Safety in S.A

Hello all. I'm from Chicago and a friend and I plan on bike touring for 2-3 months throughout S.A. and I've been hearing recent reports about very high crime rates. Being on a bike doesn't provide you much safety in terms of being able to speed away so should we replan our trip? Any responses would be appreciated. Thanks.

My advice is don't think about. Make sure its a risk your family is prepared to lose you.
I am serious biking is out of the question without a police escort.
You will be robbed at gun point. Don't gamble with life. Its like riding your bike through one of the worst surburbs in Chicago at night fall witha bag of money.
Thats what people see in Africa when they see you.
Hope you will make better plans like take a bus or plane.

Hi

People do cycle around SA without a police escort.

There a couple of travelogues about individuals who are currently cycling across Africa, and are on their way to SA, in our travelogue section here,
http://www.africaguide.com/travelog/index.htm

What you might want to do is contact them and get an idea of any problems they have encoutered.

I was travelling in a vehicle around SA last year and was told numerous times about how dangerous it was - warned that I might get held up at gun point if I stopped at the red lights .. and it does put you off when you are repeatedly told about the dangers.

However, I didn't encounter any problems and never felt threatened and I loved the country and I think cycling round would be a fantastic experience.

If you take sensible precautions you should be ok... no night cycling, no free camping etc... Admittedly it is risky - but it does depend how adventurous you are on whether you go or not...

Whats the difference between walking round and cycling... and people walk around every day. Yes there are muggings etc... but where in the world isn't there??

Well, you might have been lucky and cycled around South Africa while everybody was asleep. But I can guarantee you that don't expect muggings but expect the worst.

I am from Jo'burg myself, born and raised in Soweto. So I know what I am talking about.
I would have been one of those guys out there if I had not got a soccer scholarship to come to the U.S and go to University.

Anyway, do as you please but I will stick to my view.
Cycling in S.A in suicide except if you are cycling around Cape Town or Sun City.

Hi Laurie I would just like to point out that I live in SA and that I personaly have never experenced any serious crime. Yes we do have it but it does not jump out from every street corner. If you use you brains and do not go looking for trouble you will be fine and experence one of the world most amaising places. I am a tour operator and have guided many overseas clients though out wonderfull country, with out problems. I say go for it, and if you need somebody to check you route just give us a shout or get hold of one of the many tourist offices that can advise you on your route.

Go to the library and read Dervla Murphy's book on bicycling through south africa.