Travel agents for South Africa

I need to travel to South Africa (Capetown) in April next year, with a couple of other people, for a wedding. We were hoping to go as part of a package deal, but having probs finding anything that fits in with what we want (and for a decent price). Any SA TT'ers know of a decent travel agent/package tour company for SA? In Munich, or elsewhere in Germany? Help much appreciated!

Dunno if you've sorted your accommodation, but MTBeds.co.za is a great site for finding B&Bs, game lodges, hotels and the like. Have used it a number of times and found some great deals.

Don't hang me for asking but have any of you single female travelled to South Africa before? Is it safe? Would you recommend to do it on your own? I don't have anyone else planning to go with me and I'm rather terrified by the stories of crimes there, what more, as a single female BUT I would love to see the country. Heard/seen amazing places the country offers. Probably do the "bus-about" tour and hoping to see some wild life reserve. Would 2 weeks be pushing it all?? Thanks for your tips!

Not a brilliant idea. Great country but unless your itinerary is tight and organised, with all pick ups and transfers, it's a bit dodgy going on your own. Touris look like touris - and a young female alone (or even not young) looks like easy prey.

comment @ sheer:
When reading and considering advice, my recommendation would be ask if these posters actually have been to ZA!
There are way too many people who have only read about "horror stories".

Although I'm not a female, I have traveled extensively and mainly solo in several African countries. Certainly never in an organized group.
Hence my suggestion: If you apply common sense, you should be fine.

This naturally depends on your itinerary and your travel style. Let me know if you desire addtl. information

Yes, have been to SA a few times. Lived in Namibia for 5 yrs til 2006.

Judging by z-man99's profile picture, he is not particularly petite - in fact he would fit in well with SAs. He looks local (at least from the back!)

Our daughter travelled down to Capetown on the bus when she was about 17. BUT she had a local mobile, we put her on the coach and she was met, stayed with and just about the whole time was accompanied by a gaggle of guys from Namibia who were studying down there, and she had already lived in Namibia for four years, ie she didn't look like a tourist. (and she carried a pepper spray in her bag) We used to be able to tell who were tourists in Nam with no problem -and if we could, then so can the hyenas who prey on them.

Basically it is the travelling around on your own that is dodgy, going to eat out in the evening alone - probably daylight when you go but not when you come out. Walking along the road with a map in your hand. Somehow at least two people are safer. Taxis are not a particularly safe option either - anyone can put a taxi sign on the top of the car.

That is why I recommended that you should pre-arrange things before hand. I agree that sanitised holidays are no fun - but the fewer the number of people, the more organised it should be for your safety.

Thanks for the warning and encouragement. Have you heard of BazBus? It's a door-to-door hostel drop off thingy that does some tours too - as on their website...

I must say that Bazbus does look good. But even though they drop you off at the door of the hostel, the point of going is to get out and about and enjoy what SA has to offer. I still think that even one travelling companion would be a safer option. A single white female with a backpack on her back looks like a target to me.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

I think the biggest hurdle to face would be transport - trains arent used by the average white person in SA - actually even most black people are afraid of using the trains - and taxis are mostly 25 pax packed into a microbus and for commuting to work and back. The normal taxis as we know them are extremely expensive...buses dont run everywhere and are also not a reliable and safe form of transportation for most even if you find one running in the area. Arranged tours are best so that one can take advantage of airport shuttles and tour busses. Actually I would say that would be the only way to travel for a single lady in SA.
It is a country well worth visiting - wonderful place - and quite different from anywhere else!
Just flew SAA Jhb-Mun-Jhb...was pleasantly surprised. My ex got my tickets at Travel Overland.

@ sheer:

Most of the media reports on South Africa that I read in European papers do not reflect my experience of living, studying, working and travelling in South Africa. They tend to present a rather narrow (and sometimes misinformed) view of a complex and diverse country.

On the question of how to get around, perhaps ask yourself how you'd travel around a European country? If you'd take a package tour, do that in South Africa. If not, don't. It's certainly possible to get around either way and while South Africa has a high violent crime rate, if you're careful and alert (not paranoid!) you should be absolutely fine. Ask locals which areas are best to go to and when- are they safe? Be mindful of the wealth gap (don't go waving an expensive SLR camera around in a township, for instance). Be culturally aware and respectful. Most of all, though, enjoy the friendly, welcoming people, the diversity, the beautiful landscapes and yourself!

In a European country you can take the train, bus, walk, bike - NONE of those can be recommended in SA. Dream on.

I certainly didn't mean to pretend that South Africa's public transport infrastructure rivals Europe's or that it's as safe as Germany. All I meant was that sheer should travel as she prefers to- if possible. If she doesn't like package tours, she shouldn't take them and nor does she have to. Although it is important to understand the dangers, it is possible to travel around SA either privately or on public transport. I know, I've done it many times before. So have many of the over 9 million tourists that visit SA every year.

