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I am off soon to South Africa where I will be hoping to camp along the Garden Route from Port Elizebeth to Cape Town.  Has anybody got any recent experience of camping in South Africa and any advice for first timers there.  I am particuarly worried about crime and having our equipment stolen.  I would love to hear from anyone with SA camping / touring experience

Ant

Thanks Pennine

I would laugh but you are right.  I am starting in Bloemfontein where I have been told Black Mamba's and Red Romans can be a problem.  I have no caravan so a bit of duct tape over the hole in the zips of the tent will ( hopefully ) keep them out at night.  Its more the two legged I am worried about.  I have always found it nice to be able to come back to my tent and find it still there. 

Hi there.

I lived in Cape Town for 10yrs during the 90's and used a caravan for camping holidays - always along the Garden route Area. Some good beach sites in George, Knysna, Sedgefield areas. We moved back to UK in 1999, so my experience is not very recent, however e have returned to RSA a few times over the years since 1999 and still have friends there.

Yes - crime is a problem!  But with extra vigilance you can cope safely and still enjoy your holiday.  It is a super area for camping and with the excellent weather you can cope with less on-site facilities than here in UK.

If you would like to e-mail me I'll discuss it further, if I can be of any help.

Regards

Walter A. Boyd [walter.boyd at btopenworld.com]

Just an update:-

Camping in SA is thoroughly recommended, great camp sites with all mod cons, and lovely scenery.  I felt safer in SA than London, no trouble at all.  I only encountered insect problems at one very isolated location in the bush, huge bugs that hurt when they fly into you, vicious wasps, and luckily I only saw one red roman spider ( and thats enough ).  Main campsites are pretty much pest free.

Have fun

Quote: Originally posted by Walter Boyd on 14/12/2006

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Hi there.

I lived in Cape Town for 10yrs during the 90's and used a caravan for camping holidays -Yes - crime is a problem!  But with extra vigilance you can cope safely and still enjoy your holiday. Regards

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I did avoid Joburg.  I had read that if you take Joburg out of the crime statistics then SA is on a par with America. 

The only time I felt a bit threatened was late at night in Cape Town.  We drove and parked close to the restaurant but on some street corners there were groups hanging around that made me feel I did not want to walk past that lot.

Everywhere else was ok though all the S Africans I know, know a person murdered and robbed.  Scary but with vigilance as you say probably ok ( and maybe avoiding Joburg?)

Having camped in the majority of African countries and much of southern Africa id say avoid Joburg or get out quickly and watch the Ants.

Have fun Ninja.