Cape Town Sept 2023

[yorkshire270]

We are due to go on our honeymoon on the 18th Sept to Cape Town. The plan is to drive the garden route, with a hire car being dropped off at the hotel in Cape Town. Going to Franschoek, Wilderness, Plettenberg Bay and then safari.

I am having a meltdown reading the recent articles about increased violence in Cape Town.

Has anyone recently been to the area? If so, did you experience any problems?

We can't cancel the honeymoon as we will lose the total amount. The only other option is to postpone it for 12 months but will incur a £375 fee and any additional costs with hotels/airlines added on!

Any advice would be hugely appreciated.

@yorkshire270 The main thing about South Africa is that you must stick to the tourist areas. Always be around other people and do not wander off on your own. Are you being collected by an Agent? How are you getting to the Cape Town hotel? Around Cape Town airport, it’s surprisingly rough.

Driving, and holidaying in SA has rules we have been told about by South Africans:

1. Do not have windows open at traffic lights. Always hide luggage and handbags in a secure boot. 2. Do not ask a random person for help. 3. Stick to obvious tourist areas. 4. Pay for a parking lot with security. 5. If something/somewhere feels dodgy, it probably is. 6. Do not go into a township. 7. If someone threatens you for money, give them the money (or whatever) 8. Be careful about cash machines. Ask hotels for advice. 9. Do not be out walking late at night. 10. Do not wear anything remotely valuable - keep it simple. 11. Keep your wits about you at all times.

I would ask your hotels what the situation is regarding driving and safety but it’s likely the issues are in Cape Town. Can the hotels recommend the best route to your next destination? We always use guest houses and their owners always are 100% caring about your safety.

However, I have to say we’ve never had any problems. Where you are going is safe if you stick to the rules. You will find South Africans are security obsessed and will be at pains to tell you how to stay safe.

You are going to lovely places. Hope you see whales at Hermanus. You must see them in September!

I’m South African and I personally don’t like travelling anywhere in the country with my children as the sense of responsibility is too great. I immigrated because the violence and crime there is so widespread. I don’t believe people that say you must “stick to tourist areas” as everywhere is relatively far more unsafe than being in any part of Europe as a comparison. Have you checked if you can move the trip to another country such as Botswana which is neighbouring and safe? We missed a trip to Colorado due to lockdowns and we’re very surprised that we were given vouchers by the travel company that we later used to go to Italy.

Then again the British Home Office does say that the vast majority of trips to SA go on without trouble.

I'm an ex-Capetonian and was last there in December. The news of the murder is horrendous, and was almost certainly due to his getting lost and driving into a township. This is pretty difficult to do if you're simply heading towards the city/mountain suburbs, and I wonder what happened for him to actively turn off at that point.

You should be absolutely fine. It is far more dangerous to be a black man in Cape Town than a white tourist, statistically speaking, which is an awful statistic that must change, but that's the reality.

Also, is it a holiday if you’re worried about safety? I think the £400 is worth it to not be worried about safety. 😞

I didn't feel unsafe at all, btw. Yes, I was vigilant, but as a lone female traveller I didn't encounter any problems whatsoever.

Thanks everyone for your advice and it mirrors what I've read. We would lose nearly £11k if we decided to cancel the trip! The tour operator won't transfer our holiday package elsewhere.

We can get a chauffeur to take us from A to B but it's an extra £3,600 and I don't want to sink anymore money into the trip when i'm not convinced that I still want to go!

I wish I was feeling slightly different about our honeymoon and did a bit more research before I jumped ahead and booked it!

Well most holidays there are absolutely fine!

I do not agree that it’s poor advice to say stick to holiday areas! Everyone on holiday should. Living in SA is different and I wouldn’t but on holiday you are sampling the best.

Of course people drive their Dc about! Otherwise you are housebound! It’s a wonderful country to visit and you will be fine. Be sensible and do not advertise any wealth.