Here are a few tips on getting around South Africa:

Coach: Reliable and inexpensive coaches service much of the country and major centres in neighbouring countries. (e.g. www.intercape.co.za, www.greyhound.co.za)

Train: Long distance trains are an option for intercity travel. They are slow but safe, cheap and comfortable. I took a sleeper on the Shosholoza Meyl (www.spoornet.co.za/ShosholozaMeyl/index.jsp) from Cape Town to Johannesburg in March last year (1400km, 27 hours, R240 or approximately €20). What a wonderful way to see South Africa! (And certainly a helluva lot more comfortable than some of the overcrowded ICEs I've been on in Germany.) Departures are far less frequent than in Europe, but by-and-large trains depart on time.

Mini-bus: Often unroadworthy and overloaded, mini-buses go virtually everywhere. Dangerous (due to poor safety standards rather than the occupants), you'll certainly meet the most interesting, friendly and colourful people on them. The national government is doing more to regulate the industry and improve safety, but by European standards they are abysmally unsafe. That said, I've met many foreign travellers who have loved the experience and wouldn't travel any other way.

Car hire: Many car hire firms operate across SA (e.g. www.avis.co.za, www.hertz.co.za, tempestcarhire.co.za) and the country has thousands of kilometres of excellent roads. Last year I hired a car (to travel around Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo Province) surprisingly inexpensively and easily. Pick-ups and drop-offs can be made at different depots.

Taxi: All major urban centres have reliable taxi services, but they are expensive.

Buses and trains (in the city): Buses and trains are probably best avoided in cities as violent crime, especially on trains, is common.

Walking: Many areas are fine for walking, many not. It is important to realise though, that urban sprawl (more in the American fashion than European) and idiotic Apartheid-era urban planning makes getting about solely on foot virtually impossible.

Cycling: SA's cities have very few dedicated cycle lanes, so you're often forced to either cycle on the pavement or risk cycling in the road. If you are going to cycle in the road be very careful of motorists, who are not accustomed to cyclists. While cycling is probably not recommended for travel between cities, it is possible. A friend of mine cycled from Grahamstown to Cape Town (900km) in a week and said, despite a few hairy moments, that it was fantastic. Be careful on deserted country roads.

SA is also serviced by a host of private shuttles, dedicated driver services, hop-on-hop-off buses (www.bazbus.com), etc. It is often possible to organise lifts with fellow travellers too (just ask around at local backpackers, B&Bs, hotels, etc.)

Hope this helps. Happy travelling!

Thanks for the heads up. I'll practice caution, as anywhere else. I don't care for package tour, however, the BazBus idea appeals to me most and SA is a big country, I reckon it's feasible for me to take a "tour" since I don't feel comfortable driving there. Well, first of all, I've gotta convince my boss to give me my leave and I'll let you all know how it went. If you have personal experience or further advice, I'll be happy to read them. Cheers!

No Sheer, practice more caution than anywhere else. South Africa is a fabulous country, beautiful and well worth a visit. But be very careful.

I just came back from South Africa. What an awesome, amazing country!! It's also a VERY big country! I went straight to Kruger Park from J'burg airport. All those I spoke to said I didn't miss anything in Jozi and they told me the whole time they were in J'burg, they were confined to the hostel anyway. One guy was even held at gunpoint IN the hostel when the robbers came & forced the manager to open the safe. Apparently one American stored USD12K in there and that was looted. I just think he's stupid to have done that. Perhaps it's drug money

Saw the Big Five in Kruger. I like that Hluhluwi Park too. It has a nicer landscape: hills & valleys so it's "easier" to spot the animals (while Kruger is more flat). From Kruger, I took BazBus all the way to Cape Town. That's a 4 days' travel! I can recommend Swaziland. Even though the country is very poor, the people are very happy. I happened to be there for the Reeds Festival - the costume, dance and singing is so unforgetable!

The Garden Route - Hermanus - is my favourite. It is whale season now (Sep) so lots of whale spotted off the coast/beach! Table Mountain in Cape Town is spectacular. There is a lot to do in Cape Town so should try and spend 3 days or more there.

Generally, SA is rather safe although some travellers told me that they feel more "threatened" in South Africa than the other northern African countries incl. Zimbabwe. The only place I was afraid to go out was Durban. An American guy who was travelling with his sister and girlfriend got shot in the thigh at the market there, in broad daylight. Such incidents are rare. Even locals were shocked to hear this but you never know when/what will happen. Well, SA has opened my eyes to the Africa continent and I will be going back there for my next travels!

As a female South African who has her whole family living there, I cannot recommend you to travel alone. Do not take the train, it really is too dangerous. Minibus is too dangerous too. Rent a car is fine, keep your windows closed and your doors locked while driving. Hire a car with an aircon. Stick to the areas recommended by the locals and stay well clear of the others. Please try to find someone to go with, this really would be much better. Our country is truly worth visiting, but unfortunately not the best place for a woman to be on her own(irrespective of her skin colour!). When I visit my family in Cape Town and want to take a walk along the beach on my own during daylight, my family starts worrying. I kid you not.