I have a friend who is going next month. She is a very cautious mother of 2, and I don’t believe she would make the trip if there were high risk involved. I think you should be fine.
It is totally unsafe unless you are wearing body armour and surrounded by armed bodyguards. Your problems will start at Jhb International Airport when your luggage will be looted by the Baggage Handlers and if you declare too much money to the corrupt Airport Officials you will be followed to your destination and robbed.Africans are used to this kind of crap so for them it is quite and normal so they will say it is safe. There are so many sites on the crime in South Africa that you just have to Goggle “crime South Africa” and you will have enough reading for the next 6 months. Try this one:
but best to stay away. They only want your foreign currency anyway behind a facade of being friendly.
All I can tell you is don’t go out after dark,and try not to carry any valuables with you. Just be vary aware of everything around you. Don’t trust anyone.
Good luck!
I think it depends on which place in Jo’burg you wanne visit. Please don’t even consider Hilbrow…..dangerous, VERY. If I could give you some advice, don’t travel alone, please!!
Why not, Johannesburg is a crowdy city, just like Ny, PARIS or even ENgland. Off course you should be aware of safe places to go. In the day you can walk any where in JHB. Cmmon how do people leave there? Is that unsafe that everybody afford an escort?
There have been SO MANY questions like this on Yahoo Q + A …….and quite rightly so.
I can tell you yes or no.
What will you choose to believe?
Stick to the facts only.
Do your own research - Google or Youtube “crime south africa”.
Read up, and then come to your own conclusions.
(Now, if you want an answer using my own personal experience as a gauge, then I can assure you I would try my utmost to dissuade a loved one from traveling alone in Johannesburg, and especially a female at that.
According to crime statistics Joburg (and South Africa) is the crime and **** Capital of the world.
There are so many safer places on this planet with a healthier social environment, why not choose some place else?
But this is just my own personal opinion formed after living in South Africa for 32 years.)
Like any other big city, you’ll need to be wary of extremely crowded spaces (the centre of the city) and extremely deserted spaces. Don’t walk around after dark, but it’s perfectly ok to get a cab after dark (the two largest taxi companies are Maxi Taxi and Rose Taxis). They both operate 24 hours a day. Call your taxi in advance, and wait for it in a well-lit, public space (outside a restaurant or club, or at the entrance to a large petrol station or mall). When in doubt, be cautious: as a newcomer, you won’t know which are the bad areas, so if an area looks dodgy, it probably is.
It is normal in Johannesburg to lock doors of cars and houses. Don’t leave your handbag on the passenger seat, even while driving, because it may be stolen. This has been known to happen at traffic lights or highway offramps. I only know of three people of my entire list of acquaintances to whom this has happened. Still, it’s better to be safe. This also goes for the amount of jewellery you wear in the street: it’s a good idea not to look like a rich foreigner. Walk like you know where you’re going, even if you don’t. It’s better to go into a shop to ask directions or look at a map than to wander around looking vulnerable. Try not to talk on your cellphone while walking in the street: if you are distracted, you are not as alert or in control. Look people in the eye when passing them in the street: you don’t have to be agressive and can even smile if you catch someone’s eye, but this shows them that you are not an easy target.
Public parks are safe in some suburbs, but not all. If in doubt, ask your host - and as in any city, don’t hang around parks after dark unless there’s some sort of event going on there. Some safe parks you can visit are the Zoo Lake (which also has a lovely African restaurant called Moyo) and Emmarentia Dam.
Public buses are safe to catch, but sometimes come only once an hour (outside of peak times). Call Metrobus (I forget the number, but it’s in the phone book) for specific routes and times, and avoid routes that involve changing buses in the city centre. I am not afraid there, and changed buses there for two years until I had my own car, but I wouldn’t recommend it for foreigners. You could, however, take a bus through the city centre and out the other side - it’s a good way of seeing that aspect of the city while still remaining safe. Bus services end at around 17:30, so make sure you get home in time, or call a cab. Many South Africans catch minibus taxis to get around. These are more frequent than buses, and often cheaper, and have more routes. However, the Johannesburg minibuses are not always roadworthy, and tend to drive very badly (Cape Town ones are safer). They also have an etiquette around seating and payment which takes a bit of learning. I don’t recommend them, unless you are travelling with a local.
The township areas on the outskirts of Johannesburg are worth seeing, both as an example of apartheid town planning, and to see how most black urban people still live. Some areas are safe, but some are extremely dangerous, and as a foreigner you will stand out. Unless you are travelling with someone who knows the township in question, rather opt for an organised tour. It may feel a bit touristy, but you will still get a feel for the area and it will be perfectly safe (and at some point you’ll probably wind up at the most famous shebeen in Soweto;p).
