Is South Africa/Cape Town Too Dangerous To Travel To On Your Own??

SharpshooterTom

Hi all,

I'm considering a trip to South Africa in february next year. Because I'm tied very heavily to college, I can't go for very long, possibly 10-14 days max (maybe 16 at a stretch).

I'm thinking of a specific area, likely Cape Town.

My parents moved to England and because of which I was born over there so have the misfortune of liking cricket :P (I played when I was young over there).

South Africa have a test match between the 14th-18th february against Pakistan, Newlands in Cape Town is considered the picturesque ground in the world, and a must visit stadium, so I would like to build my trip around this. Half term is also around this time so I have to go then.

However I've read a lot about South Africa and the crime statistics and I know I have to be very well organised and careful if I am to avoid trouble (apparantly).

No one in my family has ever been to South Africa, and we know nobody over there and thus I will be going completely on my own.

I would like to go to Cape Town and spend about 2 weeks there (including the cricket match). Some questions:

How long would I need to spend in Cape Town itself in comparison to the surrounding area?

Is it safe to walk through Cape Town during the day?

Are there any other towns worth a visit in Western Cape?

Thanks for any help

sarkozy

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm considering a trip to South Africa in february next year. Because I'm tied very heavily to college, I can't go for very long, possibly 10-14 days max (maybe 16 at a stretch).

I'm thinking of a specific area, likely Cape Town.

My parents moved to England and because of which I was born over there so have the misfortune of liking cricket :P (I played when I was young over there).

South Africa have a test match between the 14th-18th february against Pakistan, Newlands in Cape Town is considered the picturesque ground in the world, and a must visit stadium, so I would like to build my trip around this. Half term is also around this time so I have to go then.

However I've read a lot about South Africa and the crime statistics and I know I have to be very well organised and careful if I am to avoid trouble (apparantly).

No one in my family has ever been to South Africa, and we know nobody over there and thus I will be going completely on my own.

I would like to go to Cape Town and spend about 2 weeks there (including the cricket match). Some questions:

How long would I need to spend in Cape Town itself in comparison to the surrounding area?

Is it safe to walk through Cape Town during the day?

Are there any other towns worth a visit in Western Cape?

Thanks for any help

It's no the safest country in the world, but for the vast majority of visitors, nothing happens to them. By day, the centre of Cape Town is safe to walk around. For transport (assuming you're not driving) is done by registered taxi, there are long distance bus companies that are reliable and safe, particularly Intercape. There is also the 'Baz Bus', which is a bus for backpackers and drops travellers off at specific hostels.

Rules of thumb are: Don't have expensive things hanging off you, don't walk around dodgy and poorly lit areas, safety in numbers works so make friends, use registered taxis, the cricket grounds will be fine (I went to a cricket match in Jo'burg, walked all the way to the pitch from the hostel, no worries). Basically, don't make yourself look like a target and you won't be. People are nice there, so you can always chat and learn about places you can go/not go. Actually enough of central Cape Town is OK to walk around at night.

And that's what goes for big cities. Rural areas are absolutely fine. I lived near a town called Ladybrand and stumbling home from there drunk at night was OK. Bigger towns/cities like Bloemfontein were generally fine, too.

Ah you'll be grand!

ardmacha

Capetown should be fine, more so than most of SA.

sarkozy

ardmacha wrote: »

Capetown should be fine, more so than most of SA.

'Most'? I don't think so. Other big cities, yes.

SharpshooterTom

Ok thanks for the responses so far guys, I'm thinking about potentially getting near three weeks out of it, what about this for an itinerary.

Fly from Dublin via emirates to Cape Town:

Port Elizabeth (4 days)
Garden Route (5 days)
Cape Town (10-11 days)

Obviously the one that sticks out like a sore thumb there is Port Elizabeth. I'm going to be pretty jet lagged after arriving from Cape Town (and getting another flight to PE) so I don't mind just taking it easy for the first few days. Does anyone know what Port Elizabeth is like? Is it worth a few days?

I'm then considering to do the Garden Route with either a tour company called Bazbus, or Bokbus, for around 5-7 days, which involve plenty of travelling so doing after immediately after jet lag wouldn't be a good idea.

After which I'll be heading to Cape Town for the final 10/11 days. Bare in mind 3-5 days are going to be out watching cricket so that leaves me with 6 days in the place after the cricket.

Is this a sensible itinerary? Again its just a first draft as I find out more about the place. But like I say Port Elizabeth is the one I'm hoping I'm not wasting my time with, I need to relax somewhere after the long flight before I begin my garden route journey so thought it would be a good idea.

sarkozy

Firstly, you won't be jetlagged. I did the Emirates run from Jo'burg and I just felt tired. If you're transiting through Doha, I found the body didn't need to adjust so much. You'll be fatigued, but it won't take nearly as much out of you.

The Bazbus is good, take you through major places of interest, and all the way over to Swaziland if you have time.

I spent a long weekend near PE once. It's OK, not a huge amount to see, unless you're into flying or surfing. The 'wild coast' is nice and all, but the Cape is spectacular. I've heard Jeffreys, Plettenberg and Mossel Bays and Knysna are nicer. Other spectacular places in SA are more inland, I feel. The northern Drakensberg (the bit in Free State and KwaZulu-Natal) has some great hikes (you probably don't have time to pop into Lesotho, but can definitely give you tips on that if you want).

Now, Cape Town is great and there's more than enough to keep you busy. Do remember to do some tour or two around the cape itself. City tours are also excellent (those red buses) and walking tours.

It all depends what you want to get out of it really. If you've limited travel options, then the Baz or Bok and some bus travel (via Intercape services) are your best bet.

Le_Dieux

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

Ok thanks for the responses so far guys, I'm thinking about potentially getting near three weeks out of it, what about this for an itinerary.

Fly from Dublin via emirates to Cape Town:

Port Elizabeth (4 days)
Garden Route (5 days)
Cape Town (10-11 days)

Obviously the one that sticks out like a sore thumb there is Port Elizabeth. I'm going to be pretty jet lagged after arriving from Cape Town (and getting another flight to PE) so I don't mind just taking it easy for the first few days. Does anyone know what Port Elizabeth is like? Is it worth a few days?

I'm then considering to do the Garden Route with either a tour company called Bazbus, or Bokbus, for around 5-7 days, which involve plenty of travelling so doing after immediately after jet lag wouldn't be a good idea.

After which I'll be heading to Cape Town for the final 10/11 days. Bare in mind 3-5 days are going to be out watching cricket so that leaves me with 6 days in the place after the cricket.

Is this a sensible itinerary? Again its just a first draft as I find out more about the place. But like I say Port Elizabeth is the one I'm hoping I'm not wasting my time with, I need to relax somewhere after the long flight before I begin my garden route journey so thought it would be a good idea.

Hi Tom

I lived in PE for 16 years. So feel free to ask any questions You want. What about flying from CT to PE, and then doing the Garden Route backwards? Anyhow, feel free to bounce questions off of me.

Nonoperational

Geat trip. I'd love go be heading off to a test match in SA.