where should we spend more time in South Africa?

Question

we've got about ten days and don't know whether to spend more time in Johannesburg or Cape Town...


any suggestions on other S. African towns/cities to visit?

Answer 1

Cape Town without a doubt, but do spend some time finding out how you can be safer while travelling around South Africa.
There are definate dos and donts about what, where and how one should do things.

South Africa along with Iraq and Columbia is one of the most violent countries in the world.

If you can, speak to the locals or travel agents about your concerns.
Be safe, there are many tourists who get attacked in South Africa because they go to places or do things that streetwise South Africans would not.
hope this helps
cheers

P.S. If you have any more questions about crime in South Africa or how to keep safe, there are plenty of us South Africans in this forum. Just include the word "South Africa" in your question and we will find you.

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This is for the posting under me and all all the other people living in a fairy tale world behind 7 foot walls, electric fences, burglar bars and alarms with armed response.

Do you honestly think that this is a normal environment and that there is crime everywhere else in the world like South Africa??!

Although I understand your reasons for having to continue to live in South Africa it´s irresponsible to pass on to others what You may think is a normal environment, and I suggest this attitude may backfire on South Africa one day.

Be responsible, warn tourists so that they may take adequate safety measures.

Take a look at these links, it´s a camera on a street corner in Durban, South Africa.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbwbsf64w...


Decide for yourself how normal is this society :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zkqilyfb...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhnflbrc7...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwxsidp3r...

The denialists are not going to like this and neither are those in the tourist industry who prey on the unsuspecting toursists.

Answer 2

Hands down, Cape town is the more beautiful of the two cities. In Cape Town you can visit the wineries, Table Mountain or down to the Cape of Good Hope. All of these places are spectacular. Johannesburg is a landlocked city with lots of crime. However, you can get to Kruger National Park by car or plane. We went by plane and stayed in Sabi Sabi for five days. The animals were wonderful and the vacation was once in a lifetime.

However, if it is just a choice between two cities, go to Cape Town.

Answer 3

If you are only going to be in the city I would say Capetown. However if you want to see the animals I would fly into Johannesburg and then head out to Kruger National Park which is about a 5 hour drive and spend most of my time there.

Answer 4

Hi Eva, I hope I can help you with some suggestions. I have visited many areas of South Africa on numerous occasions with work http://www.visionsofafrica.co.uk (I have a passion for Southern Africa). A few days in Johannesburg can be well spent visiting the Apartheid museum, eating at Moyos (serves food with Ethiopian spices) is an experience often with live music and face painting. Taking a day to visit Pretoria with it's parliamentary buildings is also worth doing. However, a trip to Kruger is definitely a must but drive out via the Panorama Route and visit Mac Mac Falls, Gods Window, Blyde River Canyon before stopping overnight (or 2 is best) at Pilgrims Rest. All these places provide phenomenal vistas truly breath taking. The best place I stayed for game viewing is Savanna Game Reserve. 4 different leopard seen in 24 hrs - 1 male real real close FANTASTIC! Going on to Cape Town, you could do both if you have 10 days all be it a little rushed, the places to see in Cape Town are Cape of Good Hope, Robben island, Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens often has live concerts on a Sunday evening in the summer months. Penguin colonies can be seen at Boulders Beach but there is a 'less touristy' area at Bettys Bay near Hermanus, I'm not sure when you're going but July to November is whale watching from Hermanus but sumptuous seafood can be had for lunch and dinner anyway. A stay in the cape winelands is perfect my favourite place to eat lunch is in Franschhoek at La Petite Ferme pre booking is essential to avoid disappointment. The drive between Hermanus and Franschhoek is over the Franschhoek Pass this is a very scenic drive. In Franschhoek try wine tasting with a difference do it on horse back! or go on foot with the winery's connoisseur. A visit to Spier (stay if you can) is great they support a Cheetah foundation where for a small fee you can go in and stroke them - unbelievable experience. They used to give out certificates for bravery not sure if they still do. There's also a raptor centre that I liked and you will too if you are interested in birds. I fear I am may be giving you information overload feel free to contact me if you would like any further information or help. Have a super trip - I am sure you will.

Answer 5

Cape Town it's that simple.

Answer 6

If it is one or the other, definitely Cape Town.

On the way (to or) back from Cape Hope, go see the penguins. You may also be able to see whales if you are lucky.

Answer 7

Oh, golly...if I had ten surplus days I would go on safari; unfortunately the game reserves in the Western Cape aren't very good, not many animals to speak of.

