Cape Town -safety
 

I am visiting CT in July with my 15 year old daughter. I realize that there is a concern about crime in Cape Town and will definitely take necessary precautions (no jewellery, staying in after dark etc.). However, I just read a forum whereby several tourists explained their terrible experiences with violence and theft in CT and I'm now a little freaked out.

1. Should I not carry a camera at all--even during the day and high traffic busy areas?

2. We are staying at 'An African Villa' and coming in on a pre arranged their hotel transfer- but at 10pm. Can you give me tips about what to be aware of so I don't fall into problems or dangers please. I'm now quite nervous about this portion of the trip.

3. After CT we are doing safari at high end private reserves: Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and Klaserie Sands River Camp. Do I need to be concerned of my belongings and personal safety here as well?

I am a seasoned traveller and don't normally feel apprehensive about unfamiliar places but reading posts on the internet has gotten the better of me. Advice and information would be appreciated.

Thanks.

We were in Cape Town two months ago. Carry the same safety precautions as you would in any major city, which includes not having more money on your than you need, carry your credit card in a hidden pocket, leave your passport in your hotel safe, etc.

Regarding your specific questions:

1. We had no problems carrying a camera around at all times. We carry a small digital camera that can fit in a clothing pocket (a non-descript, non-see through plastic bag would work too) but we saw others with larger cameras, especially at Table Mountain, V&A, and Cape Peninsula. Obviously put your camera away if you are not using it to be on the safe side.

2. If you are being transferred to your accommodations, everything should be fine. Take taxis at night everywhere you go, especially if you are unsure of the area. You can have any restaurant, shop, etc., call you a taxi if you don't see marked ones on the street.

3. Your concerns will be minimal at any of the private reserves. We used those days to let our guard down quite a bit.

Hello,

Not sure where you read this stuff, but with all due respect, I think you are overreacting. To address your concerns:

1) Carrying a camera is fine, especially during the day. If I am out walking about and not actively taking photos, I arrange my camera (DSLR) in its case and don't walk around with it hanging around my neck.

2) The arranged transport from your hotel will be fine, I can't think of anything to be concerned about.

3)Absolutely no issues in private camps to be concerned about.

You don't have to stay in after dark. You just shouldn't go walking around in most areas but some areas such as Long Street and the Waterfront are perfectly fine.

Relax and have a great trip, Cape Town is a beautiful and amazing city.

You should be aware of crime in CPT but it should not cause you to worry unnecessarily. It does exist and some of it is quite awful. Having said that, most tourists will have a trouble free vacation and I agree that there should be no over reaction. I've been going to ZA for over 20 years and so far, no issues.

No need to not go out at night. As the above poster mentioned,walking around the V&A Watrfront is safe (as safe as any public place can be these days), we also walked around Long Street at night & places outside CPT eg Sea Point, Camps Bay seafront where there are lots of restaurants. I can't see there would be any issues in a private reserve or any transportation provided to/from.

No more worried than you would be in San Francisco, I should think. With the extremely favorable exchange rate, you can arrange for a taxi (or possibly even a driver from your lodging) to take you out and back in the evenings for dinner.

I was in CT last August - solo traveler woman of grandmother age - and never felt ill at ease. If I wasn't using my camera, it was in its case. I did not use my iPhone in public - my innkeeper warned me about that. I used a cross body handbag, didn't walk about after dark except very near my lovely little hotel.ninused taxis or a private driver for dinner, and trips too long to walk. In other words, things I would do in any large city. I loved CT - a beautiful city. I was later on safari - a mobile tented safari in Botswana for 10 days. No need for cash at all so I buried it in my duffel bag. All was fine. You are gong to have a wonderful time. Just be sensible. I am jealous because I want to go back!

We were there as 1st-timers last month. We drove in/out of the city & used hotel-approved taxis. I can only echo all of the other posters. Be sensible & you will be fine.

Ian

Hi,

I would recommend the common sense without being too scary about travelling to CT! Just enjoy the town and its attractions and avoid being an easy object of robbery or theft. Avoid walking dark lanes or empty parks, just stay where you should be as a tourist and don't go experiencing in non touristic neighborhoods. If visiting New York, would you go visit the Bronx by night with a camera hanging around your neck? Answer seems easy, right?! So does CT.

