South Africa Travels Blog

Hitch hiking in South Africa.
Given the unreliability, or often non existence of public transport to some popular destinations within South Africa, travellers often need to find other ways to get to where they are going.

Accommodations & Internet message boards often have messages for those seeking rides, or those seeking to share the cost of gas / petrol and where they can meet up.

Standing on the side of the highway or road with your thumb out is much more dangerous than making a new friend where you have stopped overnight. Safety issues are always imperative, even when you are travelling with another person. Hitch hiking means entrusting your life to a random person who happens to stop beside you on the road, as well as risking assault and sexual harassment, not to mention unsafe driving.

If you are a woman travelling alone do not hitch in South Africa. It is just too dangerous.
Avoid getting in the back of a 2 door car, or any other car that you cannot get out of again in a hurry. In addition, never let go of your back pack or bag.

Hitching at night can be particularly dangerous. Do not accept a ride if you feel bad karma flowing from the person who has stopped and if you ever feel threatened during the ride, insist on being let off, keeping in mind that in some parts of South Africa the vast distance between towns may leave you in an even more difficult position.

Remember that picking up hitch hikers can be just as dangerous as hitchhiking yourself. Use judgment and caution.

Advice when travelling in South Africa

Photocopies.
It is a good idea to photocopy the page of your passport that contains your photograph, passport number and other identifying information, along with other important documents such as visas, travel insurance policies, air tickets and travellers check serial numbers in case you lose anything. It is also a good idea to have a complete set of copies left at home.

Lost Passports.
If you lose your passport, immediately notify the nearest embassy or consulate of your home country. There are consulates for most large countries in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban. To speed up the process of replacement, you will need to know all information previously recorded and show identification and proof of citizenship. Replacement documents can take from 1 to 2 weeks to process. Any visa stamps in you old passport will be lost.

Identification.
When you travel, it is always good to have two forms of identification on your person including one photo ID. Many establishments, especially banks require identification before cashing traveller’s cheques.

Exchanging Currency.
The general rule is that it is cheaper to convert foreign currency in South Africa than in your home country. It is always advised to bring enough Rand with you to last 2 to 3 days into your trip, to ensure a smooth transition into your host country.

Credit Cards.
Credit Cards are generally accepted in all but the smallest accommodation in South Africa or Namibia. American Express and Diners Club are only accepted in the larger Hotels and never elsewhere.