Johannesburg And Area For 10 Days

[natalie8]

We just found out a friend of ours is getting a transfer to Jo-burg in June. He invited us to go and we are looking at going in early September, right after the school year starts. Qatar Airways has good prices, so that's not an issue.

We also have friends, with two kids, who are moving to Pretoria area in July, so we will be able to see them too. September will be the start of spring, so the weather should be OK, especially coming from Dubai.

So, can any of you make suggestions on where to go, must sees, etc? We would love to do a safari and I saw on the map that there are a few national parks in the area. If we wanted to also go to Capetown for a couple of nights, what's the best way to get there and how long would it take?

Would we be good to rent a car and drive all these distances, or is it better to take buses / public transport? Also, a question on safety and security in Jo-burg. What's the reality?

Thanks for any help.

[Dillinger]

a question on safety and security in Jo-burg. What's the reality?

horrible place where you will be shot for your mobile phone.

Rapetown's not much better

[wasabi]

Bollocks

[crepitas]

Jo burg was fun during apartheid, bad stories now though.
Rent a car or SUV...Voortrekker monument Pretoria, Kruger National park, Victoria falls, small plane sightseeing,trip on the Zambezi,fish for Tiger fish..
Fly+ renta vehicle...Cape town beautiful ..Table mountain, peninsula baboons, Protea gardens etc. Get googling lassie! Enjoy!

[toslti]

make sure you try a bottle of two of wine from Painted Dog winery.... my best friend from school is the owner and winemaker. Cant get them here in Thailand unfortunately

[mustafa goze]

Not a place I have ever had the slightest desire to visit. Have fun OP.

[bobfish]

Security is the big issue, but don't let that stop you going; just educate yourself. Shopping areas like 4 ways, Sandton safe if you like malls. Day trip to Pilansberg and surrounding area a good recommendation. Can include Sun City if you're inclined.
Further afield, Kruger, Drakensberg etc.
Never been to Capetown, but it's on the list.

[reddog]

public transport on a bus is like thailand, risk taking drivers,hire cars are a good way to get around,but be mindful of car jacking,nice country to look at but do not take risks with your personal security,use your brains and enjoy yourself.

[natalie8]

Jo burg was fun during apartheid, bad stories now though.
Rent a car or SUV...Voortrekker monument Pretoria, Kruger National park, Victoria falls, small plane sightseeing,trip on the Zambezi,fish for Tiger fish..
Fly+ renta vehicle...Cape town beautiful ..Table mountain, peninsula baboons, Protea gardens etc. Get googling lassie! Enjoy!

Thanks for all those tips. I'll start Googling later this week.

[natalie8]

make sure you try a bottle of two of wine from Painted Dog winery.... my best friend from school is the owner and winemaker. Cant get them here in Thailand unfortunately

We'll definitely check that out!! And probably bring back our full allowance of bottles.

[natalie8]

Security is the big issue, but don't let that stop you going; just educate yourself. Shopping areas like 4 ways, Sandton safe if you like malls. Day trip to Pilansberg and surrounding area a good recommendation. Can include Sun City if you're inclined.
Further afield, Kruger, Drakensberg etc.
Never been to Capetown, but it's on the list.

I don't like malls but all the other things you've mentioned sound good.

[natalie8]

public transport on a bus is like thailand, risk taking drivers

That's kind of what I thought it would be like. So vehicle rental will be the way to go.

[natalie8]

Not a place I have ever had the slightest desire to visit. Have fun OP.

SA has been a place that I've always wanted to go for many years.

[withnallstoke]

,trip on the Zambezi,fish

[cyrille]

SA has been a place that I've always wanted to go for many years.

You're talking like a local already.

[toslti]

make sure you get some real biltong and boerewors at a real braii

[FlyFree]

Jo'burg's crap. Not as dangerous as many timid souls like to trumpet in their romantic fervour, just crap. Get out of it asap.

[natalie8]

^^Biltong, yeeesssssssss. And we will try the other thing you mentioned. We can get real SA biltong here, even in the organic from. Both hubby and I love it.

Flyfree, I'll heed your advice. I remember your thread on SA when you went with your wife. I think what we could look at is just spending a couple of nights with our friend, then spending the rest of the time somewhere else.

