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How safe is it for a woman travelling on her own around South Africa?
Hi everyone,
I'm planning a trip to South Africa over winter (Summer in South Africa) during my December and January break. I'll be travelling around the country on my own. I'm a 26-year old young woman. How safe will it be for me to travel through South Africa, are there any areas I should avoid?
My vague itinerary:
Land in Johannesburg - see Soweto, and the Apartheid Museum.
Travel to the Kruger National Park - stay at a bush camp and see the Big Five
Travel back to Johannesburg and then fly to Durban - visit the beaches and St Lucia
Back to Durban and fly to Cape Town - more beaches, Table Mountain, Cape Point, Robben Island, wine tasting.
Hire a car and drive to Knysna and then to the Eastern Cape.
Return to Cape Town before flying home.
Will it be safe for me to drive on my own? I've heard about people that have been robbed at gunpoint or mugged...which city is the most dangerous?
I'm planning a trip to South Africa over winter (Summer in South Africa) during my December and January break. I'll be travelling around the country on my own. I'm a 26-year old young woman. How safe will it be for me to travel through South Africa, are there any areas I should avoid?
My vague itinerary:
Land in Johannesburg - see Soweto, and the Apartheid Museum.
Travel to the Kruger National Park - stay at a bush camp and see the Big Five
Travel back to Johannesburg and then fly to Durban - visit the beaches and St Lucia
Back to Durban and fly to Cape Town - more beaches, Table Mountain, Cape Point, Robben Island, wine tasting.
Hire a car and drive to Knysna and then to the Eastern Cape.
Return to Cape Town before flying home.
Will it be safe for me to drive on my own? I've heard about people that have been robbed at gunpoint or mugged...which city is the most dangerous?
0
Comments
Regards
I lived in SA for 40 years and finally left ...due to violent and senseless crime.
My advice...is do not travel alone, do not hire a car and BE VERY CAREFULL.
South Africa is a beautiful country ...but sadly, rape,car hijacking,murder,mugging and robbery...are EXTREMELY HIGH.
So go but TRAVEL IN A LARGE GROUP> SAfety in numbers.
TAKE CARE out there.
I currently live in South Africa and while I do not disagree with the previous commenter's experience I'd like to say that you'll be fine travelling here.
South Africa is an amazing place and provided you go in with the right positive mindset you're sure to get the most out of your trip. I'm a single woman and I've travelled around the country on my own many times to a whole range of different places both remote and in the larger cities and I've had nothing but positive experiences with people.
I think that you should always bare in mind that like most countries crime does happen, be it petty theft or violent crime. If you take the usual precautions and use common sense you'll be fine and you'll get to experience this really beautiful country properly.
Hope you have a great trip.
But at the same time, many people travel their whole lives without a hitch, it is all about being sensible and sometimes taking a step back and think of where you are.
Land in Johannesburg - see Soweto, and the Apartheid Museum.
- 80% chance of getting hichjacked / Raped.
This statistics is due to Anti-Apartheid, else it would have been a save country.
Travel to the Kruger National Park - stay at a bush camp and see the Big Five -
5% Chance of being caught by a wild animal.
However there is a company called City bug to transport you from Airport to Nelspruit where you can hire a car.
Travel back to Johannesburg and then fly to Durban - visit the beaches and St Lucia - Beautifull places
- 50% chance of getting murdered
Back to Durban and fly to Cape Town - more beaches, Table Mountain, Cape Point, Robben Island, wine tasting.
50% chance of getting mugged
Hire a car and drive to Knysna and then to the Eastern Cape. Farely safe
Return to Cape Town before flying home. Good idea
Of course there is a risk of crime in South Africa, especially when you travel alone. But one of the best things about the country is how easy it is to make friends along the way.
come one, come all,South Africa is the country for making businesses and is the country which loves all those who loves it,In South Africa we got independence in 1994 but there is no fight no matter the Afrikaaners were treating our parents bad,as youth,we are just one nation,we just try the way of surviving by studying and work wherever we want. if you also come and get better education and do whatever with main purpose ofdeveloping,"let me tell you deveolpment is not only by doing even by talking", you are welcome and you will get enthusiastic excitement from South Africa
by Luvuyo Cebo
South Africa is a great country to visit, and your itinarery sounds like it covers most of the must-see places! Do not obsess about your safety, just take the normal precautions that you would take had you visited any other country, such as not walking around or parking in deserted and poorly lit areas at night. You should be fine!