I’d recommend getting a guide book such as Lonely Planet or Rough Guide. These will recommend interesting places to go, and will also give you a more comprehensive list of safe and unsafe places.
It’s possible to spend your entire stay in shopping malls or at your host’s house. You will be safe, but you might as well not have come to Johannesburg. There are plenty of more interesting things to do, which are still safe: catch some jazz in Newtown cultural precinct, visit Gramadoelas for some great South African fare, go clubbing in Melville, visit the Johannesburg zoo, go to the Apartheid museum, go to Gold Reef City (we’ve got to be the only country in the world that made a theme park about gold mining), go hiking on Melville koppie (a koppie is a hill in Afrikaans) or drive out to the Magaliesburg nature reserve an hour outside of the city, visit the Rosebank craft market, see some traditional African singing and dancing, visit Museum Africa, go to an art exhibition at the Goodman gallery (the Standard Bank gallery has a larger collection, but is located in the city centre, so only go there with a cab). The Mail&Guardian newspaper has entertainment listings that come out every Friday.
I won’t pretend that Johannesburg is as safe as Sydney or London. But I live there, and have developed a real fondness for it. It’s a vibrant city, and well worth a visit.
It depends on where u going in Johannesburg. You obviously have to take extra precautions. Be alert and aware at all times. Its risky to travel on your own in any country. Just be careful where you are travelling to. If you are driving keep your doors locked and keep your valuables out of sight. Don’t stress too much cos that makes you a bigger target. Try to blend in. I wouldn’t advise driving thro townships or high risk areas. Ask your friend for advise on which areas to avoid. Just relax and enjoy. South Africa is a really great country.
4. November 2007 at 2:15 am :
Murder and **** capital of the world good luck
9. November 2007 at 1:29 am :
It’s intersting that the above two are still able to post while - taking logic of their postings - they should be dead by now.
It is safe!!!
9. November 2007 at 3:37 am :
I have a friend who is going next month. She is a very cautious mother of 2, and I don’t believe she would make the trip if there were high risk involved. I think you should be fine.
12. November 2007 at 3:30 pm :
If you have a healthy dose of common sense and caution then you really should be fine!
15. November 2007 at 9:58 am :
It is totally unsafe unless you are wearing body armour and surrounded by armed bodyguards. Your problems will start at Jhb International Airport when your luggage will be looted by the Baggage Handlers and if you declare too much money to the corrupt Airport Officials you will be followed to your destination and robbed.Africans are used to this kind of crap so for them it is quite and normal so they will say it is safe. There are so many sites on the crime in South Africa that you just have to Goggle “crime South Africa” and you will have enough reading for the next 6 months. Try this one:
but best to stay away. They only want your foreign currency anyway behind a facade of being friendly.
16. November 2007 at 2:21 pm :
All I can tell you is don’t go out after dark,and try not to carry any valuables with you. Just be vary aware of everything around you. Don’t trust anyone.
Good luck!
19. November 2007 at 3:44 am :
rather play russian roulette it is much safer
22. November 2007 at 5:45 am :
I think it depends on which place in Jo’burg you wanne visit. Please don’t even consider Hilbrow…..dangerous, VERY. If I could give you some advice, don’t travel alone, please!!
25. November 2007 at 7:09 am :
Why not, Johannesburg is a crowdy city, just like Ny, PARIS or even ENgland. Off course you should be aware of safe places to go. In the day you can walk any where in JHB. Cmmon how do people leave there? Is that unsafe that everybody afford an escort?
25. November 2007 at 7:07 pm :
Well, more than half our population is female and the majority of them like in any other country is ok. That should say something to you.
27. November 2007 at 3:40 pm :
There have been SO MANY questions like this on Yahoo Q + A …….and quite rightly so.
I can tell you yes or no.
What will you choose to believe?
Stick to the facts only.
Do your own research - Google or Youtube “crime south africa”.
Read up, and then come to your own conclusions.
(Now, if you want an answer using my own personal experience as a gauge, then I can assure you I would try my utmost to dissuade a loved one from traveling alone in Johannesburg, and especially a female at that.
According to crime statistics Joburg (and South Africa) is the crime and **** Capital of the world.
There are so many safer places on this planet with a healthier social environment, why not choose some place else?
But this is just my own personal opinion formed after living in South Africa for 32 years.)
