Trip to South Afrika - Safety concerns

Hi all,


We are considering to make a trip through South Africa next September. We
would like to make a "classical tour" including all highlights of South
Africa: the Kruger Park, the Panorama Route, Hluluwe, Durban, the Garden
Route and the Cape.

As this will be our honeymoon trip, we would like te do this trip on our own
by car (domestic flight between Durban and Port Elisabeth). This raises some
safety concerns: Is South Africa safe enough to travel by ourselves? Of
course, we will avoid visiting the townships alone, but what about the rest
of South Afrika?

Please give us some advice, experiences, do's and don'ts etc ...


Thanks in advance,

Steven & Kristien
Belgium

All of us with experience in South Africa will tell you
that you can have a safe and wonderful trip. Driving
yourself across the country is quite manageable, and
the roads you will be using, for the most part, are
very good, and well maintained.

I do recommend not being out on the highways after
dark. Not because of robbers, killers, etc., but because
of bad drivers..!..
Since you are in Belgium, you may be aware of Cbel.
Here's the place to start for travel in South Africa:
http://www.cbel.com/south_africa/

For car rentals, you need a company that will give
you one-way rentals without adding on heavy drop-off
charges, and this would be the place I would suggest:
http://www.avis.co.za/main.asp?ID=920
This is the special offer for foreign visitors, and it may
add drop-off fees that are too large for you to
consider it. But I would still start with it. Maybe they
can give you what you need at a price you like.

I am not a big fan of the Garden Route. Very touristy,
more suitable of busloads of Europeans, not a honeymoon
couple. But if you do make that drive, there are a lot
of neat and romantic B&B's and Guest Houses that would
be very nice places to stay.

There will be a lot more advice coming your way from
others, and I think you will find it quite enthusastic.

In article , Steven
Verstrepen steven@[nosp@m] writes
Hi all,


We are considering to make a trip through South Africa next September. We
would like to make a "classical tour" including all highlights of South
Africa: the Kruger Park, the Panorama Route, Hluluwe, Durban, the Garden
Route and the Cape.

As this will be our honeymoon trip, we would like te do this trip on our own
by car (domestic flight between Durban and Port Elisabeth). This raises some
safety concerns: Is South Africa safe enough to travel by ourselves? Of
course, we will avoid visiting the townships alone, but what about the rest
of South Afrika?

Crime is worse is in the cities not where you will be driving through.
There are thousands of people doing exactly what you are doing every
year without any problems. Just watch where you park your car and don't
leave anything aside. If there is a stereo take it with you. Be careful
even in petrol stations. You are more likely to have a traffic accident
than be mugged or carjacked and you will remember my words when you see
how they drive in South Africa. I had a near-crash experience
approaching Cape Town on the N2.

Having said that, congratulations on your wedding, hope you have a great
honeymoon :-)

--
JohnM
Author of Brazil: Life, Blood, Soul &
Rainbow Diary: A Journey in the New South Africa
http://www.scroll.demon.co.uk/spaver.htm

Hi Steven,


On Sun, 15 Jan 2006 17:03:58 GMT, "Steven Verstrepen"
wrote:


We are considering to make a trip through South Africa next September. We
would like to make a "classical tour" including all highlights of South
Africa: the Kruger Park, the Panorama Route, Hluluwe, Durban, the Garden
Route and the Cape.

As this will be our honeymoon trip, we would like te do this trip on our own
by car (domestic flight between Durban and Port Elisabeth). This raises some
safety concerns: Is South Africa safe enough to travel by ourselves? Of
course, we will avoid visiting the townships alone, but what about the rest
of South Afrika?


We made a trip through SA in 2000 and liked it a lot. We stayed mainly
in guesthouses and had a great time. As for safety, we never felt as
there was any threath eventhough we wandered around about everywhere.
We just made sure we were back in our room around dusk. We did hear
about a couple that was robbed at knifepoint about 50m from our hotel
in Durban though... If you just take normal precausions as you would
do on any trip (or even any Belgian city) you'll be fine.

It seems you're located not far from Gent... :-) I could direct you
to a travelagent wou specializes in SA (they may even be at the
Antwerp 'vakantiesalon')
I have a trip report on my website. Mail me for more info..

You'll enjoy SA!


Bye Maurice
--
Hamradio: ON4BAM / M0CIL / 9H3Z http://www.on4bam.com/
Travelstories from Alaska, Scotland, South Africa,Iceland,
Faroe Isl., Australia, Norway, Svalbard and IOTA activations

Hi,

I didn't see the original post, so didn't respond. I was touring the Kruger
Park - will add some pictures to my web site as soon as I can.