[bobfish]

Ignore the naysayers, Jo'burg can be quite enjoyable.
Try this link from a cycling friend:
Voyage of Discovery in South Africa, South Africa - NeilPryde Bikes 2014
Alternatively, if you don't feel like pedalling, the Gautrain lives up to its claim of being world class.
I've always found personal tours [VW bus style] very cost effective; friendly knowledgable guides and you can quaff a few wines with the great food... Enjoy

[natalie8]

Thanks bobfish. We're not into bicycling, but hiking would be amazing. Thanks for the link.

[natalie8]

I can't green you, I have to spread the love.

[sabang]

Jo'burg- most of it is Soweto, you basically don't go there. Sandton is the upmarket/ safe/ hotel & biz area- it's Ok, but just another city really. Your friends will have been there a short while, I'd basically let them set the itinerary & show you around. I'd do that for a few days, then head to the cape.
Sun city- the Lost City hotel is nice, the casino crap. I thought it was boring, not a patch on Vegas.
Safari- great experience. well recommended, and there are a few within easy reach of joburg.
Capetown- the place to go. Beaches, wineries, table mountain, the southern cape, quite a multicultural place too. Not exactly undiscovered- plenty of tourists. There are some great drives out of Capetown too, be it the wineries, Indian ocean coast road, southrn cape, or up the Atlantic coast. Good restaurants, nitelife, architecture, even it's own jazz scene- Capetown has the lot, it's one of my favorite cities. Of course, for the 'other' capetown, check out the cape flats on the ride in from the airport (from the safety of your bus window)- it's squalid. Even in CT, watch your back- there are definitely no go areas.

[FlyFree]

Only good thing about Jo'burg is its swinger clubs.


It has crossed my mind that maybe I should clarify my previous comment. Add a caveat, if you will. When I talk about Jhb I'm talking about the greater Jhb area. Jhb central and up into Hillbrow, and maybe the corridor up into Alex are not for the faint of heart, or sane. There be adventure.

[Rural Surin]

a question on safety and security in Jo-burg. What's the reality?

horrible place where you will be shot for your mobile phone.

Rapetown's not much better

Reflective social legacy of a brutal imperialism.

[FlyFree]

We would love to do a safari and I saw on the map that there are a few national parks in the area. If we wanted to also go to Capetown for a couple of nights, what's the best way to get there and how long would it take?

Would we be good to rent a car and drive all these distances, or is it better to take buses / public transport? Also, a question on safety and security in Jo-burg. What's the reality?

Thanks for any help.

Maybe I should try and contribute a lil more, for what it's worth. You seemed keen on seeing SA.

Safari? If you want to see some wildlife I'd suppose Kruger National Park would be the place to go. It's in the Lowveld, well worth a visit. Only about 5 hrs drive from Jhb. Lowveld's great. Kruger should be a good time to visit, still dryish so the wildlife doesn't disappear into the bush so easily. A hired car, a night in one of Kruger's camps or one of the private places around it, maybe a 3 to 4 day excursion at the least.
You may be able to find a tour for that if you're so inclined. Not my cup of tea so no idea price-wise.





That whole area is great (a triangle -roughly- Belfast, Barberton, Blyde river) so time can be spent. Nelspruit the main town. Barberton area's good. Old gold mining areas in the mountains. Up towards the Blyde River Canyon good. Pilgrims Rest old little well-preserved (when I was there) gold mining town, dirt roads, but used to be good roads.

Only alternative for wildlife near Jhb I'd recommend is Pilanesberg, though I'm not sure how much you'll actually encounter. The other small ones are not worth it IMHO. It's by Sun City, a gross plastic heap of shit. Pilanesberg is OK, but it was created by the same rich idiot -for stoopid tourists so you'll find plenty tours there - that did Sun City. Fuk you Sol. Kruger's the real deal but it's big, about 20 000 sq km. Stay in the south if your time is limited. There are also some private game reserves/lodges around Kruger. Sabi Sabi comes to mind. Expensive I think, but they'll make sure you see 'stuff', and give you a great experience.

Cape Town - fly. Unless you can afford the Blue Train. Too far to go comfortably by road on a short trip. Winelands. Plenty all round. Rent a car if you can.