Travel Answers

I just heard about tuk tuks being introduced in J'burg recently. Has anyone used them? Do they have meters by which we know how much to pay?
We were planning on taking the hop on and hop off buses, but after that tour we want to get to Montecasino, would it be sensible to hire a tuk tuk to and from Montecasino?

How many days should I visit Johannesburg to get a good experience of the culture and past history?

Has anyone visited the Lion Park in Joberg? There is a tour for about 5 hours from pick up to drop off. I will be there early August.

We have one full day in Johannesburg. I looked around at city tours but did not find anything interesting. I do not want to walk around Museums or residences of past leaders. Are there any other suggestions? We wish to have a quick ride through the city and then do some off beat place if there is any in Johannesburg. Any suggestions on what we could do will be helpful.
The tour that I came across for half a day covering Johannesburg and Soweto costs 600 rands per person. Would it be cheaper to hire a cab for the whole day?

How much would it cost to go from the airport to House on York(7 York Street, Kensington, South Bedfordview, 2047 Johannesburg)? My hotel suggests that it is best for them to arrange a pick up which would cost anywhere between 560 to 600 rands for the four of us. Is this correct? In the past we have found that taking a taxi from the airport is cheaper than arranging through the hotel. Please let me know.
Thank you,

what is the price for a taxi from johannesburg station to gaborone and the time all i know there is minibus taxi who is going to botswana and the price i am not sure they told me about R200 - R300 please let me now

Hi folks!
I need some information about this area. We are planning a tour starting from Johannesburg, ending in Cape Town 2 weeks in October. We want to visit Okavango, Moremi, Victoria Falls, Kruger Park and we need an advice about a good and reliable agency which can arrange us a package tour. Since we are 8 we cannot take the risk to arrange all the hotels and the tours by ourselves so we need a local assistance.
Is there anyone to help us about recommending a good company? Or do you have any other recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

I'm looking for a furnished studio apartment for 1 (preferably with internet access) in Melville or near Wits for a 6 months stay. Can anyone recommend a reliable rental agency or website? Thanks.

What is the law and order position in South Africa in general and Johannesburg in particular in areas like Hillborw.

Hi, I am planning to go to JB in a week. Can anybody give me some advice which transportation is the best and safe to go to downtown from the airport? Thanks!

Hello. I am planning on visiting South Africa in 2 months. I will be volunteering at a wildlife rescue. I will be arriving at Johannesburg airport and then taking another flight to Pharlowaba airport. I am a female and will be traveling alone. Just wanted to hear opinions on the safety at Johannesburg airport. I have read about tourists being robbed. I would appreciate an feedback and tips. Thanks!!!

Been trying to locate a bed and breakfast/hotel. Have shortlisted a few... but which are the best areas to stay in? We are there for just a day and night to see the city and then moving on to Kruger National Park. We are looking for accommodation for a family of four(couple and teenaged boys) in the month of May

It was there on my last visit in Feb 2008, BUT searching for it in Google Maps a few minutes ago, it seems to have disappeared, replaced by pending construction. Can VT Members update me on the de facto situation please.

Hi, I notice that very popular citysightseeing bus in Cape Town is starting in Jo'burg 13 jan 2013. citysightseeing.co.za/joburg... Looking at route and planned stops it doesn't appear as useful as its Cape Town relations simply beauce most people would spend the full day at two sites Apartied Museum and Constitution Hill .. with Gold Reef City beside former. I will be visiting in New year and my feeling remains that two day car hire to cover Jo'burg one day and Pretoria the other .. Pick up drop off at airport thus covering those transfers remains a better and indeed cheaper way to go for 2 pax. What do others think?

Great! I cannot wait to visit the Kruger Park! After visiting the park we will fly to PE and then drive to Cape Town. How many days shall we secure to travel from PE to Cape Town please? What is the distance? Is 10-12 days enough and what are the best places to stop taking into account that we have limited time? I would not mind relaxing for a couple of days on the beach :-) Thank you, Monika

Thank you. Regarding hireing a car to drive to the Kruger Park. When I arrive in the Park do I need to park my car somewhere outside the Kruger Park and then enter the park with a tour guide, or can I drive through the park myself. Just wondering how this works? Thank you Monika

Thank you for all your advice. Now everything is much clearer for me. I think we will fly to J’burg. We will hire a car from the airport and drive to the Kruger National Park. We stay in the park for some time and then fly to Port Elizabeth to start the Garden Route to Cape Town. We will fly back to London from Cape Town. This is a bit silly question but how many nights would you advise us to stay in the Kruger Park? How long does it take to drive through the park? I am assuming that I can hire the car at the airport for a few nights and drive around the park? Thank you, Monika :-)

Hi Everybody, Thank you so much for your suggestions. I think my planning was really bad and I did not fully understand what the garden route was etc. I do not need to fly to South Africa in the beginning of January and I am more than happy to go at the end of January/beginning of February if you think this is better. I have limited budget and do not like expensive hotels etc. I love mixing with locals and see the culture and how people live. After reading your suggestions I am thinking that perhaps we should fly to Johannesburg, visit Kruger National Park (hire a car) and then fly to Cape Town and do the Garden Route. Is this a good idea? We have only 3 weeks and I need some help with my itinerary please. I really appreciate your help M ;-)

My husband and I are planning to travel to South Africa in January for 3 weeks. We are planning to fly from London to Johannesburg and return from Cape Town to London. We are planning to rent a car and travel from Johannesburg to Cape Town. Is is safe and what is worth seeing please?. Thank you Monika :-)

Hey, I will be in Joburg for a couple of days in December. I wanted to know if spending a day going to Ukutula for the 'Lion Walk' is worth it Thanks in advance!

hey' i want to know what is the best places to visit in JNB next weekend? im gonna be in the cist from friday until monday? i will stay in sandton area ant im looking for both day and nightlife.... thanks!