There is a reason I'm not in South Africa anymore. Yes it is a beautifull country but there is only two ways you visit it.
1.You go with a tourgroup
2.Get life insurance your family would apreciate the payout.
Anyway, I can go on for days but my point is- you have to BECAREFUL wherever you are and like your mama taught you "Don't talk to strangers".
To the original poster: Go on & enjoy South Africa, I was there for three months visiting and I was safe and so are my friends and family. Just watch your back and don't flash $$$; as you wouldn't anywhere else in the World!
I, too, will be seeking your tips on safe travel, accommodations etc., as I will be flying into Johannesburg in October for two weeks throughout SA.
Here's where I do have transportation all ready arranged from friends: From the airport to Pretoria and at sites within Pretoria (close by) and I will have accommodations that they arrange that are safe. And, once I arrive into Port Elizabeth, friends who will also provide guest accommodations on their personal property with private security already in place.
Now, Here are my concerns:
1).Travel from Pretoria into Limpopo province (taking in Kruger and other magnificent sites)...and travel within Limpopo (around Polokwane, around Kruger and to a reputable bush camp in the Oliphants area (Royal Oliphants Lodge - fortunately with group safari guides added into the camp package). I will be alone staying at the Lodge, and in these occasions of travel and sightseeing (except for the guided safari from the bush camp, The Big Five, etc).
2). I must travel alone from Pretoria into Port Elizabeth to meet up with my friends. Honestly, I am quite nervous about this...and I am quite experienced in traveling. I have to make sure it's during the day (of course) and I hope I don't get lost (I'm pretty good with directions, etc. Is an easy trip...straight forward or can one get lost easily?).
3).Also, I will visit certain parts of the Cape while staying in Port Elizabeth, so my travel from Port Elizabeth into the Cape...and around the Cape....and of course, back to Port Elizabeth. (can these feasibly be day trips?) I will want to walk around Cape Town...and look out over the Cape (Cape Point with it's magnificent views).
4). Then, finally, From Port Elizabeth back in to Johannesburg for my flight back to the USA. Can this be done in a day ...and in daylight hours in October?
Okay, safest mode of transportation in these scenarios? Anything else I need to know that I haven't considered?
Assuming you are willing to provide it, can't tell you how much I appreciate any help and information from you. Thank you so much!!
As for prices, if you book in advance, a flight on Kulula.com from Johannesburg to PE will cost around R600 ($100) one way, whereas the petrol alone would cost around R900.
Thank you so much for taking the time to offer suggestions. I do appreciate it.
The idea about plane travel to the Cape area is excellent. However, I would fly into Port Elizabeth from PE, instead (where my "hub" base and accommodations are arranged). Then, from Port Elizabeth to Cape is hours? Wow. That was the area I had not researched, yet. Staying in Port Elizabeth as that is where my business consults are located...and wanted to do some sighting for a day or so at the Cape (Cape Point, specifically) while staying in Port Elizabeth. For the excursion from Port Elizabeth to Cape town and then back, is train travel and option in that area vs. plane or rental car? (then I can rent a car while in Cape Town, stay the night or two there and take the train back to Port E.) If so, is it a fairly safe mode of travel? If local plane fare is so inexpensive, that might indeed be an option vs. train...but, I would like to know if it exists as consideration.
Thank you again so much!
There isn't much in the way of train travel in South Africa, and those that are available are either cheap, filthy and not very safe; or ridiculously expensive and very slow. I would echo Dave's suggestion that you rather fly to get the most out of your time. There are several local budget carriers like Kulula that will even sell you a flights + rental car package.
