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?

[scully29]

Franklin, having lived in SA I dont think you can belittle the concern over danger in SA, its full of danger, believe me, I lived in a hospital - plenty of guns, gangs, muggings and endless stabbings in fact! Its a huge country though and so very varied and for tourists generally safe if they are sensible, but you cant get cross with people mentioning dangers, they are there, just not in the lovely tourist areas like V&A Waterfront with its high security etc.

[Franklin12]

Have some of the PP EVER been to SA?? They live in their own worlds hearing guns, gangs, muggings and scare monger having never visited the place. They have just heard.....

I was mugged once - in London, my home town.

Have been to SA a couple of times. A beautiful country. Hope to go again next year.

[isthismylifenow]

@AliceinBorderland

I went there but stayed with people who had a house there. Electric fences around the perimeter of the house, bars on all the windows, an iron security gate in the hall leading to the sleeping areas that is locked at night. Yes it is needed.

I asked when I was there if i could walk to the local mall alone and was flatly told no. It was shot up with guns the month before.

You can't go anywhere alone. You can't wear jewellery it will be ripped off your neck. I pulled out a wad of cash in a cafe to count how much rand I had left and was quickly told to put it away.

It is beautiful country but you'll be stuck in the hotel at night you really cannot go out at night or anywhere alone.

but you'll be stuck in the hotel at night you really cannot go out at night or anywhere alone

This really is not the case. I go out alone all the time. Including at night.

And I live here so I say that as a resident and not as a tourist.

Yes, the houses are secure. It is different from UK, but not too different from other places in the world. Surely you would not pull a wad of money out in any public place, no matter where you are? Its just common sense for safety. I would not walk to my local mall either as it is too bloody far.

Where was it that you stayed? All across the country certain areas are more prone to crime than others.

[Triffid1]

@KeyErro

If you're staying with people in residential areas then your experience is not representative of a typical tourist trip.

Yes, this. Also, many south Africans have gone into a slightly odd siege mentality - panicking if they're not home by dark etc etc so staying with them is going to give you that sort of mindset vs the average tourist experience.

[KeyErro]

If you're staying with people in residential areas then your experience is not representative of a typical tourist trip.

[AnnieSnap]

@AliceinBorderland

I went there but stayed with people who had a house there. Electric fences around the perimeter of the house, bars on all the windows, an iron security gate in the hall leading to the sleeping areas that is locked at night. Yes it is needed.

I asked when I was there if i could walk to the local mall alone and was flatly told no. It was shot up with guns the month before.

You can't go anywhere alone. You can't wear jewellery it will be ripped off your neck. I pulled out a wad of cash in a cafe to count how much rand I had left and was quickly told to put it away.

It is beautiful country but you'll be stuck in the hotel at night you really cannot go out at night or anywhere alone.

That isn’t the case in well lit, upmarket, busy tourist areas.

[DampSquidGames]

I went out every evening in Cape Town but stuck to tourist places such as Camps Bay and the V&A waterfront. I do similar on most of my holidays.

[scully29]

Ah but Alice the hotels! Fabulous views and incredible wines theres no reason to go out and about at night! (And if you do theres taxis in the cities).

[AliceinBorderland]

I went there but stayed with people who had a house there. Electric fences around the perimeter of the house, bars on all the windows, an iron security gate in the hall leading to the sleeping areas that is locked at night. Yes it is needed.

I asked when I was there if i could walk to the local mall alone and was flatly told no. It was shot up with guns the month before.

You can't go anywhere alone. You can't wear jewellery it will be ripped off your neck. I pulled out a wad of cash in a cafe to count how much rand I had left and was quickly told to put it away.

It is beautiful country but you'll be stuck in the hotel at night you really cannot go out at night or anywhere alone.

[DampSquidGames]

Five years ago my DH and I had a Valentines tasting menu with paired wines and a pianist at Table Bay Hotel. It cost £50 each, it would be have been hundreds in a UK hotel. It was one of the best nights of my life.

[Brycare]

Yeah, at one of the nicest restaurants in Camps Bay that we ate in at the time a sirloin steak is 195 rand and fillet is 250 - using the current exchange rate these translate to approx 9.50 and 12.50 British pounds. And the food is absolutely outstanding.

