Advice on travel to Johannesburg

[ccw]

Not at all!!

 

[Chrisd26]

I am going there next year - visiting Uni of Pretoria and Witts. All is organised for me - ie where I will be staying etc i8n a safe hotel in a safe area.
I certainly have no intention of driving a rental car around! Transport including drivers will be arranged.

I would also assume major hotels would provide driver and car for you.

 

[ccw]

Its really not that bad, I stay in Jhb a few months a year (July 2013 and Dec 2013)
The road system is as good as Sydney/Brisbane. Public transport is not worth mentioning. a Hotel car is an option, but will cost you.
The Uni in Jhb is WITS (its my alma mater) its called that from its name " University of the Witwatersrand" (University of the White Waters , this is the name given to the larger Johannesburg region and is from the gold mining days of the 1800's.

 

[docjames]

Thanks ccw. I'm actually heading to Monash in Ruimsig/Roodepoort.

I'm thinking of Gautrain from airport to a decent hotel in Sandton and then using the hotel to arrange me transfers via private car (and thus forget about rental car). It's about 30km from Sandton so won't be cheap each way!

To be honest, the more I ask around, the more it seems if I get the planning correct (decent hotel, transport plan etc), ill be a "small target" and it'll be a non-event.

The really sad part for Sth Africa is that if this course was offered anywhere short of Iraq/Afghanistan/Pakistan or similar, I wouldn't hesitate. But Johannesburg has such a reputation, half the people I tell I'm going look at me like I have two heads when I tell them that is where I'm going!

Thanks for everyone's input, travel isn't for a little while so any further input welcome.

 

[ccw]

I can't guarantee that nothing will happen, but really I still have a house in Jhb and my wife goes back there more than I do and often on her own, its NOT that bad.
The vast majority of people are wonderful human beings, you will find them friendly and happy and helpful.
I'm not sure if you can communicte directly with me , I don't mind if that would assist you.

 

[Baysider]

Re driving, my neighbours who are from JNB, said that they never completely stop at a red light or a stop sign. If there was no one in front of them, they would just roll thru it slowly, even if it was red. I am not sure how that works, and to be honest, it could be cough advice

Heard the same from an international rugby player who spent a couple of seasons playing there - he learned the hard way !

 

[Canny man]

I've been going to Jburg/Pretoria 3 times a year for the last 4 years and it's really not that bad if you keep your wits about you. Places like Rio are much more risky. I stay in Sandton sometimes and other times in a B&B in a secure housing/golf resort. The B&B doesn't even lock its doors its so safe and I can go for a run around the golf course safely. I usually stay at the Radisson Blue in Sandton and its just fine.

By far and away, the biggest risk isn't carjacking. It's driving. From the web:
Road fatalities per 100 000 inhabitants was at 27.6 deaths in 2011 – a shocking statistic when compared to developed countries like North America with 10.4 or Australia with 5.6. But those developing countries included in the report did not exceed South Africa's road death toll. Both Argentina and Colombia reached around 12, while Malaysia came off second worst with 23.8

Speed, alcohol (drink driving is prevalent) are all factors.

 

[vetrade]

My son has lived in Joburg for the past 3 years and loves it - and he's not a hero type so if he felt it was unsafe I don't reckon he would have lasted.
He does fly in and out of Joburg regularly and always gets his checked luggage plastic wrapped for the inbound flights though - he knows of many cases where work colleagues have had thefts from their bags which turn up on the carousel with the zip prized apart. It's a pretty common occurrence apparently. The wrapping isn't a guarantee but he figures a thief would prefer a less time consuming target and move on to somebody else's bag.

He always drives in Joburg and doesn't stop at red lights at night even though he says the risk is very small provided you stay away from the known risky areas. Also keeps the doors locked because robbers/carjackers can try and get in the rear passenger door if you are forced to slow down for some reason. Usually it's a lot quicker to pay the police about a $20 "gratuity" if they do catch you doing the wrong thing apparently.

 

[coles525]

Bump. Off to Sth Africa in October, with everything booked/paid except JNB. All transport is by plane to each destination.

JNB: 2 nights

Krueger National Park: 3 nights

Cape Town: 3 nights

Then airport wait in JNB for a few hours for international flight out.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Bump. Off to Sth Africa in October, with everything booked/paid except JNB. All transport is by plane to each destination.

JNB: 2 nights

Kruger National Park: 3 nights

Cape Town: 3 nights

Then airport wait in JNB for a few hours for international flight out.

Why the bump of a very old thread with no question????

PS: Kruger and Cap Town are both amazing...so enjoy.

 

[N860CR]

Bump. Off to Sth Africa in October, with everything booked/paid except JNB. All transport is by plane to each destination.

JNB: 2 nights

Krueger National Park: 3 nights

Cape Town: 3 nights

Then airport wait in JNB for a few hours for international flight out.

Where are you staying in Kruger?

