South Africa's soft side (South Africa)

Member Name: happypanda

Product:	South Africa
Date:	28/06/09 (10 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: weather, people, costs, everything else

Disadvantages: no lions walking around, thieving monkeys

South Africa gets its bad reviews, and people who have never been there say it's dangerous. But, living with a South African who insists on taking me there every possible holiday, I have had to rethink my biased views.

The first time I went, I was I have to admit, somewhat shocked by the difference from England, but it wasn't as bad as I had imagined. I guess as an English Girl (of good upbringing) I imagined South Africa to be third world mud huts and lions walking around in your back yard. Yes, there is an element of third world to the place - the squatter camps which you can't help but notice as your drive past them. They are huge, and overwhelming, and it is not advisable to do more than drive past them - fast. But there are sadly no lions walking around, except in the game reserves, but even then we had problems seeing any.

But aside from squatter camps, South Africa is beautiful and I fell in love with it from day one. The weather is hot, even in Winter when went last time, the South Africans will be dressed in cardigans and jumpers, while in Durban it was 22c. We drove down the Durban Coast, to Umzumbe and stayed in travellers lodges along the way. One thing I can say for South Africa, is they know how to make a traveller's lodge, it's nothing like backpackers places in England. We stayed in a huge wooden...shed, but nicer, it had an outdoor shower and bath and it was clean, comfortable and no dorms! The sheds were nestled among banana trees where vervet monkeys swung, occasionally crawling over your roof, but keep your doors and windows closed, unless you want thieving Vervet monkeys. (We saw a monkey steal a chocolate bar from a cafe).

Lets talk danger. Ok, I would never walk to the shop in Johannesburg, we walked some around Umzumbe, because it was quiet and safe, but we stayed a lot in Honeydew, near Johannesburg, Gauteng, and I would never walk alone there. We would only drive to the shopping centres and walk around inside, where it is relatively safe, and you don't flash cash, mobile phones and cars. Everyone I met was kind and helpful, they would help you park 'watch' your car for you while you were inside, and wash it if you wanted, then you just tipped them at the end!

We stroked baby lions in one of the game parks, near the Cradle of Humankind, and were charged by a Rhino in Sun City game park! I had the best time, and when it came time to leave, we both cried. Yes, South Africa has its bad elements, some very bad, but as long as you travel in groups, keep to safe area, and don't flash your wealth, you will find South Africa and most of it's people to be warm and helpful.

Totsiens (Goodbye in one of South Africa's many languages).

Summary: A great place to go for a holiday, on a budget