[Lightisnotwhite]

Exchange rate is insanely good atm.

[Brycare]

Stayed in South Africa for 6 days on the second leg of my honeymoon in 2016.
It wasn’t near enough time but was all we could fit in and I’m really glad we went. Would LOVE to go back again sometime for a longer holiday.
We stayed in Camps Bay (very close to Cape Town - easy drive or cheap Uber away) and then Franschoek in the wine lands area. I would highly recommend both places.
The food is amazing and much cheaper than in Europe or the US.
We didn’t have time to do the Garden Route or a safari unfortunately.
I say go for it

[ArcherDog]

The food was amazing! Ostrich is absolutely delicious!

[AnnieSnap]

@scully29

Id have to say on the veggie/vegan front ( 3 years ago) we did fine - yes defo the only veggies at braai nights but the shops, restaurants etc all fab for veggies and super delicous, the food is fab. Even living rurally we were able to get plenty of vegan sausages etc, although we were an hour away from humous. And I never had risotto there!

I was there in May ‘19. Either, I was unlucky or you were lucky in what we found. Totally worth the trip though.

[scully29]

Id have to say on the veggie/vegan front ( 3 years ago) we did fine - yes defo the only veggies at braai nights but the shops, restaurants etc all fab for veggies and super delicous, the food is fab. Even living rurally we were able to get plenty of vegan sausages etc, although we were an hour away from humous. And I never had risotto there!

[isthismylifenow]

@JayAlfredPrufrock

There’s a Kruger WhatsApp group that gives me a daily fix.

I think all the animals just loved lockdown. Our level 5 was mid winter and they just owned the sunny spots in the roads. They do claim them good spot anyway at times, but this was very heartwarming to see.

[isthismylifenow]

There are more vegetarian/vegan options now than there was.

I even battle sometimes as I'm gluten intolerant and my dd is dairy intolerant. I know there has always been more choice of alternatives available overseas, and we were very much behind the times.

There are still way more meat eaters than non, so I suppose the restaurants menus reflected this. It's definitely changed now though. Only recently BK brought out a plant based burger. Everyone was ooohhh.

There are most definitely vegetarian and vegan restaurants. Just not sure if smaller towns and cities have caught up yet.

[Palavah]

@Andante57

I didn’t pass it off as first hand - I said my dh’s ex employer who lived there for some years.
Another poster pointed out that it’s different living there to visiting as a tourist which I said was fair enough.

Your first post:

*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.*

[isthismylifenow]

@HeartsAndClubs

@ Andante57 do you tell people to be very careful about going to London because there are lots of stabbing s? Because there are you know….

South Africa does have a high crime rate, but most of that is indigenous, and much of it is tribal.

it absolutely is true that you shouldn’t walk around on your own at night and that you should proceed with caution depending on where you go. From my POV Johannesburg was a shithole 30 years ago, it’s just progressed downhill since then.

But the cape is beautiful, and is the biggest tourist part of the country, and as such much care is taken to protect those tourists.

OP I grew up in South Africa, and while security would put me off going back there to live, I am desperate to go back there for a holiday.

Ahem.

Jhb isn't a shithole. Some parts are run down yes, but that is the case everywhere.

It's probably the most diverse city in the whole country. Its the business capital, well Pretoria is, but same same. It's fast paced which CT is not. But it doesn't make it a shit hole. It has a vibe which I can't explain. It just had to be experienced imo.

[JayAlfredPrufrock]

None 🙄

[JayAlfredPrufrock]

As a mine meat eater it can be a challenge

[AnnieSnap]

[quote JayAlfredPrufrock]@BlowDryRat
What a shame you had awful food. I’ve had fabulous food in S A[/quote]
I found it a challenge to get varied vegetarian food. Wherever we went, I was offered mushroom risotto. I didn’t dislike it. It was very tasty, but there is only so much of it you can eat without wanting to throw it at a wall 😂🤣 Admittedly, there will probably be good vegetarian restaurants in the big cities, but I wasn’t near them 🤷‍♀️

[JayAlfredPrufrock]

There’s a Kruger WhatsApp group that gives me a daily fix.

[JayAlfredPrufrock]

I’ve been going since the late 1980’s. Every couple of years.