South Africa

[RedRover45]

Off there on Boxing Day straight after beating Scunny. Anybody been that can give us some pointers of where to go, where to avoid, things to do, etc. Visiting Cape Town, Durban and Jo'burg. Any help much appreciated. Cheers.

[Dr Fundlekrotch]

If you've got a few days to kill around Cape Town, take a car down the West coast to Cape Point, which is a National Park.  Back up on the East side, you can drop into Simonstown which, bizarrely, has a beach full of penguins.

Another great day or two can be spent just East of Cape Town on a guided tour of some of the vineyards around Stellenbosch and Franschoek, sampling the wares on each stop

[GM-MarkB]

Join the Barmy Army at one of the Test Matches

[RedRover45]

Join the Barmy Army at one of the Test Matches

Already got tickets for all the days we are there. Last three days of Durban test, all 5 days at Cape Town and first 2 at Jo'burg. Watch out for the giant Yorkshire flag with Doncaster on it lol

[drfchound]

I was in Cape Town about six years ago.
Robben Island is worth a visit as well as the stuff that others have already mentioned.
Cape Town centre is nice to walk round during the day time but I was told in no uncertain terms not to go into the City at night unless via a taxi to the door of the restaurant I was going to visit.
If you get time they do Township tours into the shanty towns and that is a real eye opener.

[podrover73]

Off there on Boxing Day straight after beating Scunny. Anybody been that can give us some pointers of where to go, where to avoid, things to do, etc. Visiting Cape Town, Durban and Jo'burg. Any help much appreciated. Cheers.

I would avoid the toilets in Pistorius's house while he enjoys xmas at home

[Dagenham Rover]

I'll get back to you I have a friend that lived there for many years

[NickDRFC]

Cape Town is magic - I spent 5 nights there and could comfortably have stayed much longer. Robben Island is good, some great seafood restaurants and bars at the V&A waterfront, Table Mountain is spectacular (we climbed up and got the bubble lift down - the climb was fairly steep and took a good couple of hours so depending on your age/fitness you might be better off getting the lift both ways), Botanic Gardens well worth a visit, watch the sun set at Camps Bay (the "posh" bit of CT). As has been mentioned it can be a bit dodgy at night - I wouldn't go so far as to say only get a taxi to the door of the restaurant but be aware and stay on lit roads in busier areas. I stayed in the city and did walk around at night and never had any bother but I have heard a lot of stories.

Also as mentioned if you have a car and can get down to Simonstown the penguin beach there is great, and Stellenbosch is brilliant - it ignited a love for wine that I'd never thought possible before!

Jo'burg is a hole - spend as little time there as possible. If you have spare time then try and get out onto the Garden Route (between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth) - it is absolutely stunning.

[Dagenham Rover]

The reply I got from my friend she emigrated from Donny when she was 10  and lived there till a couple of years ago so she knows the place well


"Crikey, where to start  Avoiding Jhb city centre goes without saying these days. Otherwise as a tourist he/she probably won't see any bad things (except gross inequality of course).  It also depends on what kind of stuff they like, obviously a few nights in a game park would be good, there are loads of small ones within a couple of hours drive from Joburg. If shopping is their thing, there are shopping centres in abundance with things being dirt cheap in pounds. Gold Reef City is probably worth a visit, Montecasino if they like a gamble. Cradle of Humankind if they're into knowing where we all came from.

Cape Town is gorgeous even if you do nothing. There are some magnificent coastal drives, a trip up the mountain is a must as is the V&A Waterfront. Robben Island of course. Seal Island.

Durban – Valley of a Thousand Hills, uShaka Marine World, Coastal Drives, plenty of game drives. There's even shark diving if that's their thing.

Honestly John, there is so much to see and do it all depends on their taste but I wouldn't visit SA without at least a couple of days in the Drakensberg – sort of midway between Jhb and Durban."

[Donny Dub]

Cape Town is the most beautiful place in the world.
Take care in Durban danger lurks!
Good luck.

[BobG]

Ok then chaps. I'm probably going to take Alex on an extended holiday in 18 months time. I've nearly got the itinerary sorted out, but have any of you got any knowledge of Namibia, Zimbabwe and/or Mozambique that you'd care to share? 'Cos although we're flying in and out of Johannesburg that's where we're going.

One of the scariest things that, apparently, I have to do, is to sit right on the chuffing edge (and I DO mean the edge - you know, the bit where the water falls off) of the Victoria Falls. It looks bad enough to give me a heart attack thinking about it. But its alleged to be safe as houses. Has anyone actually done it??

Cheers

Bobg

[Dagenham Rover]

Now funnily enough Bob my ex wife was born in Tripoli  and lived in Zimbabwe and Mozambique however I don't talk to her anymore and haven't done for 20 years

[BobG]

Ha ha ha ha!!!! That's made me laugh out loud Daggers!

Bob

[glosterred]

RR45 avoid cycling through the national parks, that tends to be meals on wheels for the local wild life!

[Jenny]

Ok then chaps. I'm probably going to take Alex on an extended holiday in 18 months time. I've nearly got the itinerary sorted out, but have any of you got any knowledge of Namibia, Zimbabwe and/or Mozambique that you'd care to share? 'Cos although we're flying in and out of Johannesburg that's where we're going.

One of the scariest things that, apparently, I have to do, is to sit right on the chuffing edge (and I DO mean the edge - you know, the bit where the water falls off) of the Victoria Falls. It looks bad enough to give me a heart attack thinking about it. But its alleged to be safe as houses. Has anyone actually done it??

Cheers

Bobg

One of my good friends has - Devils pools I think they call them. Looks utterly terrifying from her pictures!

[BobG]

Thanks Jenny. It's not very reassuring! Alex is already wetting himself laughing at me. Mind you, I've thought he's a total nutter ever since he positively sprinted to climb on some maniac contraption called 'Stealth' at Thorpe Park. The most death defying ride I've ever seen. In fact, I've just watched this vid of the thing and I really do feel sick.

It's ridiculous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIOK73JNV3A

Bob