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Car Hijacking



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 10th, 2005, 02:51 PM
Raymond
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Default Car Hijacking

HI,

I like to think that I am not spooked very easily. We have been to
Jordan and other so-called dodgy places , however.

There are four of us going to South Africa in September for three
weeks and we shall hire a car. We will be in the Captown area for
three days, fly to Durban then make our way up to Kruger via some as
yet unplanned route. We have purchased our air tickets so we really
are going.

The vehicle we will use will be a 4x4, a Ford Explorer or the like.
Now the question, some folk would have us believe that in such a
vehicle the probability of it being hijacked is very high (like almost
one). Surley this is rubbish yes? Who would try and take a car from
four people? This has got to represent a high risk from the bandits
point of viw.


Cheers, Ray.

  #2  
Old July 10th, 2005, 05:19 PM
Lou
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--
==================================
Lou Andreoli
Human, wildlife & nature photographer
http://www.homepages.hetnet.nl/~louine

==================================

"Raymond" schreef in bericht
...
HI,

I like to think that I am not spooked very easily. We have been to
Jordan and other so-called dodgy places , however.

There are four of us going to South Africa in September for three
weeks and we shall hire a car. We will be in the Captown area for
three days, fly to Durban then make our way up to Kruger via some as
yet unplanned route. We have purchased our air tickets so we really
are going.

The vehicle we will use will be a 4x4, a Ford Explorer or the like.
Now the question, some folk would have us believe that in such a
vehicle the probability of it being hijacked is very high (like almost
one). Surley this is rubbish yes? Who would try and take a car from
four people? This has got to represent a high risk from the bandits
point of viw.


Cheers, Ray.


Ray,

This should not be a problem. Lots of people are travelling in 4x4 cars.
The country South Africa & Kruger NP are really beautiful
Have a nice vacation!!
==================================
Lou Andreoli
Human, wildlife & nature photographer
http://www.homepages.hetnet.nl/~louine

==================================


  #3  
Old July 11th, 2005, 08:15 AM
Marc Lurie
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Default

Ray,

1) Car hijacking is a problem in South Africa, but nowhere near as bad
as many people make it out to be. The probability of being hijacked is
small, particularly if you stay out of areas that are inadvisable to
enter. The majority of hijackings of tourists happen when they stop in
isolated areas to admire the view etc. A common place is at the
Waterval Onder Tunnel where people are advised NOT to stop their
vehicles and not to take photographs etc.

Generally, applying common sense rules will ensure that you don't put
yourself in a position where a hijacking might take place. If there
are other people there the chances are extremely slim.

2) You don't require a 4WD vehicle to do the trip, but the added
height is an advantage in Kruger.

3) Car hijackers have scant regard for the danger, and scant regard
for life, including their own. I doubt that they would consider 4
people a deterrent.

4) As far as I am aware, the most commonly hijacked cars are the
Toyotas and BMW's. Toyotas because their spares are used for minibus
taxis, and BMW's because there is a big black market for them.

Regards,

Marc - Johannesburg


On Sun, 10 Jul 2005 14:51:22 +0100, Raymond
wrote:

HI,

I like to think that I am not spooked very easily. We have been to
Jordan and other so-called dodgy places , however.

There are four of us going to South Africa in September for three
weeks and we shall hire a car. We will be in the Captown area for
three days, fly to Durban then make our way up to Kruger via some as
yet unplanned route. We have purchased our air tickets so we really
are going.

The vehicle we will use will be a 4x4, a Ford Explorer or the like.
Now the question, some folk would have us believe that in such a
vehicle the probability of it being hijacked is very high (like almost
one). Surley this is rubbish yes? Who would try and take a car from
four people? This has got to represent a high risk from the bandits
point of viw.


Cheers, Ray.


  #4  
Old July 11th, 2005, 08:33 AM
Hans Martens
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Marc Lurie schreef:
As far as I am aware, the most commonly hijacked cars are the
Toyotas and BMW's.



BMW's because there is a big black market for them.


:-))) Well said.



==================================
Hans Martens

Wildlife & Nature Photography
http://www.wildpicture.com
==================================

  #5  
Old July 11th, 2005, 09:35 AM
Corné
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Default


"Raymond" schreef in bericht
...
HI,

I like to think that I am not spooked very easily. We have been to
Jordan and other so-called dodgy places , however.

