Personal security - South Africa

I'm interested in getting a clear picture about personal safety in SA.
I intend in skipping Joburg but will be in CT and Durban and the
smaller cities and villages along the coast. How safe are these
places? Is it true not to walk/drive after dark?
Are the stories exagerated or should I really give the country a skip?
My plan is for a 2-3 week trip in Mar-Apr 2004.

Thanks.

You should not worry in the least. Martin
"Larry" wrote in message
m...
I'm interested in getting a clear picture about personal safety in SA.
I intend in skipping Joburg but will be in CT and Durban and the
smaller cities and villages along the coast. How safe are these
places? Is it true not to walk/drive after dark?
Are the stories exagerated or should I really give the country a skip?
My plan is for a 2-3 week trip in Mar-Apr 2004.

Thanks.

Hi,

have some common sense and don't go into obviously danger zones. Every
country and every city has them!

If you feel unsafe, get away from where you are.

And follow the usual travellers advise you will get when you visit the UK:
Don't carry large amounts of cash on you. Keep you passport save etc etc

Have a great time in South Africa!

Nico

"Larry" wrote in message
m...
I'm interested in getting a clear picture about personal safety in SA.
I intend in skipping Joburg but will be in CT and Durban and the
smaller cities and villages along the coast. How safe are these
places? Is it true not to walk/drive after dark?
Are the stories exagerated or should I really give the country a skip?
My plan is for a 2-3 week trip in Mar-Apr 2004.

Thanks.

Hallo Larry - perhaps you could consider using the new Travel Buddy security
service that was specially created to help tourists. They have had
tremendous success during the few months of operation. Have a look at the
website: http://www.eblockwatch.co.za

Enjoy SA!
Koos Greeff.
Specialist Safari Operator.
http://www.afrikasafaris.co.za

Larry wrote in message
m...
I'm interested in getting a clear picture about personal safety in SA.
I intend in skipping Joburg but will be in CT and Durban and the
smaller cities and villages along the coast. How safe are these
places? Is it true not to walk/drive after dark?
Are the stories exagerated or should I really give the country a skip?
My plan is for a 2-3 week trip in Mar-Apr 2004.

Thanks.

"Larry" wrote in message
m...
I'm interested in getting a clear picture about personal safety in SA.
I intend in skipping Joburg but will be in CT and Durban and the
smaller cities and villages along the coast. How safe are these
places? Is it true not to walk/drive after dark?
Are the stories exagerated or should I really give the country a skip?
My plan is for a 2-3 week trip in Mar-Apr 2004.

Thanks.
Larry
If you are a normal adult male, with a fair dose of common sense, South
Africa is probably
as safe as most places. My work takes me into townships regularly and one
must just be
vigilant. The same rules apply as when travelling in any 3rd world country
that your not familiar with.
1. Try not to look to obviously like a tourist. Hanging an expensive camera
round your neck is a great
way to get mugged in many countries.
2. Don't flash great wads of US$, Yen or other hard currencies around.
3. Keep to areas that have good shops and entertainment facilities, don't go
into run down areas
or isolated places on your own.
If you miss Jo'burg you'll be missing a great experience go to Jo'burg but
stay in Sandton ( take a tour to
Soweto) see one side of the countries past, visit Pretoria, Sun City, Monty
Casino(also a great place to
stay but a bit expensive) Gold Reef City for a trip down a Gold Mine.
From Jo'burg to Kruger Park and the Eastern Transvaal, then onto Durban and
Natal finally to the Eastern Cape down Garden route to Cape Town.( A minimum
of 3 weeks)
and unless your extremely unlucky or just plain stupid you'll have a great
holiday. If travelling with a female extra caution
should be exercised. My grown up daughters travel extensively through out SA
on their own.
just my 2c worth.
Enjoy
Richard

I have just returned from a two week trip to S.A. I was in the Western Cape
almost exclusively, so I can only speak about that area. (I didn't go to
Durban and I was only in Jo'burg long enough to change planes.) I had the
same concerns about personal safety, having heard stories about rampant
crime and reading frequent warnings about protecting yourself from crime.

Shortly after arriving in Cape Town, I could tell the stories had been
exaggerated. Cape Town felt a lot like Honolulu or Waikiki to me (except
for the huge shantytowns on the outskirts of the city!)...relaxed
atmosphere, very safe, filled with tourists just like you. Follow the same
rules you would in any large city (be careful at night, avoid run-down,
isolated or industrial parts of town) and you'll be fine. You'll find all
the amenities that you will in any modern city. If you want to visit a
township, there are several organized tours that will take you and allow you
to interact with the locals.

We travelled up the coast on the N2...I had been told to be careful, make
sure you have enough gas, and that marauders will attempt to rob you by
flattening your tires forcing you to stop. Ridiculous! The road is
well-travelled and is in excellent condition with not so much as a crack in
the surface; there are plenty of pleasant little towns with very friendly
people; plenty of large, clean, modern gas/petrol stations with friendly,
helpful attendants; lots of places to stop for lunch, snacks, water, a stay
at a bed & breakfast (you can't miss the signs...they're everywhere!).

