Of course due to the Covid pandemic, that didn’t happen. We pushed it forward to October ‘20 (remember those heady days when we all thought it would be over by the Autumn 😳). Then that was cancelled of course. Now that it’s been taken off the red list, if we get a Pfizer booster (we had AZ and it isn’t very effective against the SA variant), then we’re hoping to go next May.

I hope this helps a bit.

As a tourist, you should be fine with sensible precautions. Don’t walk around at night, ensure you book hotels in well built up upmarket areas etc. there are issues but tourists are desperately needed and you will have an amazing trip.

Thanks both, that is really helpful.

@AnnieSnap your trip sounds amazing!?

Please be careful. It’s a very dangerous place.
I know there are few places with no risk of burglaries, mugging etc but SA has very high crime and it’s not exactly a relaxing holiday if you’re constantly looking over your shoulder.
If you are robbed and most likely hurt in the robbery, the police won’t do anything.

I did a bit of a ‘Thelma and Louise’ road trip over 3 weeks with my daughter

I hope not! You know what happened to them don't you?

Thank you @Andante57. Do you think it would be better to go to a different country instead?

@Andante57

Please be careful. It’s a very dangerous place. I know there are few places with no risk of burglaries, mugging etc but SA has very high crime and it’s not exactly a relaxing holiday if you’re constantly looking over your shoulder. If you are robbed and most likely hurt in the robbery, the police won’t do anything.

@Andante57 Have you been to South Africa as a tourist, staying in upmarket areas? If you live in the poorer areas, then yes, life is cheap and risk is extremely high. If you are driving in a good car at night, the risk of being car jacked and shot is very real. Likewise house break-ins happen and can result in violence, but a tourist staying in a good hotel (which will have a high level of security), sticking to safe areas and not going out if well lit, upmarket areas in the evening mean that a tourist is extremely unlikely to fall victim. I was careful where I stayed and what I did. I was on holiday for three weeks. It was very relaxing and I gad no need to be looking over my shoulder.

@MrsFin

I did a bit of a ‘Thelma and Louise’ road trip over 3 weeks with my daughter

I hope not! You know what happened to them don't you?

Yes, just the toad trip, not the crime and the deaths 😂🤣

Hi OP.
So, has the looting died down. Yes it has, and honestly it wasn’t looting it was a failed coup. It was fairly localised too, but there is a chance that it will rise again.
No where is completely safe in the world, and I think @AnnieSnap isn’t far off of her evaluation. Saying that, there is so much more to South Africa than sticking to the tourist bits, and there are ways to stay safe while getting a more authentic experience.
What we’re you looking at doing?

Also @AnnieSnap I’m so sorry that you didn’t experience jozis night life! There are many amazing veggie places to experience and it’s such a amazing multicultural city.

It's an amazing place to visit, rich cultural heritage, stunning scenery, such a range of things to see and do and fantastic food and wine.
Recommend you book a tour with transfers etc then you won't need to worry about avoiding dodgy areas.

It’s bloody fabulous

Book that flight.

@Username7521

Also *@AnnieSnap* I’m so sorry that you didn’t experience jozis night life! There are many amazing veggie places to experience and it’s such a amazing multicultural city.

I will next time. I plan to book a more central or conveniently placed hotel 🙂

OP - a trip to South Africa is an amazing experience.

In terms of crime, the precautions mentioned by other posters are all good suggestions. The sad truth is that as a "rich" tourist, enjoying the best of South Africa, you really don't have much to worry about. Violence and crime is terrible for South Africans who have very little money and power, and wealthier South Africans do have to be careful about robberies, attacks etc. But for tourists, this really just isn't the same and the truth is that tourism is such an important part of the economy that the country desperately needs foreign cash and visitors post Covid.

The scenery, the food, the activities, the people.... all are amazing and you will have an incredible trip. I also haven't checked flights but it wouldn't surprise me if they're a bit cheaper for a while. Certainly, i've seen a few articles talking about all inclusive trips in super luxury advertised at significantly lower prices than pre-pandemic. I think SA will be doing its best to get people out there and so this is probably a good time to go.

@TumtumTree

Thank you *@Andante57*. Do you think it would be better to go to a different country instead?

Plenty of posters think you should go. I wouldn’t want to go to a country where security is one of the most important aspects. I’ve heard terrifying stories.

Cape Town is a safe bet for your holiday. My family was stuck in the thick of the violence in KZN in July. And I am going put to see them all next month.

It really is such an amazing country! And if the government wasn't so useless I would have never left.

@TumtumTree

Thank you *@Andante57*. Do you think it would be better to go to a different country instead?

If you want to do a fly-drive, look at Namibia.

@Andante57 so you're not actually south african or visited? I think scaremongering without real information isn't terribly helpful personally. When visiting New York, you're told not to travel in certain places etc. Similarly to other countries. It's not as if South Africa is unique.

I don't blame people for taking safety into consideration when considering a trip, of course, but the truth is that tourists are routinely just fine in SA as long as they stick to some safety rules, many of which would apply when travelling in any unfamiliar country.

Hi Op, we went for 2 weeks at the start of 2020. I have to be honest and say that although the scenery, food & service was fantastic we did feel anxious a lot of the time. We drove from Cape Town down the garden route & then flew onto Johannesburg. We stayed in very nice hotels which all had security guards with guns on the gate which in one way was reassuring but in another worrying! I'm glad I went & did have an amazing time but wouldn't return because of feeling we had to be on our guard. I think you'll get very mixed opinions on S.A

I lived in SA for a year. Its an amazing country and a lovely place to holiday, Im very keen to get back for a holiday. I found it far too dangerous living there with 2 young kids (3&5) though, but we were rural SA which is extremely different from Cape Town. We had so many protests all the time & very scary but its a huge country We felt very safe in Cape Town compared to where we were, its really lovely there. But It is devastating with the poverty, really awful. I would go with what the FCO say.