 

[coles525]

Why the bump of a very old thread with no question????

PS: Kruger and Cap Town are both amazing...so enjoy.

Sorry, my question is on where to stay in Johannesburg? I've been looking at other topics from searching for Johannesburg.

 

[coles525]

Where are you staying in Kruger?

The place we are staying at Kruger is called: Africa on Foot camp.

 

[vetrade]

Sorry, my question is on where to stay in Johannesburg? I've been looking at other topics from searching for Johannesburg.

Coles525, we stayed in JNB last April and relied on the local knowledge of our son who has been based there for 5 years. The best area to stay (i.e. safest and generally "up market" area) is around Sandton which is west of the airport and north of the CBD area of JNB. There are quite a few good restaurants there too (notably at Sandton Mall) and you will find that restaurant meals in both JNB and CPT are cheap compared to Australia. E.g. can get a great steak with veg for about $AUD18 and wines in SA are incredibly cheap - for $AUD 7-10 you can get a very nice wine that would cost $40 + in a bottle shop here.

The two hotels we stayed at in JNB were the Radisson Blue Sandton and the Protea Fire & Ice Hotel at Melrose Arch. I would recommend both of them - very clean, modern decor and well appointed good sized rooms etc. There is another Radisson Blue Hotel just a little north of the Sandton one which isn't near as good - some of the booking sites have them confused so if booking online make sure you only book at the R B Sandton. I would happily stay at the Protea again but access can be confusing if you have a hire car. Their carpark is underground and you access it via the Woolworths supermarket car park on the other side of the block to the hotel's main entrance, but it's not well signposted, like many streets and other things in JNB.

You did say you were flying everywhere but driving in SA is easy so if you get the chance there are sights not far from Kruger (to the west) on the Garden Route that are well worth a look such as the Three Rondawels (have you been watching "I'm a celebrity, get me out of here" ?), Bourke's Luck Potholes, Gods Window etc. Plus it's great sightseeing to drive through some of the smaller villages and towns - e.g. you might see an open air "mechanic" and a "beauty parlour" housed together under a small corrugated iron roof.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

You did say you were flying everywhere but driving in SA is easy so if you get the chance there are sights not far from Kruger (to the west) on the Garden Route that are well worth a look such as the Three Rondawels (have you been watching "I'm a celebrity, get me out of here" ?), Bourke's Luck Potholes, Gods Window etc. .

While I agree it is a great drive (though that is Blyde River Canyon area and not the Garden Route which is way south and to the east of Cape Town along the coast)) it takes a whole day even if you hardly stop at any of the sights (we had a day and a half and we had to rush).

With flying in and out with only 3 nights he will not have a lot of time in the Kruger area and so I would just stick to Kruger/Sabi Sands etc and concentrate on the wildlife which is what the Kruger is famous for.

Kruger is accessed by several airports spaced widely apart, as Kruger is a vast National Park. If you are looking to stay actually in the park and are flying in to Skukuza airport I would recommend staying at the Lower Sabie Rest Camp as it has a great setting and wildlife spotting in that part of the park is very good. It is also only a fraction of the cost of staying at an up market game lodge as well.

In Cape Town we redeemed some Marriot Points and stayed at the Protea Hotel North Wharf Waterfront due to its central location.
- You were within 20 minutes walk of the waterfront and the heart if town, Bo Kaap etc and so this minimises the need for taxis or hire cars as you can walk to many sights.
- With 3 nights in CapeTown, use one day to go on a day trip to the very nearby wine ditricts (only 45 minutes there).
- To go up Table Mountain get there early as the queues rapidly build up for the cable car.

 

[vetrade]

My bad lovetravellingoz - getting confused - of course you are correct re the Garden Route. It is actually called the Panorama Route.

 

[michaelj]

Stayed in Rosebank near Sandton in 2014 at the Clico Boutique Hotel. We thought it was fantastic, small, intimate with big comfortable rooms and a wonderful restaurant on site. Also felt very secure.

 

[Gem56]

Hi Docjames
I am from Johannesburg (Jhb) and still visit there regularly. Now living in Oz.
I may be able to help with accommodation, depending when you are going.
There is a fast train from the airport to Rosebank / Sandton.
Rental car is a good idea.
Which Uni will you be visiting?
If you are going to stay in a Hotel probably better in the suburbs, Rosebank or Sandton (Hilton / Rosebank Hotel / Grace) would be a good idea.
Its reasonably safe as long as you're not stupid. Don't look like a tourist (cameras etc) , as for the Stop lights (known as "robots" in S Africa, if you don't stop at them you will receive a lot of fines from the police. You must try and be aware of your surrounding.
Most of the comments on your blog is cough.
There's not that much to see in Jhb itself. 2hrs out of the city you will be able to visit a game reserve.
Contact me if you need any more help.

We are planning a trip to Africa either late this year or early next year. Thanks for the tips. Sounds similar to the recommendations for PNG.