Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tiger Beer]

Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania rank fairly high on my list.

What does Botswana have that wouldn't be found in Tanzania/Kenya? Just curious.. sounds interesting as well.. but never been on the radar map for me as much.

[bucheon bum]

I've covered a big chunk of north africa (morocco, tunisia, egypt) but have yet to go to sub-saharan africa. Might be going to Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya next spring though.

[Bulsajo]

Just Egypt, but it's EGYPT! No where else quite like it, is there?

[Yesanman]

Don't forget aobut Uganda?
I found it to be a real change from Kenya/Tanzania.
Really plush and green. I was there in 1995 and the country had just opened up to tourism so many people had never talked to a foreigner before. Really interesting times.

[manwonman]

Visited South Africa in May of '03. Went to Mandela's house (on the same street as Desmond Tutu's), and Wandi's Restaurant in Soweto. I stayed at the Rugby House of TUKS in Pretoria. I also visited the diamond mines of Rustenburg, and went on a nighttime and daytime safari at Pilanesburg. Spent the day in a Eco-village somewhere along the way. I spent some time (and won some money) at the casinos of Sun City. Then I made my way down to the Western Cape. Had a nice time at some vineyards (although I don't drink), stayed at a Protea Hotel near Victoria and Albert's Waterfront, Robben Island, Table Mountain, Boulders Beach (see all of the jackass penguins), Cape Point, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. I also did a bunch of non-touristy stuff, but I doubt that trips to the J'burg Stock Exchange, South African Reserve Bank, or City Council meetings would interest most. The Executive Branch of the government is in Pretoria and is worth a look, as Parliament in Cape Town.

finis

[endo]

How was traveling in South Africa?

Did you go alone?

Did you know people?

Was safety a concern?

Did you travel by bus or did you rent a car?

[poet13]

I visited friends in South Africa, about 90 minutes WSW of Jo-burg. We did a 3+ week, 5 vehicle landie trip, making a circle from there, crossing near Noordoewer (broke down in between the borders for 5 hours at about 43 Celcius), Keetmanshoop, Sossusvlei, Sesriem, Swakupmond, (The balck rock of the namib desert was surreal, and occasionally we found Velvichia <sp?> plants. more cool) Cape cross, Etosha, Waterberg(where we caught the rangers poaching Blesbok) , Windhoek (someone tried to rob our vehicle there. The distraction was to tell the driver a tire was flat on one side and when he looked, another reached in the opposite window and grabbed a cell phone. I was just walking out of a mall and saw him. He left a big dent in the side of the landie when I bumped into him). Then we crossed into Botswana. Not sure where. Somewhere north of Gemsbok, but I think we passed through the Central Kalaheri Game reserve. We met some San bushmen between there and the border (I think they were San) and there was a little culture center right out in the middle of nowhere. I mean nowhere. I bought a tape called "healing songs of the Kalahari). I really enjoyed it, but my exwife thought it was something else to destroy when we were divorced. I think we crossed back into south Africa at Lobatse, but not sure. I still have a poker chip from a casino there... From there back to my friends home. My ex and I did a few other trips in South Africa. Kruger of course, and Augrabies on the way to Namibia. We also went to a cheetah sanctuary where I learned that they are the only cat without retractable claws. (about 40 stiches and it was only about 6 months old)

South Africa was culturally one of the most interesting experiences of my life. Both good and bad. It IS a dangerous place if you are not 100% aware at all times. When I woke up, I strapped on a Western with a ten inch blade. Yes, concealed. It came off when I slept. We escaped from a potentially bad situation one night in South Africa. I was driving my wife and her friend, 2 40 year old hot blond women, to meet her husband for dinner. It was dark. A car with five or six black men passed us on a hill. First our friend noted that the plates were expired. Then after they dissapeared over the hill we saw the glow of tail lights. They had stopped. I killed the lights and we drove up the hill far enough to see that they had stopped across the road. I put it in reverse and we started back. They saw us and jumped in their car, coming after us. I floored it, ripped a fast J-turn (thank you US government for all those driving courses) and we got out of there. Could have been bad. My exwife was furious at me for driving like a maniac. She had no awareness. The other girl wanted to slap her. It's all about being aware. Never travel alone. One of our 5 vehicles broke down in the no mans land between South Africa and Namibia. Five hours of trying to separate two parts and then fit a new belt taken from an airconditioner. It took a lot more effort and hands than one or two people could have managed.
I think the thing that bothered me most about South Africa was the racism. The thing is, it wasn't a blatant in your face racism. Sure, the black people were referred to as kaffirs, but it was another kind of racism. I call it 'paternalistic racism'. It was, "we have to look after these poor dumb black people because they aren't capable of doing it for themselves." What many South Africans viewed as a kindness, seemed in retrospect to be an insidious racism. That being said, South Africa was wonderful, the people were wonderful, and someday I look forward very much to taking my new family there.

[milarka]

I'm from South Africa and can really recommend you to go and visit the place, there are so many great things to see. After reading this thread, SA sounds like a scary place, it's really not that bad. Some places are dangerous (Johannesburg more than Cape Town), but just keep your eyes open and trust your instincts, and always hold your belongings (bag, camera, etc) close to your body.
It is best to rent a car when travelling there, I don't think it's that expensive and the public transport can't be trusted. There are some inter-city buses which are safe and mostly on time. If you have to choose between train and bus, always pick bus (except the expensive tourist train routes,e.g. the 'blue train'). The trains and trainstations can be some of the most dangerous places you can go within the 'safer areas'- (my brother was once attacked with a screwdriver on the train, just to get his watch.)
As I know Mosambique is a pretty good place to go too. Havn't gone there myself, but I have many friends who've been there. Beautiful beaches clear blue water, great lodges too.

[poet13]

"It is best to rent a car when travelling there, I don't think it's that expensive "

It's very expensive,and when I was there, the rental comapnies had just started removing the rental sticker on the bumpers and windows, cause it made the occupants automatic targets...
still, yes a wonderful place, and I would recommend it for someone who wants to experience culture and big beautiful animals.

[JeJuJitsu]

One of my best freinds was hacked to death by machette in Johanasburg. He was in the Peace Corpse at the time and sort of had to "run the gauntlet" from a not-so-great neighborhood where they were doing their work to their room, which was in a better area. Me, I'm staying "Out of Africa."

[Wangja]

A sad tale, made no less sad by "Peace Corpse".