Hi OP.

I live in South Africa, so please feel free to ask away.

Yes there was terrible rioting and looting in KZN and parts of Johannesburg earlier this year, but that particular issue has settled down now. Unfortunately not all the damage has been repaired yet, so reconstruction is going to take a while. Will it reoccur? Well we hope not, but to be honest there are some strikes happening at the moment. This is very much in industrial areas which if affecting the industries for which they are disputing a wage increase. I do not think this will affect tourism though.

What parts are you thinking of visiting? It is such a vast country, so there are a lot of options available to you. There are mountainous regions if walking and hiking is your thing, we have some of the most beautiful beaches, and of course the Big 5. We have great food too, and eating out is really reasonable compared to UK/Europe.

Do you have dc?

Peak season is going to be a lot more pricy. So that would be during our long school holidays which is End November/ begin Dec to around Mid January. Then Easter is classed as peak season as well. Weather wise, if you like the warmer weather February is usually the hottest month. My mum always comes over around Easter time, so to me April is amazing weather as it is not too hot in the day yet still nice in the evening. It starts to get cold around June/July. And parts of SA get very bloody cold at night (we don't have central heating etc) so if you are thinking of that time of year, days are nicer, say around 18 - 22 degrees is average, and nights can get down to early minus depending where you are. Kzn is rarely cold, even in winter. . It can get very humid though, but the beaches are amazing in winter.

I can really recommend Cape Town and the wine route. Perhaps if you want to do a drive, then the garden route is lovely. You can break it up and stay over at different places each night, or stay for a few days.

You can fly in direct to Jhb or CT. But because its a big country you could spend a lot of time driving if you planned for eg, to fly into Jhb then drive to CT. It is a loooong way though. 1600km!

Yes crime is higher here than what you are used to living in UK. You do have to be aware of your surroundings, and don't take chances going into the more dodgy areas. There is an awful amount of poverty, so this is something that does take some visitors aback when they see shanty houses and the way some people live.

But generally we are a good bunch and are very welcoming.

Fire away, if I can help at all I will do so with pleasure.

Andante57 so you're not actually south african or visited? I think scaremongering without real information isn't terribly helpful personally

Triffid I’m not South African but I have visited many moons ago.shortly after the end of Apartheid.
Dh’ s ex employer lived there until he’d had enough of the violence and feeling unsafe. His house was robbed and the dogs chopped up. The priest who lived down the road was locked in his safe for a weekend. Every house looks like a high security gaol.
Do you think nobody should find fault with Dubai unless they’ve they’ve been there?

Yes, just the toad trip, not the crime and the deaths 😂🤣

This made me laugh AnnieSnap

In my younger pre-dc days my then dh-to-be (now ex dh) took a few weeks out and drove over 6000kms around the country....in a Beetle! With no air con!!

I have travelled and backpacked to many countries in the world, but that trip was one of the most memorable. There is just something about exploring your own turf, parts that you did not even know existed. We drove through Transkei (as it was in the day), earlier that day we had bought a pocket of oranges from someone on the side of the road, I think we stopped for an avocado and ended up with the back seat full of fruit . By the time we had driven through one of the towns, we had NO oranges left. 10kgs we handed out the window to the children as we passed through. The little kiddies heard us coming (not hard in that car) and all came out to greet us. So we handed out oranges as we went. The joy on those childrens faces is something I will not forget. They danced and sang and they all waved for us to stop off and come into their homes. We couldn't, as much as we would have loved to (we had to travel according to the temp of the day with an air cooled car).

Just one of the experiences that will stay with me forever.

I am quite sure you have equally great memories from your 3 weeks trip.

@Andante57

Andante57 so you're not actually south african or visited? I think scaremongering without real information isn't terribly helpful personally

Triffid I’m not South African but I have visited many moons ago.shortly after the end of Apartheid.
Dh’ s ex employer lived there until he’d had enough of the violence and feeling unsafe. His house was robbed and the dogs chopped up. The priest who lived down the road was locked in his safe for a weekend. Every house looks like a high security gaol.
Do you think nobody should find fault with Dubai unless they’ve they’ve been there?

Don't get me wrong, these sorts of stories are rife and awful, but they're not about tourists. And the truth is that without a massive economic improvement, things in south africa won't get better very quickly, not least because of the incompetent and corrupt government. The point is that living there and visiting are different. I would, to be honest, tell someone considering moving to South Africa to think very very carefully. I'd want them to understand the security implications and the need to live behind high walls and electric fences. I'd want them to be aware of the poverty and how heartbreaking this can be. And also how dangerous it is because people who have nothing have nothing to lose.

And of course, it's pretty awful that I'd have a different response to someone moving to SA vs someone visiting. Btu the truth is that it is a totally different experience. Applying the concerns of someone who might choose to live there, who might not have the knowledge or skills or finances to put the right security in place, to someone who wants to visit Cape Town and the wine country is not appropriate.

Agree with Triffid, its an incredible place to visit, very different to live there.
Should also say the wine is fantastic. And the scenery.
Its an amazing place and if you've always wanted to go you should go. Cape Town is well worth a visit and feels very safe.