There are four of us going to South Africa in September for three
weeks and we shall hire a car. We will be in the Captown area for
three days, fly to Durban then make our way up to Kruger via some as
yet unplanned route. We have purchased our air tickets so we really
are going.

The vehicle we will use will be a 4x4, a Ford Explorer or the like.
Now the question, some folk would have us believe that in such a
vehicle the probability of it being hijacked is very high (like almost
one). Surley this is rubbish yes? Who would try and take a car from
four people? This has got to represent a high risk from the bandits
point of viw.


Cheers, Ray.


Ray, the most changes for hijacking are after dark until dawn in the cities.
As long as you make sure that you don't drive in the bigger citycenters at
night, there really is not a problem at all. More then 6,5 Million tourists
visit SA every year, without problems.

Enjoy the Kruger, and bring some good rains!

Corné.

www.amukela.com


  #6  
Old July 11th, 2005, 02:57 PM
JohnM
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Default

In article , Raymond
writes
HI,

I like to think that I am not spooked very easily. We have been to
Jordan and other so-called dodgy places , however.

There are four of us going to South Africa in September for three
weeks and we shall hire a car. We will be in the Captown area for
three days, fly to Durban then make our way up to Kruger via some as
yet unplanned route. We have purchased our air tickets so we really
are going.

The vehicle we will use will be a 4x4, a Ford Explorer or the like.
Now the question, some folk would have us believe that in such a
vehicle the probability of it being hijacked is very high (like almost
one). Surley this is rubbish yes? Who would try and take a car from
four people? This has got to represent a high risk from the bandits
point of viw.


You said it yourself. Carjacking is not as big a problem as they make it
out to be. But if carjackers do come to you with a gun, one or four
people makes no difference.

I would be more careful regarding stolen radios etc from cars. I met two
separate people who had rented cars in South Africa who had the car
radios stolen overnight. Be careful with the insurance terms and if
possible get a removable radio and remove it.

I would recommend going up the coast from Durban to St Lucia, reaching
the Kruger via Swaziland, so check if you can take the car through
Swaziland.

Incidentally 3 days in Cape Town is not enough.
--
JohnM
Author of Brazil: Life, Blood, Soul &
Rainbow Diary: A Journey in the New South Africa
http://www.scroll.demon.co.uk/spaver.htm
  #7  
Old July 11th, 2005, 05:39 PM
Corné
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Default




Incidentally 3 days in Cape Town is not enough.


More then enough. Spent your time in nature. Cities are everywhere on the
world, national parks with their amazing wildlife not.


Corné.




  #8  
Old July 11th, 2005, 06:58 PM
Hans Martens
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Default

Corné schreef:
Incidentally 3 days in Cape Town is not enough.

More then enough. Spent your time in nature. Cities are everywhere on the
world, national parks with their amazing wildlife not.


If you have the time, also do spend some in Cape Town. Visit the beach,
the old dutch fort, the waterfront, the botanical gardens etc etc. And
of course table mountain. And not too far away are wonderfull places
like Cape of Good Hope, Simonstown (penguins) and a bit further Hermanus
(whale watching!). It is by far the most beautiful city in the world.

Regards,
Hans


==================================
Hans Martens

Wildlife & Nature Photography
http://www.wildpicture.com
==================================

  #9  
Old July 12th, 2005, 01:28 AM
JohnM
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Default

In article , Corné
writes



Incidentally 3 days in Cape Town is not enough.


More then enough. Spent your time in nature. Cities are everywhere on the
world, national parks with their amazing wildlife not.


Well, Robben Island, Table Mountain, Old Malay Quarter, Lion's Head,
District Six, a visit to a township, Stellenbosch/wine country, Simons
Town and jackass penguins, Botanical Gardens, Cape Point and Reserve,
Seal Island...

The original poster was going to stay in Cape Town AND IN THE
SURROUNDING AREA for 3 days before catching the flight to Durban.

--
JohnM
Author of Brazil: Life, Blood, Soul &
Rainbow Diary: A Journey in the New South Africa
http://www.scroll.demon.co.uk/spaver.htm
  #10  
Old July 13th, 2005, 06:45 AM
George Weber
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Why not take a trip to Harlem in NewYork? Your chances of being hijacked
there are less than in Africa and you will see the same people. Hiring
a taxi to see the sights will cost less money and there will be less
chance of contracting AIDS. No charge for the advice.

 




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