BootsnAll Travel Community

Greetings.

I will be traveling around Southern Africa in two months and I have a few specific questions.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

The trip will go something like this: Johannesburg, Capetown, Windhoek, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Victoria Falls, Gaborone, Johannesburg


1) I am landing in Johannesburg. I believe that I need to take a taxi from the airport to the Park Transit Bus Station where I can pick up a long distance bus. Is this bus station relatively safe or pretty shady? Is there a hostel nearby in case I can't get a bus the same day or is it possible to sleep in a waiting area inside the bus station?

2) Is Durban a really cool place? I was wondering if it's worth stoping there first (Johannesburg, Durban, Capetown, etc.)? Advice?

3) I have heard of attacks on tourists along Namibia's Golden Highway in the Caprivi Strip. Has anyone been there recently or have any updated info of the situation there?

4) To travel from Victoria Falls back to Johannesburg, I was planning on taking the train from Vic Falls to Bulawayo, then on to Gaborone, then Johannesburg. Is there an easier way, other than flying? Is it safe to be traveling through Zimbabwe these days? How would you recommend getting from Vic Falls to Johannesburg?

5) I am a male with really long hair. It is always pulled back, and I dress respectfully. Do you think the hair will cause problems with people in any of the places I have mentioned above?

Thanks again for your thoughts. Answer one question or all, anything helps.

Have a good one,

Mark
(RollAway)

I'll answer the questions that I can...

2) I really enjoyed Durban. I didn't travel very much in South Africa, so I can't compare it to Capetown...but it had a good vibe. The Indian market was lots of fun.

4) The fastest (and least expensive) way between Victoria Falls and Jo'burg is two busses...one from Vic Falls to Bulawayo, and the second from Bulawayo to Jo'burg. The train is really fun, but it certainly isn't the quickest way to get from A to B.

Cheers,
Random

1) I wouldn't recommend sleeping in the station. Bus and train stations in South Africa are very dodgy.

1) the bus staion in joburg was pretty shady you can catch busses from other points as well -probably even from the airport. Downtown joburg is not the safest place check out www.greyhound.co.za for pick up points
Oh the bus trip down from joburg to durban was relly great - amazing scenery along the way

2) Durban is great. The whole natal south coast is beautiful and warm. There is also the largest shopping mall in the whole of the southern hemisphere in durban... Definately worth checking out durban - Scottburgh just down the coast is great - but my grandad used to live there so I am biased, Margate is a holiday place too, St Francis Bay is nice looking have never been there but I have an aunt who is there she runs boat charters or soemthing to see the whales and sharks or whatever - it is on teh garden route I believe - it is one of the only places in afirca with canals running through it - looks neat

5) i saw quite a few white men with long air in South Africa so I don't think it is a problem

1) I am landing in Johannesburg. I believe that I need to take a taxi from the airport to the Park Transit Bus Station where I can pick up a long distance bus. Is this bus station relatively safe or pretty shady? Is there a hostel nearby in case I can't get a bus the same day or is it possible to sleep in a waiting area inside the bus station?

answer : there is a hostel in Rosebank - Dunkheld. I dont know what the number is. But if you do look for a hostel look out for one that is in Rosebank.
If it is the same station that I think it is - just keep an eye out.

2) Is Durban a really cool place? I was wondering if it's worth stoping there first (Johannesburg, Durban, Capetown, etc.)? Advice?

answer : Its cool - but not the best for me. If you want something a little safer and a bit more chilled, go to Umhlanga or Ballito, they are about 20 minutes drive from Durban. Not too touristy but very small coastal towns. Good clubs, nice accomodation .....
as sponpeg said - St Francis Bay - is the best place - not for night life - but for the chilled atmosphere - lagoons - dammit I want to go there right now - stuck in London

3) I have heard of attacks on tourists along Namibia's Golden Highway in the Caprivi Strip. Has anyone been there recently or have any updated info of the situation there?

answer : cant help you. Namibia is relatively safer than the rest. If you are in a big group should be cool. By your self - an eye out.


) To travel from Victoria Falls back to Johannesburg, I was planning on taking the train from Vic Falls to Bulawayo, then on to Gaborone, then Johannesburg. Is there an easier way, other than flying? Is it safe to be traveling through Zimbabwe these days? How would you recommend getting from Vic Falls to Johannesburg?

answer : please stay out of Zim, rather not, no, no, no.
All my friends go through Botswana to Vic Falls. That fuck Mugabe has fucked up a beautiful country, people and it had a great economy. There is no bread, milk. Most of the people come to S.A to buy all the food. And those who do buy bread - buy it on the black market.
FUCK THAT PIG MUGABE.

5) I am a male with really long hair. It is always pulled back, and I dress respectfully. Do you think the hair will cause problems with people in any of the places I have mentioned above?

answer : No, no problem at all.

e-mail me if you need anything else on empire_a@ananzi.co.za
Im in Wimbledon in London - so Im not in SA at the moment, but as i said - just ask

Caio

Andrew

"catch you on the flip side"

First of all I would advise you to forget about JO BERG and check out Pretoria instead I stayed in the Pretoria backpackers which has to be the most comfortable backpackers I have ever been in.They will also pick you up from the airport.
Before this I always stayed in Jo berg and got sick of backpacker managers telling me not to do anything but drink in their bar take their day trips etc.
Secondly I would advise you to think about getting to Vic Falls through Botswana. You can get a Intercape bus from Pretoria or if you insist Jo berg, to Gaborone the capital then another bus or night train to Francistown Then from Francistown to Kasane another bus. From Kasane you can easily hitch to Vic Falls as it is only an hour away.
The reason I advise you to take this route is that Zim is getting a bit scary I have heard reports of police taking foreign currency from tourists to buy fuel for army vehicles.
I was in Zim in 97 everything was safe and sound as a pound. The last time I went I got a reasonable or unreasonable amount of hassle in 2002.
On the other hand people in Botswana are very friendly and I have never experienced problems on public transport.Plus a day trip to Chobe National Park is a never to be forgotten experience.
I was also in the Caprivi Strip last year again no worries there the situation has calmed down completely.Why not check out the Himba people in the North West of Namibia definately my favourite place in the region.
I have travelled extensively in Southern Africa over the last 6 years so any more questions or Queries don't hesitate to ask
Happy travelling in one of the most top areas in the world
Matengu

itu matengu

I did a month and a half in South Africa and it was amazing! You should definately go to Durban, I loved it there! I would miss out Johannesburg, its not a very safe place and I didn't like it there at all! Also I would definately advise against sleeping at he bus/train station, find a cheap hostle! Hope that helps! Have a great trip!

I also went immediately to pretoria, skip johannesburg. allthough I had a 1-day trip to soweto, that was very interesting!

We missed out Jo'burgh as we had been advised it can be dangerous, we went straight onto Durban - a fabulous place, but again can be dangerous at night, the same as any large town.

quote:

Originally posted by Chocaholic:
We missed out Jo'burgh as we had been advised it can be dangerous, we went straight onto Durban - a fabulous place, but again can be dangerous at night, the same as any large town.

I'm happy to read that more people are visiting Durban and not giving it a miss, it is a fabulous place!

Check out threads in the South Africa Forum to get more info on things to do in Durban and the rest of SA for that matter!!