To drive or not to drive - need itinerary advice

Old Apr 24th, 2016, 08:29 PM
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To drive or not to drive - need itinerary advice

My husband and I will be visiting Africa for the first time in May/June and plan to spend the last leg of our trip in Cape Town and Winelands. Our itinerary is booked - 3 full days in Cape Town and 2 days in Franschhoek before returning home.

We have a rental car reserved for the Winelands portion, but the more I read about driving in South Africa, the more concerned I've become. Not only are we not accustomed to the right-hand drive, but it sounds like road-related crime is a very real issue.

Assuming we can shift out plans, would it be better to stay the entire time in Cape Town and perhaps book a day excursion to Winelands and let someone else do the driving?

Or am I over thinking this?

Many thanks in advance for your advice!
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Old Apr 24th, 2016, 10:14 PM
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I have driven all over S Africa without any issues. None. There's lots of fear mongering out there. Just be careful in the winelands - the blood alcohol level for dwi is almost zero so don't drive if enjoying wine. Use common sense - like everywhere in the world! - and you will be fine.

I don't like driving in cities much anywhere. In Cape Town use the HopOn HopOff bus and Uber or cabs and walk for in city attractions. For day tours to the Cape of Good Hope (and don't miss the cute as all heck penguins!!), hire a driver or drive yourself. As with most cities, having a car can be more trouble than it's worth.

We rent a manual transmission car and it's pretty easy. If you are unsure, there's really no reason to drive. The winelands are pretty but I enjoyed the city more. Three days isn't much to enjoy it. A day trip might be enough.

Just remember you are going to taste lots of S African wines during your travels in Southern Africa - they are very proud of their wines and most restaurants and lodges have extensive wine lists. You can get most S African wines at home - just order through a local larger wine shop. I can get anything I want, and it's much less expensive and quicker than shipping it home from a winery. Don't forget to try the Amarula. Yum! Really good in coffee, especially on a morning game drive... Oh, can't wait to go back!
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Old Apr 25th, 2016, 09:29 AM
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I've been to South Africa about 5/6 times and each time I rent a car. I only had one issue when a group of guys were hanging around the traffic lights (or robots as they are called there) and one sat on the hood while we were waiting at the red signal, asking for money. It was rather unpleasant but we drove off once the lights changed.

If you keep to the well beaten tourist areas which the winelands are, you should not encounter any issues. I've driven in Cape Town, Joburg and Durban including driving from Joburg to Durban. Even though we had that issue, I would definitely rent a car again, I can't imagine being in SA without independent transportation and I would rather drive myself than get in a taxi. But the freedom of having your own car far outweighs any risks IMO.

We do drive at night but only to restaurants etc, again places that are on the tourist trail or other popular places. When you park your car, someone will normally ask for a small amount of money to look after your car or someone might help you find a space and then ask for some coins.
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Old Apr 25th, 2016, 01:38 PM
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Thank you both so much for your quick and thorough replies! Seems I am overthinking this and appreciate your calm voices. We're quite accustomed to driving in LA so don't know why I've allowed myself to get so spooked! Best wishes to you!
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Old Apr 25th, 2016, 01:55 PM
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We will be driving a lot on our next trip. Joburg to Kruger through Swaziland to KZN, to the coast, and back to Joburg. We drove the Garden Route last time (in 2012) and we also drove on our first visit - winelands, then Hermanus, then back to the airport. The biggest challenge for us was driving on the "Left" side of the road, and with the driver and passenger seats reversed. But you do get used to it.

Only oddities are if parking in a lot, or even just along the street in a tourist area, someone may ask to watch your car for you. Tip them (a 1zar coin will do) and they will make sure no one lets air out of your tires, etc. or parks you in too closely.
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Old Apr 25th, 2016, 03:44 PM
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^ Thank you! I confess, I'm the navigator. I always recruit my husband to drive when the sides are flipped! We've taken some harrowing drives on British back country roads!
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Old Apr 25th, 2016, 08:36 PM
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Just a note about the parking guards. The custom is to tip them when you return (not before) if your car is still there and in one piece. 2 ZAR is the going rate. At the petrol stations 5 ZAR is greatly appreciated and you will get your windows washed as well.
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Old Apr 27th, 2016, 02:01 PM
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It was a few years ago, but we rented a car for 10 days or so in SA and the worst problem we had was a puncture on the first day. We had to take all the luggage out of the car, and the kids and i say with it while poor DH changed the wheel. Having read and heard the same sort of horror stories we were quite apprehensive, but no-one stopped [to help or hinder] and when DH had finished, we got back in the car and drove off.

We also tipped the unofficial car park attendants when we returned to our cars, and at petrol stations.

We've taken some harrowing drives on British back country roads!>>

I suspect that the chances of someone sitting on your car at traffic lights is a little less.
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Old Apr 27th, 2016, 05:57 PM
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It was pretty scary to drive in NYC and the Burroughs in the '80's and '90's. Most of us didn't stop at lights (lights are called robots in S Africa). The squeegee guys, the carjackings, general mayhem. My husband worked in a not so great area of town (beautiful now, same cultures) and was threatened by men with guns too often. I don't remember travelers being too concerned about visiting NYC. Driving in the Cape Town area is a piece of cake. Just use the same common sense applicable everywhere - even on back country roads.

If you rent a car, take the additional windscreen and tyre insurance. Or add car rental to your travel insurance (and don't leave home without medical/evac insurance!). We got a flat too. And a cracked windshield. You don't want to have to pay for a tyre or window when the insurance is about $2/day. I'm not sure if they have AAA in S Africa, but we did call the rental co and they will come to change a tyre. We were in the middle of nowhere and it would have taken too long to wait so changed it ourselves (well, my husband did). One guy did ask to help but he was almost done. If you drive down to the Cape of Good Hope (highly recommended!!) be careful of ostrich and other wildlife in the roads. Yup, ostrich! Where else does that happen?
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Old Apr 27th, 2016, 11:43 PM
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AAA in South Africa is called the AA (Automobile Association) and their website is https://www.aa.co.za/. They provide all types of roadside assistance for members e.g. changing tyres, fixing other car problems and sending a security guard if you feel unsafe. If you are not a member they will still assist if you have car trouble but you have to pay a lot more or become a member on the spot. It looks like they have insurance for foreigners visiting South Africa as well.
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Old May 2nd, 2016, 09:27 PM
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Excellent advice, all, thank you!

Christabir, I also remember visiting NY in the 70s and my aunt cautioning us to lock our doors on the freeway! I couldn't imagine what she thought was going to happen!
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Old May 2nd, 2016, 11:14 PM
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You should lock your doors when you drive your rental car in South Africa, even in the Cape Town area.
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Old May 3rd, 2016, 08:48 PM
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ktblax - yeah, if you broke down on the Cross Bronx Expressway in the '70's or '80's, just walk away. The car would be stripped down to its carcass in less than 5 minutes. And then sometimes torched and left for weeks. It is the main highway to the George Washington Bridge, not a minor road! Your aunt was likely thinking you'd hit traffic and forget to lock the doors. It was that bad. My how times have changed...

It's not like that in S Africa. If you drive with the windows open, don't leave your bag on the seat or valuables in plain view, keep your luggage in the boot. Just don't invite trouble, but don't worry too much. Tip the parking kid and the person who pumps your gas and washes your windows.
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