South Africa is not as dangerous as some people make out. One just needs to
be sensible, and not leave things lying around, inviting trouble. It is not
necessary to stay inside after dusk everywhere you go. Discuss the
situation with the people who run the place you stay in, and they'll have an
idea of how safe it is. In the cities you'll find there are no businesses
open in the city centre, so that's NOT a good place to be. But places like
the Waterfront in Cape Town have very strong security, so you should be
fine.

If you need any assistance with bookings, car reservations, etc, I'll be
happy to help you.

Catherine
--
==Not nuts, just a little eccentric==
www.africanbush.co.za
African Bush Tours and Safaris
P O Box 232, Rouxville, 9958, South Africa
Tel (+27) 051 663-0170 or Mobile (+27) 082 490-5485



"Maurice ON4BAM" wrote in message
...
Hi Steven,


On Sun, 15 Jan 2006 17:03:58 GMT, "Steven Verstrepen"
wrote:


We are considering to make a trip through South Africa next September. We
would like to make a "classical tour" including all highlights of South
Africa: the Kruger Park, the Panorama Route, Hluluwe, Durban, the Garden
Route and the Cape.

As this will be our honeymoon trip, we would like te do this trip on our
own
by car (domestic flight between Durban and Port Elisabeth). This raises
some
safety concerns: Is South Africa safe enough to travel by ourselves? Of
course, we will avoid visiting the townships alone, but what about the
rest
of South Afrika?


We made a trip through SA in 2000 and liked it a lot. We stayed mainly
in guesthouses and had a great time. As for safety, we never felt as
there was any threath eventhough we wandered around about everywhere.
We just made sure we were back in our room around dusk. We did hear
about a couple that was robbed at knifepoint about 50m from our hotel
in Durban though... If you just take normal precausions as you would
do on any trip (or even any Belgian city) you'll be fine.

It seems you're located not far from Gent... :-) I could direct you
to a travelagent wou specializes in SA (they may even be at the
Antwerp 'vakantiesalon')
I have a trip report on my website. Mail me for more info..

You'll enjoy SA!


Bye Maurice
--
Hamradio: ON4BAM / M0CIL / 9H3Z http://www.on4bam.com/
Travelstories from Alaska, Scotland, South Africa,Iceland,
Faroe Isl., Australia, Norway, Svalbard and IOTA activations

Hoi Steven,

Safety is not a real problem travelling on your own, even crossing homelands
as there are (Transkei & Ciskei) is our experience.
We visited SA twice. Make use of B&B when travelling (lot of possibilities)
on the route.
Advice: have you made reservations for Kruger NP (necessary) and how long
you will stay there as I can advice you to make use of more than one camp
(depending where you are more wildlife). For the itineraries we did; see our
website below.
If you need specific info let me know.
Have a nice trip,
--
==================================
Lou Andreoli
Human, wildlife & nature photographer
http://www.homepages.hetnet.nl/~louine

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

"Steven Verstrepen" schreef in bericht
...
Hi all,


We are considering to make a trip through South Africa next September. We
would like to make a "classical tour" including all highlights of South
Africa: the Kruger Park, the Panorama Route, Hluluwe, Durban, the Garden
Route and the Cape.

As this will be our honeymoon trip, we would like te do this trip on our
own by car (domestic flight between Durban and Port Elisabeth). This
raises some safety concerns: Is South Africa safe enough to travel by
ourselves? Of course, we will avoid visiting the townships alone, but what
about the rest of South Afrika?

Please give us some advice, experiences, do's and don'ts etc ...


Thanks in advance,

Steven & Kristien
Belgium

We are considering to make a trip through South Africa next September. We
would like to make a "classical tour" including all highlights of South
Africa: the Kruger Park, the Panorama Route, Hluluwe, Durban, the Garden
Route and the Cape.


Steven & Kristien, how may weeks have you got?



As this will be our honeymoon trip, we would like te do this trip on our
own
by car (domestic flight between Durban and Port Elisabeth). This raises
some
safety concerns: Is South Africa safe enough to travel by ourselves? Of
course, we will avoid visiting the townships alone, but what about the
rest
of South Afrika?


Avoid driving in cities at dark (in your rented car). Some areas are safe,
some are not. Make sure that before dark you arrrive where you want to
spend the night. Danger is mainly bad drivers, people and persons walking
next to the roads.


Tip: book a game-drive and a game-walk, this is what most safaris is about.

Regards from the bush in... South Africa.

Corné.

www.amukela.com