Everywhere we went we were constantly warned about crime and personal danger. We did not experience any threats or have any bad experiences. We drove to Madikwe and back to Jo'burg, and also drove from Cape Town to Wine Country and around False Bay. Although we were more cautious than normal (we do, after all, live in an urban, mixed race, and relatively speaking high crime community in the US), the constant emphasis upon personal safety in South Africa creates a level of anxiety which I have not experienced anywhere else on my travels. My assumption is that the concerns are valid --- everyone knows someone who has been attacked, robbed, raped --- but also that the fears are exaggerated. South Africa is a county in a cultural/societal transition and a country with enormous economic disparity. It has no established "normal" and no history of a legitimate police force. It will probably take a long time for any sense of security to occur in South Africa.
By the way, as incipient senior citizens, we were probably good targets for any spontaneous or orchestrated criminal efforts. Or perhaps we looked too dilapidated/frail for anyone to make the effort to accost us?
if u like the climate it would be quite enjoyable for u..
thanks for sharing a great information.......
I've taken many spur-of-the-moment trips, and even run into some difficulties, and have always found people willing and eager to assist. The police in South Africa are much better than many other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and whatever their faults they take crimes against tourists very seriously.
It's always a good idea to have a basic plan for itinerary and accommodation when you travel (this South Africa travel guide can help), but remember that backpackers and hotel staff have a vested interest in keeping you safe, and usually have the best advice on which areas of the city to avoid.
Many thousands of tourists travel to Cape Town and Joburg every year without incident. I come from a similar place in the US originally, but have lived in South Africa for nearly a decade and would not hesitate to tell anyone in my family to come visit. South African expats especially love to bang on about how the country is unsafe, corrupt, and a generally terrible place, but those of us who are here love it for what it is. If you follow some very common-sense guidelines, you'll have no trouble:
-Listen to the locals (hotel staff, etc) as to where you should and should not go.
-Avoid walking around at night (exceptions are tourist-friendly places like the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.
-Do not wave around expensive cameras and jewellery when out in public (you can definitely take pictures with nice cameras, but put them in a bag when not in use).
Please don't cancel your trip, you'll have a wonderful time and come back with amazing memories of an unforgettable trip! Feel free to ask any specific questions you might have, I'll do my best to help you.
I grew up in one of the most violent residential areas in Cape Town, Mitchells Plain, which is actually considered a township and not a "regular" residential area. I have never felt that my life was in danger. MOst of the violent crimes in our townships are related to gang violence and drug abuse, these do not affect tourists. The common crimes tourists should be aware of which occur in Cape Town are petty crimes such as pick pocketing and possibly "smash and grabs". The smash and grabs occur at traffic intersections in or around townships and mostly occur when a female is alone in her car and has something clearly visible like a handbag or cellphone on the front or back seat.
Walking around in tourist hot spots are definitely safe. If you dont plan on going into a township then you will be perfectly fine, chances of getting robbed are almost non-existant at tourist hotspots. You should be concerned about pick-pocketing in the CBD so keep your valuables safely packed away in your backpack or travel bag.
Hiking alone is not a good idea no matter what country you are in so hike in groups, there have been a number of incidences where tourists have been robbed while hiking alone...robbers will generally approach you and ask for your money and cellphone. Easiest way to avoid this is hike in a group, dont carry loads of cash on you, dont flash your cellphone out and about, but like I said...in a group you would be perfectly fine. If you are ever faced with a situation like this its best to just hand over what they ask for and move along...in fact a fun way to solve it would be to keep some small cash somewhere LOL like R10 or something so if they approach you that's what you hand over LOL, its not a traumatic experience at all if you handle it properly and stay calm of course.
Most tourists want to see our townships and I would say the best way to do so is to go with a local person. Especially in Cape Town. Walking around in a township is fine actually especially if you're in a group, most of the people and kids in townships find tourists super interesting LOL and they will stare at you and talk to you and want to pose for photographs haha. A lot of the people who live in our townships barely ever get out of the township especially kids, which is why they are so fascinated by tourists, I have met people who have never seen the ocean yet they live 10min drive from it, people who have never seen the city yet a taxi is R10 to the city and a train even cheaper. If you're with a local person you'll have a blast of a time and they'll be able to take you to all the interesting spots. Sometimes it could be sad to see how most of the people in our townships live but overall its an eye opener and definitely a fun and exciting, colorful culturally diverse trip for a tourist.
because of its great value for money and tourist-friendly
infrastructure.