who has been to africa

I was in ZImbabwe, Botswana, SOuth Africa about 3 years ago.
Zimbabwe is going to hell in a handbasket....and not slowing down. Botswana was fabtastic....SOuth Africa....well, the world cup should be interesting...in terms of the crime statistics...In general, if you are in the right place, with the right people, then life is great!....but you only have to turn your back for a second, and you will be with the wrong people. ALWAYS be aware of your situation.....

But the country....its spectacular. The food, mind blowing. Capetown is phenomenal, the bush....undescribable...and Jo'burg....just bloody dangerous. There is a reason why you can get a "flamethrower" as an option on your Mercedes.

Was born there and left in 03 and haven't been back since. As mentioned it is a land of extreme's, lots of very poor, but also very rich people. Lots of crime pretty much everywhere, but Cape Town is probably the safest city in Africa. Be prepared to watch your back everywhere you go, its an extremely stressful place to visit let alone live in.

I live in South Africa, and have for the last 40 yrs (came here from UK when I was 6). Some friends have left (for Oz, NZ, States, Canada or UK) but I really couldnt see myself leaving here unless it was civil war, and even then, I'd go somewhere else in Africa.

Sure the crime is a real problem, but I couldnt see myself swopping this lifestyle for somewhere else.

Africa isn't for sissies..........


errr.......we won't discuss any RUGBY now, shall we?

Tri Nations on the horizon, anybody want to lay odds where the cup is staying?

I lived there for 38 years and left because of work (and safety as well i guess)
All the political and dangerous stuff has been said, watch your back and try to NEVER look like a foreigner or tourist - you'll end up dead. Carry the minimum on you at all times.
I was the 9th generation to be born there and they still called me a settler - so i moved ; but you never get Africa out of your system - it's unique (you'll understand when you go there)
Previous posters mentioned the beauty of the place - no denying that. Also see the Drakensberg, Baviaans valley and Garden route, Knysna, God's window in northern transvaal (or whatever they call it now). I am from the eastern cape, Port Elizabeth - still a fairly decent place.
Leave Zimbabwe alone, but try Botswana - an African experience you'll never forget!
It's worth it to go, but be safe - stick with a local at all times

Interesting thread and some great comments. Makes you appreciate good ol safe oz.

Don't know if this is overly relevant, just watched Disgrace. (john malkovich)

Ignoring the actual films story, I don't know how realistic the politics, black/white etc etc, but it certainly would make me watch my back over there. Other peoples reasoning can be so 180* from 'normal' people.

Also my uncle (Awarded an Order of Australia Medal) has done a lot of work over there, helping a womens groups build toilet blocks, provide tools, clean water, etc etc. Massive amount of work for him and fundraising over here. Unfortunately the first time he got done bad by his so called business partner. Second time it has gone better, making sure money goes directly to the women. But a lot of people wanting to do good just end up getting taken advantage of by the many EXTREMELY corrupt people. Can be very hard to pick the few good ones from the many bad ones.

Either way would be a life changing experience.

A lot of negative stuff above might make you think it's a place to avoid, but I reckon give it a go. It is a brilliant place to spend some time.

Sure - it has dangerous parts, and perhaps cross off whole countries as destinations, but there are lots of interesting and not so dangerous places to check out.

Where are you thinking of going?

We lived in Kenya for 3 years and had a fantastic time. I worked over a lot of Southern/Eastern Africa. You have to be a bit knowledgable about the places not to go to, but the locals will fill you in on that pretty quickly.

It is far removed from Australian life - very eye opening though. The generosity of people with almost nothing will make you embarrased and you'll come home with a different appreciation for:
- clean water
- roads without massive potholes
- shops with useful things like toilet paper and light bulbs (and yoghurt that doesn't fizz when you open it....)
- hospitals that actually have some medical supplies
- a legal system/police force that (mostly) works
- almost zero corruption
- etc etc

Give it a go - you'll remember it for the rest of your life. Ordinary things become an adventure & every day is interesting. I plan on going back once the kids are through their schooling.

Cheers
David

I lived there for more than three years - in Zambia.

I worked for one of the copper mining companies. I rode motorcycles for fun - raced MX and enduro and travelled all over Zambia, Botswana, Nambia (even raced in Zimbabwee) and visited Kenya. Fished Lake Tanganika and some of the rivers. Loved it. As many have said, once the place gets in your blood, it never gets out. (I can say the same for Argentina which was my previous place of employ.)

I have been back once since I left.

Never felt threatened. Occasionaly felt uneasy but that was usually associated which my stupidity.

Loved the people. Zambia has a relatively low level of crime and most of it is crimes of opportunity - leave your car unlocked and you get what you derserve.

I rarely visited South Africa except to change planes or see suppliers. Never had a problem there but I was careful. I always got a driver through the hotel and kept him for the day. It was usually an old Merc with 500,000ks on the clock and never attracted attention.

There are plenty of places in Africa (its a big continent with many countries and cultures) that need and appreciate help. If I was considering going, I would go with an established aid organisation and I would restrict myself to the countries that are not in the headlines as hotspots. Keep your head down, learn the ways of the place and enjoy the experience and the satisfaction of making a difference.

Bill

This thread is about some South African lads taking their motor bikes on a ride through Angola.

Some wonderful photos of people and places:

[ame=http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php't=269251]Angola, it's not like they said. - ADVrider[/ame]

I flew into Sth Sfrica stayed in Joberg for a month then flew up to Nairobi, trained it to Mombassa where i met up with a trans africa safari . We then went overland back to Joberg in an old leyland truck via, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi - fresh water dived in Lake Malawi at Cape Maclear, Zimbabwe - some bungy jumping over the zambezi and white water rafting :) , Zambia - hired scooters at Vic falls and rode over to Livingstone , Botswana - flew into the Okavango Delta and paddled around in dug out canoes ,down to Joberg where my mate had just gpt a company car so he lent me his golf GTI to drive down to Ladysmith Natal, then hired a car for 2 weeks and drove Joberg to Capetown via Kimberly, spent a week exploring the cape and Stellenbosch wine district, then drove along the coast thru the garden route and into the Transkei homeland, on up to PE East London and along up to Durban and back across to Joberg. Then mate and i went to Suncity to watch a million dollar skins golf comp - 5 months in total . :)