Each town has one or more markets and convenience stores. All large to
medium sized towns will have ATMs which are a great way to get Rand from
your bank account at home (if your card uses Plus or Cirrus, or cash advance
on Visa/MC). Most travel guides I've read don't mention how modern and
"first world" S.A. is. Also, the countryside changes from mountainous, to
grassland, to arid, to lush and green when travelling east through the W.
Cape on the N2. It's really beautiful.

I found the blacks of the W.Cape to be the most friendly, helpful, kind
people I've ever met...a smile and a "hello" will take you far, as will
simple politeness. White Afrikaners are a little stand-offish in the
Germanic way, but were always polite and helpful when approached. I saw
"il" in your address, so I'm guessing you're from Israel...don't be
surprised or alarmed if Afrikaners inquire about where you're from when they
speak with you, since most tourists in SA seem to be from Germany or the UK
(they'll notice the different accent).

I didn't travel to Durban, so I have no first-hand information about it. I
spoke with several Afrikaners who had a handful of stories about petty crime
and one about wandering into a bad neighborhood and struggling with a
Nigerian thug. We were discussing this over beers, so the stories may have
been more dramatic than the actual incident.

I brought disposable film and an old camcorder because I was nervous about
getting robbed! I feel so foolish, now, and wish I had brought my digital
camera and digital camcorder.


"Larry" wrote in message
m...
I'm interested in getting a clear picture about personal safety in SA.
I intend in skipping Joburg but will be in CT and Durban and the
smaller cities and villages along the coast. How safe are these
places? Is it true not to walk/drive after dark?
Are the stories exagerated or should I really give the country a skip?
My plan is for a 2-3 week trip in Mar-Apr 2004.

Thanks.

Hi,

just returned from 3 weeks in Cape Town.

I walked a lot, and can had a nasty incident:

I was attacked by about youths (well dressed - so it could not be hunger
driving them) between V&A Waterfront and the cable car.

It was next to a busy major street at around 16:00.

They attacked me with knob-kieries when I told them I had no money on me
(truth) - I had a bad blow in the ribs, fortunately only damaged muscles.

They scattered when they heard a siren coming down the street. It was an
ambulance.

A minute or so later, a van from the City Policy drove down the street at a
leisurely speed. I tried to stop it, but they looked the otherway and drove
past.

Moral of the story:

Cape Town is not safe - even if you take good care and common sense.

The City Police are not interested in taking care of tourists.

So, this was my last vacation in Cape Town. There is enough to do in the
neighbouring areas, and it is much cheaper than Cape Town.

Regards

Nico


"johnneil" wrote in message
...

Hi Larry.

I suppose you realise by now that things are somewhat over-exagerated
when it comes to security in S.A. Common Sense is the name of the
game.

We travel all over S.A. in cities and through the countryside. Just
take the usual precautions as mentioned in previous replies.

Feel free to contact me at if you need any more
personal info e.g. where to go, what to see, where to stay etc.

Regards.


--
johnneil
------------------------------------------------------------------------
johnneil's Profile: 130
View this thread: 56510

Nico,

Sorry to hear about the unpleasant and painful experience
that you had in Cape Town, their have been a few incidences
of tourists been attacked at knife point, slightly horrified
that no one help. To me that is the big cities for you.

Tourists should be advised not to walk especially from
V&A passed the City Centre , I always carry mug money
around with me a few dollars if I walk in the City.

Regards

Justin Miles
http://www.midafricam.co.za/4/

Fortunately living in Paradise on the Garden Route about
4 hours away from Cape Town, the crime is relatively low
here in the George, Knysna, Mossel Bay area.
We have an occasional house breaking. If you see the images
from the Vic Bay webcam, the area offers alot of activity from
Para gliding , abseiling,canoeing, horse riding, moutain biking through
the forests.

"Nico van der Dussen" wrote in message
...
Hi,

just returned from 3 weeks in Cape Town.

I walked a lot, and can had a nasty incident:

I was attacked by about youths (well dressed - so it could not be hunger
driving them) between V&A Waterfront and the cable car.

It was next to a busy major street at around 16:00.

They attacked me with knob-kieries when I told them I had no money on me
(truth) - I had a bad blow in the ribs, fortunately only damaged muscles.

They scattered when they heard a siren coming down the street. It was an
ambulance.

A minute or so later, a van from the City Policy drove down the street at
a
leisurely speed. I tried to stop it, but they looked the otherway and
drove
past.

Moral of the story:

Cape Town is not safe - even if you take good care and common sense.

The City Police are not interested in taking care of tourists.

So, this was my last vacation in Cape Town. There is enough to do in the
neighbouring areas, and it is much cheaper than Cape Town.

Regards

Nico


"johnneil" wrote in message
...

Hi Larry.

I suppose you realise by now that things are somewhat over-exagerated
when it comes to security in S.A. Common Sense is the name of the
game.

We travel all over S.A. in cities and through the countryside. Just
take the usual precautions as mentioned in previous replies.

Feel free to contact me at if you need any more
personal info e.g. where to go, what to see, where to stay etc.

Regards.


--
johnneil
------------------------------------------------------------------------
johnneil's Profile: 130
View this thread: 56510