30. November 2007 at 10:16 am :
Like any other big city, you’ll need to be wary of extremely crowded spaces (the centre of the city) and extremely deserted spaces. Don’t walk around after dark, but it’s perfectly ok to get a cab after dark (the two largest taxi companies are Maxi Taxi and Rose Taxis). They both operate 24 hours a day. Call your taxi in advance, and wait for it in a well-lit, public space (outside a restaurant or club, or at the entrance to a large petrol station or mall). When in doubt, be cautious: as a newcomer, you won’t know which are the bad areas, so if an area looks dodgy, it probably is.
It is normal in Johannesburg to lock doors of cars and houses. Don’t leave your handbag on the passenger seat, even while driving, because it may be stolen. This has been known to happen at traffic lights or highway offramps. I only know of three people of my entire list of acquaintances to whom this has happened. Still, it’s better to be safe. This also goes for the amount of jewellery you wear in the street: it’s a good idea not to look like a rich foreigner. Walk like you know where you’re going, even if you don’t. It’s better to go into a shop to ask directions or look at a map than to wander around looking vulnerable. Try not to talk on your cellphone while walking in the street: if you are distracted, you are not as alert or in control. Look people in the eye when passing them in the street: you don’t have to be agressive and can even smile if you catch someone’s eye, but this shows them that you are not an easy target.
Public parks are safe in some suburbs, but not all. If in doubt, ask your host - and as in any city, don’t hang around parks after dark unless there’s some sort of event going on there. Some safe parks you can visit are the Zoo Lake (which also has a lovely African restaurant called Moyo) and Emmarentia Dam.
Public buses are safe to catch, but sometimes come only once an hour (outside of peak times). Call Metrobus (I forget the number, but it’s in the phone book) for specific routes and times, and avoid routes that involve changing buses in the city centre. I am not afraid there, and changed buses there for two years until I had my own car, but I wouldn’t recommend it for foreigners. You could, however, take a bus through the city centre and out the other side - it’s a good way of seeing that aspect of the city while still remaining safe. Bus services end at around 17:30, so make sure you get home in time, or call a cab. Many South Africans catch minibus taxis to get around. These are more frequent than buses, and often cheaper, and have more routes. However, the Johannesburg minibuses are not always roadworthy, and tend to drive very badly (Cape Town ones are safer). They also have an etiquette around seating and payment which takes a bit of learning. I don’t recommend them, unless you are travelling with a local.
The township areas on the outskirts of Johannesburg are worth seeing, both as an example of apartheid town planning, and to see how most black urban people still live. Some areas are safe, but some are extremely dangerous, and as a foreigner you will stand out. Unless you are travelling with someone who knows the township in question, rather opt for an organised tour. It may feel a bit touristy, but you will still get a feel for the area and it will be perfectly safe (and at some point you’ll probably wind up at the most famous shebeen in Soweto;p).
I’d recommend getting a guide book such as Lonely Planet or Rough Guide. These will recommend interesting places to go, and will also give you a more comprehensive list of safe and unsafe places.
It’s possible to spend your entire stay in shopping malls or at your host’s house. You will be safe, but you might as well not have come to Johannesburg. There are plenty of more interesting things to do, which are still safe: catch some jazz in Newtown cultural precinct, visit Gramadoelas for some great South African fare, go clubbing in Melville, visit the Johannesburg zoo, go to the Apartheid museum, go to Gold Reef City (we’ve got to be the only country in the world that made a theme park about gold mining), go hiking on Melville koppie (a koppie is a hill in Afrikaans) or drive out to the Magaliesburg nature reserve an hour outside of the city, visit the Rosebank craft market, see some traditional African singing and dancing, visit Museum Africa, go to an art exhibition at the Goodman gallery (the Standard Bank gallery has a larger collection, but is located in the city centre, so only go there with a cab). The Mail&Guardian newspaper has entertainment listings that come out every Friday.
I won’t pretend that Johannesburg is as safe as Sydney or London. But I live there, and have developed a real fondness for it. It’s a vibrant city, and well worth a visit.
30. November 2007 at 8:03 pm :
It depends on where u going in Johannesburg. You obviously have to take extra precautions. Be alert and aware at all times. Its risky to travel on your own in any country. Just be careful where you are travelling to. If you are driving keep your doors locked and keep your valuables out of sight. Don’t stress too much cos that makes you a bigger target. Try to blend in. I wouldn’t advise driving thro townships or high risk areas. Ask your friend for advise on which areas to avoid. Just relax and enjoy. South Africa is a really great country.
2. December 2007 at 9:30 am :
Johannesburg is rather big so it all depends on where
If you are talking about the CBD then yes it is very dangerous but not like always
But if you are talking about sandton, woodmead, rosebank etc then it is rather safe
I am a consultant within the johannesburg area and in the CBD is the only place i feel unsafe