No worries about Private Camps, they're more than safe, but again use your common sense and don't leave all your money and cards on the desk in your room during breakfast at the restaurant... Usually these camps count with a safe at their room, where you can store laptops, cameras, etc for your convenience.

Have fun in Cape Town, it's a fantastic city to travel and live!
NextDestinium

The typical tourist areas - Table Mountain, V&A Waterfront, Long Street - are very safe. No need for any precautions. Of course, carry your camera freely.

The problem starts at night outside these highly populated areas. V&A is safe at night, also Long Street. Otherwise, do not wander around town at night. Even for short distances, better take a taxi.

The basic rule is: Where you see many tourists you can behave normal, display your camera etc. However, in deserted areas at night, you are at risk, and hiding your camera won't help.

As said, in private camps you will be perfectly safe. However, when taking an outside shower very early in the morning, you might get eaten by a lion.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...showering.html

Traveller. The case you referring to is Chitake Springs in the Mana Pools area.camping there is more for seasoned campers in totally unfenced surrounds. It's intense and raw. The wilds are earshot distance. A complete takeaway from the luxurious tented camps.This unfortunate individual happened to shower 100 mts away from the camp at around 7pm, which i personally think it's ill-advised & against the plea of his wife. It's completely suicidal.
A harsh environment, poaching and a drought like situation , at that time of the year, is said to have led to this unfortunate accident.

Been a witness to wildlife up close and camping in such beautiful places is exhilarating,but with a 'prayer on you lips '.

OP. Chitake is still safer than CT. Just heed the advice above.

First off, the incident I believe you are referring to was in a township outside Cape Town carried out against tourists on an unsanctiined tour. There is word that it was an "inside job". No one was hurt, just their stuff was taken. Use registered tours and guides.

Please relax - would you go to NYC now that someone left bombs on the streets? A young man was killed in a park nearby here. Should I move? The U.S. has over 80 gun deaths daily - why does anyone ever visit? I'm not sure why (well, maybe I do know) S Africa's crime gets so overblown. We've run into lots of nice people going out of their way to help us and not a single one who meant us any harm. That's after over 75 nights in S Africa and neighboring countries. We self drive, use the national parks, get lost, go to non tourist neighborhoods, shop and eat in local stores.

I've stayed many nights in unfenced safari camps. We do it knowing the risks. The example above is ridiculous. The only people at the camps are employed by the camps. They are not going to hurt or rob you. Silliness. Follow the rules of the camps.

I don't know why I respond to these threads. Do people ask these questions when going to other places? Someone on another website recently returned from Joberg and told us that he was so scared that he was rude to everyone and missed out on enjoying the beginning of the trip because he let the obvious overblown fear mongering get into his head. Just disgusting. Be nice, enjoy the culture and have the time of your life.

Yeah, christa, they do -- on the Europe forum they freak out about "gypsies" every now and then!

"Every now and then"... S Africa forums are filled with "safety" issues. I understand Africa is the least traveled continent and fewer of us have been, but the constant "safety" questions imply some underlying issue. Plus the hypocrisy....

You can't compare going to NY and SFO to going to CPT or anywhere else in ZA, crimewise. If you have never been affected by crime in ZA, then you can afford to have such an opinion as the above poster and dismiss safety concerns.

On our first day in CPT, we managed to burst a tyre and had to take everything out of the back of the car and sit on the verge while DH nobly changed the wheel. No-one stopped, neither to help or hinder us. We drove round completely safely, even to a potentially dodgy area where we collected a new spare in case it happened again.

At night we got in one of the many cabs that were waiting at our hotel and then caught one back from the Waterfront or wherever we'd been. Later in the trip we drove at night but I have to say we didn't stop anywhere save at destination [which we had generally reached during the day] and our hotel and most nights we ate in whichever hotel/safari park we were staying in.

I would in no way dismiss concerns about safety in ZA but if you are sensible, it's unlikely you will have any problems.

I just noticed that the OP started this thread in June and they were going in July.

I wonder how they got on?