Just been invited to a wedding out there. Good job it's in the middle of February, should be around the 35 - 40 degree mark in and around the Cape Town area. Now I've never been any further south than Oman in the middle east, and thus, never been the other side of the equator, so quite excited!

 

Relations of my sister's better half are getting married in their home town of Hermanus which is about 2hrs drive from Cape Town and is the SA tourist hot spot (so won't be full of European holiday makers!).

 

Just wondering if anyone's spent any time out there. Hermanus looks really nice, Cape Town speaks for itself as being a pretty decent place to go over there.

I would love to go but all the traveling puts me off. They dont seem to live very long over there....

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 48.98 years

country comparison to the world: 209

male: 49.81 years

female: 48.13 years (2009 est.)

taken from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.html

It's only a 12hr flight. That's an hour and a half longer than it is to California.....without the jet-lag.

 

As for the life expectancy rates, only a small proportion are of a white ethnicity, natives are what make up the bulk of the population and its those figures that reflect the life expectancy with a huge number of these living in poverty with no access to good medical facilities.

think your more likely to get shot more than anything lol...... my best friends wifes brother was shot out there along with others lol quite bad crime up there.

Cape Town and surrounding areas are dangerous in comparison to the UK for sure - most folks have BIG walls/fences around their homes, tight security and a big GUN - or DOG - or both!

 

Having said that - it's beautiful - just be careful/sensible - as I know you are.

 

I don't know Hermanus - but visited Cape Town a couple of times in the late 90's on business. It's all very corrupt of course ;-)

A couple of times.

 

It's a stunning country but as people have said, be wary of crime.

 

If you're flying all that way I'd want to stay for a week or ideally two.

 

There's good game parks (the Kruger) and the 'garden route' up to George is fantastic. JoBerg's fun but you'd really have to watch yourself.

Not so worried about dangerous areas as I've driven through Compton and also visited Pakistan and Saudi Arabia....not great places for Westerners!)

 

Yeah, I'll most likely be there a minimum of a week, probably 10 days. Will be staying with South Africans, so should be fine. Won't be going to Johannesburg. CT is supposed to be a lot better than it was (which is still the nicest area in the country) and Hermanus is supposed to be very nice and easy going....which is where I will be staying.

 

 

just dont say your grandfather was Dutch and you've come to claim your 200 acres of farm land:x:

Went there for 3 weeks in 1999, spent a week in Johannesburg, then did a road trip down to Cape Town in convoy with 11 other truck racing teams, had a great time out there. Never felt comfortable in Johannesburg, but the people in Capetown made us very welcome, was very cheap out there at that time as well.

 

Paul

im Flying to JoBurg on the 8th Jan, and Touring South Africa for 10 days.

i was in ct in 07 beautiful and sooooo cheap, i have friends who have a place out there and they go from jan to apr each year, i went around a bit on my own even on the local "buses" i felt safe, no more than any big city you just have to be aware, my friends have been going over every year for over 20 yrs and never had a prob, enjoy it si

Make sure you do as the lacals do, dont stop for traffic lights, broken downs cars or injered people.

Sorry to hijack the thread slightly but has anyone any first hand info on the Democratic Republic of Congo?

 

I am contemplating heading out there early next year to do some voluntary building work etc...... And i'd like a little insight into where i'd be going if anyone can help.

 

Taa,

Isaac :cool:

Thanks all! Well, just booked my flights. Got an amazing deal with Iberia flying via Madrid to Jo'burg. Will be taking an internal flight with Kulula (shitty internal SA carrier) to Cape Town (only an hr and a half!). 439 isn't bad considering the time of year!!

In South Africa, Cape Town now for a few days, then Port Elizabeth, then Durbun, then JoBurg for the last day of the cricket.

In South Africa, Cape Town now for a few days, then Port Elizabeth, then Durbun, then JoBurg for the last day of the cricket.

 

Nice one.. take plenty of pics...