I love the Cape Town area because there is such a good variety of things to do. But what you do depends largely on who you are. You haven't said whether you are a couple, young or old, or if there are children with you. For example, you might enjoy the wine valleys if you are a couple; if you are young-ish, whether or not with children, you would probably enjoy an evening at Moyo (at Spier in Stellenbosch). Young and old enjoy seeing the penguins at the Boulders, but children are not that enamored with the drive down there. Everybody enjoys the pristine beaches of the West Coast but nobody likes the water except surfers. Nature lovers love Kirstenbosch and the Cederberg; children are unamused.

If you are travelling with kids you definitely have to go to see animals. I have been on safaris with children of various ages and they are always excited and fascinated (and surprisingly, appear to understand the inherent danger so are always very well behaved). And I don't have to tell you about driving with kids - what I do have to tell you is that in South Africa, you don't feel quite as secure stopping along the side of a deserted road for the kids to have a stretch/pee as you would in the US or Europe. Even without the kids, I only stop at petrol stations or resort towns.

If you're saying you have 10 days in total, I would go to either/or. You can't do either justice in that short a period. If it's your first time in RSA, Cape Town is a really good primer. It's got European sophistication and very little crime compared to Jo'Berg (although there is crime, as in any major city, everybody feels just that much more secure in the Cape Town area). Plus, despite the frigid water, you have lots of great beaches within spitting distance/short drive, and loads of options for group day tours should you decide not to hire a car.

My personal recommendations for a self-drive are: 3 days in Cape Town itself, taking in the V&A, Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Gardens (you can do all in one day); a day-trip to Cape Point, taking in Simons Town/Boulders (good fish restaurant near where the penguins are); a day-trip to the Constantia area with lunch, taking in the bird park (yes, it's true, there are hippos there); next day, drive up the West Coast (about 2 hours) staying 2 nights in one of the coastal resorts; cut across to the N7 and drive up to Kamma Kagga, staying for a couple of nights, early morning departure for one of the game reserves in the Little Karoo like Aquila or Inverdoon (1 night), back down the N7, then join the N2 and stay for 2 nights in Franschhoek (spend a day doing wine tastings - the horseback wine tasting tour is great if you are a fairly confident rider; the next day if you fancy get up early and take a hot air balloon ride/champagne breakfast which goes from Paarl), lunch at Seidelberg at Paarl; rest of day at Spier and dinner at Moyo, next morning relaxing, then return to Cape Town in the afternoon for the flight home.

OK, there's a lot of violent crime in RSA. What they fail to tell you is 80% of violent crimes are committed against victims who know their attackers (the vast majority of them are actually family members). Tourists are very rarely targetted; I think they only make up like 1% or 2% of victims. Just be vigilant. Lock your car doors. Keep your handbags and money out of sight. Be observant when taking money out of ATMs and don't let anybody who offers to help you use your card anywhere near - just walk away. Don't walk around at night (except within the confines of the V&A, the upper reaches of the West Coast where the only inhabitants are elderly Boers, or places like Kagga Kamma or the Karoo outback (where nobody lives but there you don't do it because you're likely to encounter some wildlife which bites). Don't wear flashy jewellry or carry big wadges of cash around. Get a South African SIM card and keep your phone out of sight (like in the UK, mobile phones are a popular target for thieves). Don't get so drunk you are helpless. And don't act too paranoid - relax and have fun!!!

NO WAY is RSA comparable to Iraq and Colombia! The poster who has been in RSA for 32 years has obviously not been to Los Angeles or Marseille or any other high crime city and has this silly idea that people don't get mugged at knife or gunpoint in London or Washington, D.C. And we have the statistics to support it.

PS: I strongly recommend lunch at La Petite Ferme (get a table on the terrace); also Seidelberg at Paarl is gorgeous with open-air eating and they do fantastic, authentic Cape Cuisine (La Petite Ferme is modern French with an African twist). The cheetah sanctuary at Spier is a letdown, although adults are allowed to interact with the cheetahs for a fee (pet cubs); the rapter part is a bit boring and IMHO a waste of money. The grounds at Spier are magnificent and you could spend a whole day there just hanging out; there are two very fine restaurants there. Moyo - which is a buffet - is only open in the evenings and booking is essential, it is a blast (although I have to warn you I had a funny tummy for a couple of days after eating there). The West Coast is THE place for seafood; Lamberts Bay is the Crayfish (lobster) capital of Africa. We went to Isabellas and had three crayfish apiece with veg, rice and salad for 140 rand. Those West Coast sunsets/sundowners are the best, I swear it! Hermanus is good for whale watching in season but a bit of a hike from Cape Town and although the resort is pleasant enough, the restaurants don't specialize in seafood or local food, it's all quiche or pizza or Cuban (!) (I admit I didn't eat at the place on the rocks, it is always jam-packed with "beautiful people" and I hate to queue). Betty's Bay was a disappointment - rather shabby, if you ask me.

Answer 8

I cant tell you...it could be Capetown Durban.....Or the Morgue