BootsnAll Travel Community

hi all

a good friend of mine is heading to a rural township just outside cape town to spend a couple of months teaching in a local school. i am thinking of meeting up with her at some stage. there are always reports in travel guides etc about various dangers in these areas. Any advice from south africans that can help separate the fact from the fiction and provide any useful tips would be appreciated..

Cheers

Benno

Hey I am not a South Frican but have been a volunteer in Cape town for over a month now. Any way it may be helpful if you would list specific dangers that you are worried about so that someone can sort you out. Is it relating sepecifically to the townships, Transportation. perhaps specific areas of the city?

Hi Benno. Im a South African living in Cape Town, and from a safety point of view, i would not recommend going to any of the townships in SA. Cape Town (and SA) are awesome, but unfortunately we have alot of crime over here. In the townships, the people are pretty much a law unto themselves. If you can get accommodation elsewhere, you will really enjoy it here. Let me know if you have any further questions.

I'm heading down to south africa on tuesday, and had heard that it's not the safest place to travel. I start off in Jo'burg, where I have family, but I'd like to get out to cape town and such. Any advice on how to stay safe, and things like that would be great. I've heard bad things about police and locals in some of the more rural areas, I'm thinking that I'd like to stick to cape town. Also, is ther anybody else travelling in south africa that would like to do some travelling? I'd like to meet up with some other people just to make it that much safer, as travelling in groups tends to do that.

Howzit
I recently went back to S.A. and I as you have been there for a while I am sure you know the everyday dangers. As soon as you travel to a more rural area those dangers are likely to increase(hijacking, robbery, etc). To be blunt, racial tensions are high. If you are white and are travelling to a township be cautious, and don't do it alone. Traveling with somone is a good idea, and I'm sure it will help (a lot) if they know people in the area. I don't know how many items of value you may have with you but just incase you do, don't take them, as it would put you at higher risk. A common way for locals to travel would be the taxis, but I definatly don't recommend those. I am acutally not sure what you should do (the only time I traveled to a township was when I went to Soweto and I had somone take me there), but the transport can be dangerous (not all of the drivers are properly licensed). Over crowed taxis and unlisenced drivers are hazzard, but since they are all over crowed and most drivers underqualified, they are hard to control. Look into buses (but I am skeptical). If you are going into a fairly populated township go to a tourist agency and see if any tours are offered there. They may be able to give you a safe ride there. I hope this helps, and thanks for volunteering in a country that can definatly benefit from it.

Hi guys. Please do not use any of the public transport in SA (especially the local taxi's and trains). It is unsafe to do so, please avoid these forms of transport at all costs. The bus service is still ok, but be alert. Where possible, do not carry any items of value on you (specifically cash, jewelry, camera's, etc). If you need to, try and keep these out of sight. And whatever you do, please stay away from townships. As tempting as it might be, do not give any money to street children. They use the money for drugs and weapons (which they will use on you, without blinking an eye). I am probably being a bit over dramatic here, but rather be safe than sorry. If you unsure about anything, always ask one of the locals for assistance. The people here are friendly and helpful. Just be careful, and i promise you will have an awesome time in South Africa.

Hi guys

Working in the townships is probably not a good idea. I know of a couple of doctor buddies of mine who were hijacked/nearly hijacked a couple years back on the way to a clinic. Life is cheap in the townships, I have seen the results of this attitude in my workplace (emergancy unit). Lots of violence... Keep to the major centres. Guided tours are available for the townships, if you really want to check them out (not much to see, imo). As mentioned, black to white racism is also rife, unfortunately. Girls, don't walk around alone at night.

Speak to the people at the school that you are going to be teaching at. They would be locals and can give you far better advice that anybody else about conditions in that particular place.