Topic: S. Africa cancelled, now Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam

[PJungnitsch]

Anybody have experience traveling  to S. Africa?

Thinking of booking a flight for the end of the month to explore for a while. Looking at 5 weeks, arriving in Cape Town and flying out of Johannesburg.

Cage diving with sharks, a tour of the wine country, walking tour of a game park are the only things I can think of to do at the moment.

[HeliDriver]

I spent just a couple of weeks in Cape Town for a cousin's wedding years ago. It's a stunningly beautiful place.

They lived a block from the beach, so I spent most of my time hanging out in the water and learning to surf. I didn't have enough time to go, but a trip to one of the game parks should definitely be on your list. Other family members did that (by train, IIRC), and raved about the experience.

Not useful information, I know, but thanks for letting me reminisce about an awesome trip! 

[Ex-airbalancer]

That sounds cool!!!!!

[Brig]

I keep hearing about bad things happening to tourists out there... it would put me off.  And I'm not trying to rain on your parade or anything - just my thoughts.

[Ex-airbalancer]

There is crime everywhere if you look for it

[PJungnitsch]

I keep hearing about bad things happening to tourists out there... it would put me off.  And I'm not trying to rain on your parade or anything - just my thoughts.

It's the end of my traveling, and I'm now tackling the ones I dreaded, ie S. America, Africa, and the US. I get a big knot in my stomach before a trip to somewhere new anyway, and these ones are worse for some reason.

So far my trips to these areas have all been trouble-free and enjoyable.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I keep hearing about bad things happening to tourists out there... it would put me off.  And I'm not trying to rain on your parade or anything - just my thoughts.

I'm with you on this one Brig.

[safristi]

..there are many NO GO areas in S AFRICA..........trouble is (pun intended) a Newbie tourist do NOT  know the Lay of THE LAND.....and can wander off into danger.......a beautiful land still in transition.......( I have 3  S African born golf buddies..non have gone back in 15 years.... other relatives Visit fairly frequently and stay with their S African family who still live there(Durban&Capetown and know the ins and outs of present day South Efrica........
                                                I would like to go back and see where i grew up as a wee kid   2 to 6 years old (JOBURG) and then visited yearly for our Summer vacations from then N Rhodesia................BUT NOT JUST YET...........


  travel writer Thoreaux has a book about his trip from Cairo to Capetown...and S Africa is by FAR the most civilized and safe area...but he visited friends  (well established) in Johanesburg who are thinking of emigrating due to the crime...and these are well to do born and bred citizens...................


  YOUR CALL PJ..........but no free roaming bike or car trips solo would be MY ADVICE..................this from a guy just back from 3 days in DETROIT!!!!! ....

 we stayed near WOODWARD & BERNSTEIN...............and i deep throated a few bevvies...... .

[Bubba]

I keep hearing about bad things happening to tourists out there... it would put me off.  And I'm not trying to rain on your parade or anything - just my thoughts.

I'm with you on this one Brig.

There are areas in South Africa I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot vuvuzela.  I'd definitely ask for advice on areas to avoid.

[rrocket]

I keep hearing about bad things happening to tourists out there... it would put me off.  And I'm not trying to rain on your parade or anything - just my thoughts.

I'm with you on this one Brig.

I'd like to do dangerous game hunting there.  I'd be carrying a .500 Nitro, so I wouldn't expect many problem as a tourist.   

I think it's safer in South Africa than Mexico....(9,000+ drug violence murders so far..and many scary-close to tourist spots)

[PJungnitsch]

I'm not seeing much for issues on the noticeboards from people who've actually gone there. Venezuela last year OTOH, I had a little stopover and after a bit of research, just stayed in the airport for the day.

But........

A big problem with South Africa now is that school is out and it seems everyone gets out of Johannesburg and packs out the Cape and the game parks:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?newPost=true&messageID=17807491&#17807491

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1802792

I think I will either let S.A. slide until Jan/Feb or book a holiday now to somewhere else. Any ideas?

[rrocket]

I'm not seeing much for issues on the noticeboards from people who've actually gone there. Venezuela last year OTOH, I had a little stopover and after a bit of research, just stayed in the airport for the day.

But........

A big problem with South Africa now is that school is out and it seems everyone gets out of Johannesburg and packs out the Cape and the game parks:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?newPost=true&messageID=17807491&#17807491

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1802792

I think I will either let S.A. slide until Jan/Feb or book a holiday now to somewhere else. Any ideas?

CUBA!!!

[Ex-airbalancer]

El Salvador or Panama
or Egypt
http://sun-ray.ca/egypt/HTML/tours/special1.htm

[Ex-airbalancer]

Here a SA http://www.travelzoo.com/ca/vacations/worldwide/924662/?utm_source=top20_ca&utm_medium=email_top20
Someone I know just got back from SA, his daughter said he had a great time

[Ex-airbalancer]

Have you pick a place to go?
How about Belize?

[PJungnitsch]

Not yet, will hopefully sort it out this weekend. I'm leaning towards something different than Latin America or Asia as I was in Peru last winter and Cambodia/Laos the winter before.

There are some smokin' cheap tickets out there, a friend just booked a flight and 2 nights hotel in Vegas for $150 total after tax.

I think if I was retired I would be traveling all the time.

[quadzilla]

Not yet, will hopefully sort it out this weekend. I'm leaning towards something different than Latin America or Asia as I was in Peru last winter and Cambodia/Laos the winter before.

There are some smokin' cheap tickets out there, a friend just booked a flight and 2 nights hotel in Vegas for $150 total after tax.

I think if I was retired I would be traveling all the time.

Well Vegas is very different than Latin America or Asia. It also wastes more food and water than those two places together.

If you do go and enjoy hiking mountains/canyons, there are some good choices withing 1 hour of the city. Let me know and I can recommend a couple of places.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Not yet, will hopefully sort it out this weekend. I'm leaning towards something different than Latin America or Asia as I was in Peru last winter and Cambodia/Laos the winter before.

There are some smokin' cheap tickets out there, a friend just booked a flight and 2 nights hotel in Vegas for $150 total after tax.

I think if I was retired I would be traveling all the time.

Hard to beat resort prices in Nov & early Dec
Mayan Riveria could have some good pricing 

[PJungnitsch]

Looking at S. Africa hard again.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=637275

[safristi]

..I say GO FOR IT P.J.........yer avatar good looks will scare off all the skellums... .......and in a bike tour group ya can outrun any BAD OSTRICHES..............  Beep...BEEP......