Reply to: Anyone going to South Africa

[tim123]

... so if England were playing all of their matches in Jo'burg or Pretoria, would you recommend a visit by 20,000+ fans for the World Cup ?

The problem with the "unsafe" towns is in walking around on your own.

I think a group of 20,000 would be safe

tim

[sunnysan]

To CM

You say stay out of the cities, but isn't that exactly where the football grounds are for World Cup 2010. You seem to back up my point !!

With regards to the world cup, I think you can expect a near military style security presence owing to the high profile nature of the world cup.

IMHO, if you want to watch football you will be pretty safe. Far be it for English football fans to behave badly, but any idiot who goes and gets pissed up and starts fighting or insulting locals may end up with bullet wounds rather than a broken nose or bruised ego.

South African cities have good and bad areas, and if you ask for advice, are not ostentatious in attire, and take all the usual precautions when travelling in a foreign country you will be OK.

Although the odd tourist gets mugged, crime in SA is essentially a domestic issue, with the majority of the murders and rapes etc occurring in the townships, and during burglaries breakins etc.

Anyway, having intimate knowledge of both places, the worst place you are probably more likely to get your bag stolen in Leicester Square.

Why dont you stay here for the rest of your life though, everywhere else in the world is a bit dangerous is it not?

[Cyberman]

Games are in: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Mangaung(Bloemfontein), Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Rustenburg, Tshwane(Pretoria).

Of those Jo'burg is unsafe and Pretoria going that way. PE also not very good but the stadium is at Nelson Mandela Bay about 20 miles away and perfectly OK.

The rest all seem to be OK towns.

tim

... so if England were playing all of their matches in Jo'burg or Pretoria, would you recommend a visit by 20,000+ fans for the World Cup ?

[tim123]

You say stay out of the cities, but isn't that exactly where the football grounds are for World Cup 2010. You seem to back up my point !!

Games are in: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Mangaung(Bloemfontein), Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Rustenburg, Tshwane(Pretoria).

Of those Jo'burg is unsafe and Pretoria going that way. PE also not very good but the stadium is at Nelson Mandela Bay about 20 miles away and perfectly OK.

The rest all seem to be OK towns.

tim

[DodgyAgent]

You say stay out of the cities, but isn't that exactly where the football grounds are for World Cup 2010. You seem to back up my point !!

you represent every reason for not voting Tory in the next election

[Cyberman]

DA,

Go to South Africa. Its a good holiday and great value for money, more so than many other destinations.

Yes there is loads of violent crime , but if you are a tourist you wont see it if you stay out of the cities and dont do anything stupid.

With regards to going to Soweto, like everywhere it has its good and bad bits, but I would not go anywhere like that unaccompanied.

With regards for motive for going to Soweto, some parts would be comparable, to say going to visit a Broadwater Farm estate or Moss Side, or visitng the favelas in Rio, why, unless you get kick from seeing poor people.

You say stay out of the cities, but isn't that exactly where the football grounds are for World Cup 2010. You seem to back up my point !!

[DodgyAgent]

DA,

Go to South Africa. Its a good holiday and great value for money, more so than many other destinations.

Yes there is loads of violent crime , but if you are a tourist you wont see it if you stay out of the cities and dont do anything stupid.

With regards to going to Soweto, like everywhere it has its good and bad bits, but I would not go anywhere like that unaccompanied.

With regards for motive for going to Soweto, some parts would be comparable, to say going to visit a Broadwater Farm estate or Moss Side, or visitng the favelas in Rio, why, unless you get kick from seeing poor people.

Thanks for that sunnysan. I have relatives out there and I do intend to go, maybe next year (avoiding the football world cup though)

[sunnysan]

South Africa

DA,

Go to South Africa. Its a good holiday and great value for money, more so than many other destinations.

Yes there is loads of violent crime , but if you are a tourist you wont see it if you stay out of the cities and dont do anything stupid.

With regards to going to Soweto, like everywhere it has its good and bad bits, but I would not go anywhere like that unaccompanied.

With regards for motive for going to Soweto, some parts would be comparable, to say going to visit a Broadwater Farm estate or Moss Side, or visitng the favelas in Rio, why, unless you get kick from seeing poor people.

[pzz76077]

I have some rugger - bu**er friends out there who want me to join them, which I have no intention of doing. They sent me their schedule which includes a trip to Soweto.

Just had an email from a South African friend who when told of this sent me this reply:

I would give the bunny-hugger trip to Soweto a miss – it’s a filthy place

Rugby = almost as boring as football IMO.....

PZZ

[MrMark]

There are apparently tourist bus tours of "The`Troubles" areas in Belfast. The bus was stoned by a gang of youths the other day...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8111673.stm

[threaded]

The local advice is that you should only go to Soweto on an organised trip with an official guide.

Quite why people actually want to do this I can't understand?

tim

Same reasons people visit leper colonies, I guess.

[tim123]

The local advice is that you should only go to Soweto on an organised trip with an official guide.

Quite why people actually want to do this I can't understand?

tim

[ThomasSoerensen]

I have some rugger - bu**er friends out there who want me to join them, which I have no intention of doing. They sent me their schedule which includes a trip to Soweto.

Just had an email from a South African friend who when told of this sent me this reply:

I would give the bunny-hugger trip to Soweto a miss – it’s a filthy place

In my short time there I did not experience anything. I saw poor people yes, but I saw no crime or violence. But the stories from coworkers were scary.
Soweto was surprising. The people seemed quite friendly. But except for seeing Mandelas old house we did not wander around much.

I am not sure I would have a vacation there. But for a short business trip where you only expect to see the hotel and office anyway I would not fear too much.

[Cyberman]

You great big girl's blouse. I bet you're softer than a stripper in an old folks' home.

However, I'd give Soweto a miss unless you're accompanied by an experienced local.

Having been drugged and mugged in Rio I tend to be a bit more careful nowadays.

[realityhack]

There is a lot of violent crime there and I certainly would not risk it, not even for the World Cup next year.

You great big girl's blouse. I bet you're softer than a stripper in an old folks' home.

However, I'd give Soweto a miss unless you're accompanied by an experienced local.