Safety
 

Greetings- <BR>We'll be travelling to South Africa in two weeks and I wanted any feeedback on safety. I've read quite a bit and have a good idea on how to play it safe. However, it's always good to get the latest update. Thanks. <BR> <BR>

Daniel: <BR>South Africa is basically safe if you are careful and avoid the downtown area of Johannesburg as well as the Black townships. <BR>Have a great trip! <BR>

Here we go again. <BR>Daniel, if you've read up then you'll know how to conduct yourself. If you'd like to tour downtown Johannesburg and the townships (I recommend Soweto) by all means do so. Whenever I have guests I recommend Jimmy's Face to Face tours for both. It's the best and you will greatly enrich your trip by visiting both areas. Hoping your visit to South Africa is most pleasant.

Well Daniel, I'm going to disagree with the previous two posts. I was there this past July and I think the level of crime and violence is appalling. While the country is beautiful and most of the people warm and friendly, there are enough impoverished, desperate people who will resort to crime to get by. While there, people in our group were mugged at knifepoint in broad daylight. They were not being careless. They weren't very far from the beach/hotel area in Durban and we had to be on our guard the whole time. Part of the trip was spent inland and once again, the locals kept advising us against walking anywhere unescorted. If you do decide to go be very, very careful and don't carry any (I mean any) valuables with you. People will tell you they went and had a wonderful, safe time. Well, I think they played the long odds and got lucky. Take care and be safe.

Daniel, <BR> I'm just back from a month in South Africa and my advice falls between the two views you have received. The level of crime is high in the major cities, decreases as you venture into the countryside, and drops to a very low level in the national parks. Treat the place as you would New York City -- don't look and act like a tourist, avoid poor areas, don't leave anything of value is view, and generally be careful. We worried much about security around Joburg but felt totally safe in Kruger National Park. <BR> jim