South Africa 15 days
Indice
If you are organizing your trip to South Africa, it is likely that, like us before our trip, you are asking yourself a lot of questions about whether South Africa is a dangerous destination. Today we tell you our experience and recommendations.
The first thing to tell you is that this feeling is totally normal. You only have to surf the web or read some of the news, for your fears about traveling to South Africa to surface. But, is South Africa a dangerous destination?
It is true that we cannot deny the obvious and South Africa is not an example of safety. But as with most destinations, it all depends on how and where you move. We know that the crime rate in some South African cities is high and that muggings and robberies are common. However, it is also true that the authorities are aware of this and that tourist areas are heavily guarded. This helps to gain confidence and security when you walk the streets.
After our Safari days in Kruguer Park, we returned to Cape Town. During our trip we had only one uncomfortable situation, and that was walking around the City Hall area of Cape Town. I forgot the recommendations and didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to take my camera out to take a picture of the city.
Cape Town dangerous
South Africa is not as unsafe as it may seem, but you do have to be careful where you go. Logically poverty gives rise to situations that can become violent. South African society is still very macho, but, from my experience, with tourists they are extremely respectful.
South Africa also has extensive plantations of bananas, oranges, macadamia, mango, rubber and pine among others, which makes it self-sufficient in that sense. Despite being the world’s largest producer of gold and oil, and having made impressive advances in communications, technology and mining, apartheid has always been an obstacle to its full development. However, the country still has a strong inequality between classes: the cities are similar to Western ones from the inside, however, when you go out to the outskirts, you will find huge townships (slum cities).
To visit Johannesburg and the Cape Town Peninsula, I highly recommend the red tourist buses. Yes, you read that right! I am not a big fan of them, but it is true that, in these cases, they make up for a lot because some places of interest are really far away from each other and inaccessible otherwise. They are cheaper than in Europe (about 12-15 euros), they have several tours around the cities, the guides are very well elaborated (they are interesting to learn more about the country) and they allow you to get on and off as many times as you want.
Itinerary South Africa 15 days
Of course, you must have your passport in force before traveling to South Africa, a document that must meet these two requirements: It must have an expiration date of at least 30 days after the date of departure from the country and have 2 blank pages.
Malaria treatment is advisable if you are going to visit risk areas, located in the northeast of the country, such as the Kruger Park. In the big cities there is no risk of being bitten by the mosquito that transmits the disease.
Being located in the southern hemisphere, the seasons in South Africa are the opposite of those in Europe. Winter in South Africa, which runs from June to September, is dry and not too cold. This is the best time to enjoy the wildlife. The vegetation is less lush and the animals concentrate on the rivers to drink. In addition, the southern whale begins to reach the coast. It is also a good season for outdoor activities and sports.
The South African spring is from September to November. Temperatures rise during the day. It is a season that allows us to see beautiful landscapes full of flowers, such as those of the West Coast National Park, about 90 kilometers from Cape Town.
Johannesburg
Surely you have heard that Johannesburg is a dangerous city and maybe if you are currently considering visiting South Africa, you are asking yourself a lot of questions. Before we go, we also ask ourselves: is South Africa a dangerous country… to travel with a baby?
For anyone who thinks we are somewhere between relatively irresponsible and extremely foolish, it must be said that since we are traveling parents, “we are afraid”. It’s unavoidable. If you are already afraid of your child falling on the swings in the square next to your house, imagine what it means to go to a city as “dangerous” (ahem) as Johannesburg or to go to a National Park like the Kruger… so full of animals, mosquitoes and various dangers. As an initial approach, we can’t deny that it is a bit scary, but we already learned in Colombia that everything is less complicated, dangerous and difficult than it seems.
But… since when does fear have to be an obligatory brake to stop doing something you want to do? Is it a better solution to stay locked up at home to avoid dangers? Does that ensure that nothing happens to you 100%? What’s more… is it good “that nothing happens to you”?