Walking ATM
 

In the third world, and increasingly in places like Naples and Milano Stazione Centrale, a traveller is perceived as a walking ATM, with a wallet to be stolen and baksheesh to be extracted.

What is your strategy to deal with this?

In particular, I want to get from JNB to Pretoria Rovos Depot soon after I've been to Australia, and I understand that route goes through some pretty rough areas.

Thanks for any advice.

Maybe use a booked driver from Welcome Pickups

Seems it's about 54km and a dummy booking I did came up at €50

Probably best to ask the people at the Pretoria Rovos Depot for their recommendations.

There's a big difference in the risk between Italy & S Africa. Italy is pretty much straight pick pocketing, distraction techniques and very rarely any violence threatened. RSA is very different.

In Italy (and Barcelona & London) keep your valuables inside your shirt or in an internal pocket with a zip or button closure. In RSA you have to avoid the most risky areas altogether - as TWT says ask Rovos - or try Trip Advisor for recommendations. I'll ask a friend there and PM you if they have any suggestions.

Thanks for that, and for your PM. With two suggestions of safe taxis (thanks also to TWT), I feel a bit safer now.

I have been visiting South Africa regularly from 1989. Was there this year and last. Overall: I have never had a problem, many have. Daylight and transport that is known to those who know you works well.

When I have to go from JNB to Pretoria, my sister books me on a pre-booked car service. I get emailed with the details of the car type, colour and the name of the person who will meet me. Works every time. Always punctual and safe drivers. I get met as I emerge from baggage.customs and get delivered back in good time. Your journey from JNB to the Rovos Main Station in Pretoria means that you go nowhere near JNB city. The airport is out to the east of the city and Pretoria is to the north

If you are using more then JNB, let me know here on in PM.

The other end of my trip will be either Cape Town or Durban, I haven't decided which yet - and would solicit suggestions as to which is the better Rovos train journey. I'll need transfer from train station to aeroport, either way. All suggestions welcome.

I know very little about South Africa, I haven't been there since the mid-80s, during the state of emergency, when just about everything was shut down at the weekend. I had reps there who drove me everywhere, with a gun in the glovebox - one of them got burgled during my five-day stay. Consider me a total innocent about the current situation; one who is soliciting any advice going, about personal safety, and indeed anything I ought to know.

My girlfriend is South African, as are her parents, but they're not a lot of help. They're all doom and gloom. They are just glad to have left the place, and eternally grateful to me for having got them EU passports.

Justapax
I can’t help with your transport, as our clients or airline which is normally Emirates, as I tag on work in Dubai when going there sort that. However Cape Town or Dubai I would say Cape Town every time, and go up to Franshook while there. As for places to stay I use Cape Grace but Silo Hotel is also good but it depends on your budget.
Durban is closer to Boer War sites and that sort of thing if that interests, but Cape Town and Water Front way better with great food and wine. Joburg apart from work I wouldn’t bother with personally, and wouldn’t stay anywhere central there.

As for being a White Walking Talking Cash Machine it’s what you are anywhere in Africa or indeed anywhere outside of Europe/ North America/ Australasia/ Japan and a few other smaller states. You were born in a very favoured part of the planet, indeed as I have said on here before you won the lottery of life the moment you were born. Try to be careful and the advice of others up thread is sound, don’t go adventure touring as I call it, when people suddenly decide they want to see a slumb for example, people do, and wonder why they get mugged etc 😂

Cheers
Mr Mac

Thanks for that, Cape Town it is. I've never been to Durban, but Cape Town seems a better bet, though when I went there last about all I could see was fog.

I'm a lot more cautious since I retired, as I'm not going to be met by a local who knows the ropes, but South Africa is the only place I've been where everyone seemed to armed. That's why I'm so nervous about the place. My girlfriend and her parents don't help, as they left the country after several of their friends were murdered - and this was in Paarl, not that far from Cape Town. They're all doom and gloom. Not so gloomy that when I mentioned 'Cape Town' my girlfriend's father's ears pricked up, and he started talking that maybe he might come along with me. He owns a pistol, a Glock.

20 years ago, I was on a work trip to Johannesburg and was staying in a B&B in Richmond. The owner pointed out the button
on the wall next to the bed. "Be careful not to accidentally push that unless you want 2 guys with pump action shotguns in here".
They would have been summoned from the local armed security service that the owner subscribed to (local cops are useless).

Yes, it can be dangerous but don't let that spoil your visit. Take the usual precautions. Always ask the locals for the best
security advice. It's a spectacular country and full of wonderful people.

Justapax
If you are in Cape Town and you wake up and see that table Mountain is clear of it tablecloth cloud change whatever your plans were and go up it as it’s not guaranteed to be clear everyday. Also watch out for sun up there as well but great views and worth the effort.
Enjoy your trip.

Cheers
Mr Mac

+1. I have been travelling to Rio for the past 60 years, usually on business, sometimes on holiday. I have never encountered anything other than kindness and friendliness. When I ask people about 'incidents' they have had there, I discover that they've been to explore the favelas (slums), as though it were some sort of theme park. People are their own worst enemies.

A couple of times when living and visiting the USA (and Glasgow) we've taken a wrong turning and finished up in some interesting spots. And of course lots of people live and work there without being robbed every 5 minutes. But again, as a stranger, it's wisest to keep your exposure as low as possible.

Much the same for Medellin, the centre of town is a modern University city with an excellent Metro service and the public spaces are spotless. The bandeja paisa is specific to Medellin and the surrounding area, but is widely regarded as Colombia's national dish, with reason (there's a restaurant in South London that serves it, worth a visit, no licence so byob). Up in the hills, you're in the third world. Don't go there.

Yes, totally agree re Medellin. I spent a lot of time there too, in the mid-80s. never found it dangerous, and even went out at night - no problems. Kingston (Jamaica), however, was another story. I was once physically stopped from leaving the hotel by the concierge, who told it it was dangerous to move around at night, even in a taxi. Port of Spain (Trinidad), was little better.

Last visit to Cape Town was 20 years ago. Fabulous place, but sounds not quite the same now, sadly!.

Cape Town is STILL fabulous. We were there a year ago and family just got back from there three days ago. One of them is in the UK Police and had followed guidance and had no trouble. We have many friends and family living in the city so am up to date.

It beats Durban hands down for many reasons. Someone I knew in the 1990s had been a Purser on the QE2 and said it was the most beautiful city in the world.

There are numerous things to do and places to visit. Yes, the cablecar up Table Mountain is worth doing, but much to see and that depends on your priorities and how much time you expect to have in and around the city.

I first visited CPT in January 1966 and never tire of visiting.

I was going to allow a couple of days spare after my bucket-list trip on the Rovos Rail from Pretoria to Cape Town, in case the train gets delayed due to load shedding, but if you think I should spend longer there, well nothing's booked yet. There is a reciprocal Club there, The Cape Town Club (not cheap), if there are rooms available I'll stay there. What do you recommend I should see, apart from Table Mountain?

The last time I was there was on business, all I got to see was a lot of fog and the inside of Simonstown naval base, no time for any tourism.

Justapax
The waterfront is fun with good restaurants and bars and very good Biltong, and get down to the Cape of Good Hope and try sea food platter in restaurant not the shacks above. Wine region is close as mentioned previously for more delights on wine tram. You maybe lucky with sailing competition in town which can also be fun like Volvo etc. Robin island maybe, though I have not been and walking some of the beaches and indeed sea fronts. I also do some fishing, but Mrs Mac likes the large gardens as well. I’m sure you will enjoy and try Red Bus for transportation and site seeing.

Cheers
Mr Mac