Hello, I will be in Johannesburg next Friday to Sunday (my first time),and wondered if someone could let me know the best places to be (both day and nightlife)

I am attending a conference in Durban in mid July. My flight arrives in Johannesberg at 7:35 am on July 18th. I am not expected to be in Durban till 4 pm on July 19th. What's the best way to spend my time in Johannesberg. Where should I stay? And what is the best airline to make my booking from J'berg to Durban. (after the conference- I have a package booked with African Travel Getaway for two weeks following the conference to go on safari and to Cape Town. But I will not be coming back to Johannesberg during that time.

Hello, I am a female student intern arriving in Johannesburg on June 1st. My job is located in Newtown and I was wondering if anyone knows of short term housing or rentals available in that area. Also what other areas should I be looking at that are close to Newtown. I want to use public transportation to get around but not sure how safe Newtown is. Thanks!

Hey, im gonna visit jnb at the end of july and iwould like to go to some performance or concerts, which places in the city is the most popular for performance of bands ? (that i can look for schedual)] thanks for help!

Hello, I'm new to all this but I wanted to get some expert advice on the safety of traveling to Johannesburg alone. My original plan was to come for a week early August to see 2 concerts of my favorite band. They are playing at a venue in Kempton Park. I went online and searched multiple websites including some governmental sites, center for disease control etc. What I got out of it all is that: A) It's not safe to use public transportation (I believe they worded it as "safety isn't up to par for United States standards" and said use taxi cabs instead) B) The airport has a large amount of luggage theft...not once you get the luggage and go out to catch a cab or whatever but inside the airport so either when you land it can get broken into and/or stolen or when you're flying home. It was suggested to get an airline approved lock and also some kind of airport bag??? (never heard of that) C) Make sure to use pre-arranged transport to/from airport to/from hotel D) Many shots/vaccines are needed for visiting. I had planned on making appropriate accomodations by staying in a populated area so that I could hopefully walk to some of the sights and/or take a cab, cab it to/from the concerts, buy a lock for luggage, arrange travel to/from airport/hotel and make sure I get back inside before dark. However, once talking to a few more friends, they voiced a lot of concern about me doing this alone and one actually came out and said DON'T GO, it's NOT safe! Said she knew someone who lived there and said it wasn't a good/safe area. Sooo, my question is I guess a few parts. Firstly, is it safe to go alone? I have read about Rosebank being safe but that's not near the venue or some of the other sites I'd like to do (Zoo, the amusement park...can't remember the name now...apartheid museum, plus I'd like to do a day safari trip). Is it true about the public transport and is it feasible to do many sites either by foot or by cab? Finally, overall, how safe or how good/bad an idea is it for me to do this alone? I have done a fair amount of travel so I have a level head on my shoulder but I also don't like the idea of putting myself in danger! Any help/ideas/suggestions/info would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank you, Lori =o)

> Hello All we (Richard, Henriet, and Juliusoure son of 2) are visiting south Africa in august. In short we want to travel from: Johannesburg to Cape town by train And then from Cape town by rent a car allong the coast to Zwaziland, Kruger park Pretoria and back to Johannenburg. We only have oure tickets and are still planning the trip. Where to stay and what to see. which neighborhoods are safe to stay in ((good admosphere bars restaurant people on the street) Offcoure in every city there is crime, but we dont want to sit insite all day (that's not the way to see South Africa) We could use some tips on nice places and safe to stay in these cities. could be private al we need is clean room an a double bed. Where can we rent a car? maybe also a private one tips on nice spots allong the route are also welcome. we don't have to visit al the tourist places. and it would be nice to interact with South Africans we din't book a flight of 11 Hours to sit around the campfire with Dutch tourist haha Are there thing that we beter bring from The Netherlands because they are expesive or hard to get? (daipers battery) we looking foward to youre response. > Greeting and thanks Richard Henriet Julius

hi, i've read a lot about juhannesborg but no one tell about some good areas there to stay- i mean some safe and good location' could anyone tell me ???? please...

Can anyone tell me what the weather is usually like in May. I travel light so I was only going to take one fleece jumper and a waterproof jacket. Should I take another fleece jacket for the nights too? I'll be doing some camping. I have a 3 season sleeping bag and planned to sleep in tracksuit trousers and a long sleeved t-shirt. hould I bring a thermal vest too? I feel the cold easily. I'm from the UK though so I am used to cold, cold weather.

Hi everyone, I am a uk citizen and as such do not need avisa to enter SA for up to 3 months stay, however my question is does anyone know if I need to declare on entry how long I intend to stay, I went last year for 1 month but was not asked how long and my passport was stamped 1 month anyway,in May I am going for 2 months, do I need to tell them that and if so how. Any Info would be great, thanks everyone.