If you are spending that much then you are obviously staying in a lovely hotel and will be safe there. I’ve never heard of a single incident in a hotel and the staff are amazing and value their jobs very highly.

On balance, I think you should go and enjoy it but cut out any more risky activities like driving around at night on highways, visiting townships etc and rather take advice from the concierge. Don’t go walking alone on Table Mountain for example. Taking the cable car up is safe and I’ve never heard of a single issue doing that for example.

Thank you so much for your advice, it's greatly appreciated.

It’s very easy to cut out anything risky.

@yorkshire270, we are in SA driving the garden route now, but in reverse to your plans! We have not encountered any problems so far (Joburg, Ladysmith, safari, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Plett and now Knysna (going on to Wilderness, Franschoek, CT)
Roads are decent and you can get around much faster than UK! Advice is to keep doors locked as you drive, but we have not had anything to worry us at all so far. We are doing lots of hiking and walked around Plett without any problems going out to eat at night.

Happy to answer any questions!

I can't advise on anything recent, however there is a large township on the main road out of the airport. It's common for the kids to chuck rocks at passing cars, which we found out by a rock smashing the back window and narrowly missing the passenger. If you're hiring a car, ask them about extra insurance on the car for these types of incidents. I think they charged about £700 for the damage to the car!

The Garden Route is very safe. I would still park and walk to a restaurant and stay with others in well lit areas at night.

I think the OP was more concerned about Cape Town but, in our experience, you would be very very unlucky to have an issue when driving. You can see townships near Cape Town airport but when you are driving and surrounded by other cars on a main road, being picked out by a stone would be highly unusual. Never ever drive into a township. Travellers do have to accept there are no go areas.

We also insure against damage to a car. Take out the highest level of insurance available.

@TizerorFizz thank you! Does the UK phone work over there or do I need to rely on a map rather than GPS to get from A to B?
Would you say further afield from the centre of Cape Town seems a bit safer than the actual city? Eg once we get into the wine regions is it less threatening?

@yorkshire270 we got Airalo esims - get the app! V good value and work great

And we haven’t felt threatened anywhere (not even Joburg) but we have been sensible as per advice above.

@bigTillyMint fab! Thanks x

@yorkshire270 Nowhere is threatening. You just keep to main roads as far as possible in Cape Town and take care. We used sat nav as an extra in the car. The app recommended sounds very good. Just plan your route and you will be fine. The wine region is fantastic and driving is very safe. Lovely vineyards to visit and restaurants. You won’t be disappointed.

I lived in Cape Town for 7 years. South Africa is a wonderful place to visit, you’ll have an amazing time. It is breathtaking in beauty, the food and wine are delicious. I won’t add to advice here as it is all sensible, but do go and enjoy it.

just a small bit of advice - when filling up with petrol, someone does this for you and takes your card to pay. You then need to tip the petrol attendant. This is all safe and fine but feels strange if you are on high safety alert, I had to call my husband the first time and ask if it was legit! Also wave away anyone wanting to wash your windscreen at traffic lights. They aren’t dodgy but are after making a quick buck. When eating at a restaurant make sure you keep your handbag attached to your leg, don’t hang it in the back of the chair. When driving out the bag under your seat.

@eish thanks for the advice on the petrol stations too! If on the road trip, we need to take a toilet break, do the petrol stations typically have any facilities? Also, if we carry cash on us, how much should we typically budget for, to tip people at the stations and the car minders?

Where will you be staying in Cape Town?

I think @TizerorFizz has given you great advice for driving in South Africa.

@yorkshire270, there are service stations on the motorways which are basically like in Europe with toilets and cafes/shops and petrol.

Yes carry some cash. You’ll want to tip about 20 rand. SA is a mix of first and third world. Where you’ll be you’ll find mostly first and the petrol stations are well equipped and very clean (labour is cheap). If there is a lady sitting in the loos she will be the cleaner and needs tipping too. You find this in some restaurants and bars as well.

@HidingUnderMyDuvet the one and only at the V&A, looks insanely beautiful x