South Africa

[Will86]

Has anyone been tempted to rent a Motorhome in South Africa?

 

I see there’s advertising and camp sites are available. Some 20 years ago I did a tour around the Cape with a different form of transport and stayed with friends at a standard holiday camp, it was surrounded by high fencing and a fair number of walking security, there were no problems but many people are very wary of intruders and carry protection at night and when in towns facing red stop lights the drill was to keep rolling. I also visited their homes where it was noticeable they all had double locked doors on the outsides and keeping a big dog was favored.

[vindiboy]

I travelled back and forth to South Africa for 5 years [ Cape town to Durban and ports in between ] as a Merchant Seaman in the Apartheid days, it was safe enough then because the Police were very brutal with the Natives and I saw some dreadful scenes , I have friends living in Capetown still and they all have guns , high gates and security fencing ,and are living a very controlled life, native drug use is rife [ as it is everywhere] but it is very prevalent in Cape Town and Durban, there are many have nots in South Africa and this makes one who has lots, vulnerable. South Africa is a beautiful Country, but I would think on it before embarking on a Motorhome Jolly .

I watched a TV programme recently , about drug use and conditions Native South Africans are living in. in the Cape ,and see little difference to the conditions the Natives endured in the Apartheid days to how many are forced to endure today.

[Robbo]

We lived in South Africa for 7 years in the 1970's. Beautiful country with diverse scenery. During that time we travelled all over the country including South West Africa (now known as Namibia) and brief ventures into Botswana, Swaziland & Lesotho. Plenty of game reserves. Kruger to the NE, Etosha Pan (Namibia) and quite a few near Durban. Also, elephant park near Port Elizabeth which apparently is a good place to visit.

 

All this was using campsites with an estate car + frame tent and latterly with a VW converted bus. Never had any problems and campsites had virtually no visible security. Mind you, we rarely visited large areas of population.

 

Things have obviously changed in the meantime. Our house on the outskirts of Pretoria, now has security fencing (as seen on Google streetview).

 

However, if you stick to the rural areas (which is the majority of the country) you shouldn't experience problems. We found that South Africans both black and white are very friendly and hospitable. I wouldn't have any qualms going back there, but do a bit of research first to check if there are any areas to avoid. A motorhome hire company may be able to help with any concerns you may have for your particular proposed itinerary.

 

Happy to meet up in a local tavern between Crawley and Gatwick should you need more info, albeit a bit dated :-o

[Adiebt]

Visited there in 2017 , using a hire car and either BnBs or small hotels for three weeks .

Beautiful country ( may well be the most beautiful country ive ever visited ) BUT i vowed id never return as i never ever felt safe all the time i was there ( and im not easily spooked believe me ) There was just an under current of threat nearly all the time we were there.

I know the world over is a potentially dangerous place but i just felt that big trouble was brewing both on a national and local level.

Personally i would certainly not motorhome there .

 

[747]

I would do your research thoroughly as it will be a fantastic trip. The 2 major Clubs do escorted Overseas Tours and I am sure that there have been SA Tours.

 

I got to see some of the Country while I was working on contract in the Transvaal, plus Swaziland and Zimbabwe between 1980 and 1982. We had a couple of 'moments when the ANC planted limpet mines at Sasol 2 (with me in the vicinity when they went off). My Wife and I were pelted with stones by a mob of schoolkids (some of them in their very late Teens) when they assumed we were plain clothes Police sniffing around the Ganja (Marijuana) fields.

 

I love Africa, I even enjoyed working in Angola during the Civil War ...... now that WAS hairy at times. :D