The association with crime and South Africa has been brought up again with the murder of Anni Dewani, wife of Shrien Dewani, in Cape Town. A few posts back I said that crime almost always occurs in hot spots and that plain common sense should keep you safe.
The international media have had a field day with the story. UK journalists had a go at our national police commissioner Bheki Cele. “Can you assure us no other tourists will get killed?” was apparently asked of him.
I do think it incumbent on tourists to observe basic safety protocol. Surely that should apply no matter where you travel? With regard to this story there are a good few things I would never have done. I am fairly certain that the 5 star hotel where they were staying would also have offered good advice.
I would not go to a hot spot at 11.00pm at night. I would only travel to a hot spot with an approved driver or tour guide. I would never go to a hot spot with a stranger. I would know exactly where I was going and would in all likelyhood have known that the restaurant they were looking for was closed. I know that I would never have been in that car, with that person, in that place, at that time. Never!
That’s not to say I have never been to a township or that I don’t go out. I have and I do. Locals are watching this case unfold. We would also like to know what happened. Visit our webiste for all the best safety and travel tips we have come across. Click here – health, safety, travel and money saving tips.
What to do at night in Cape Town? You will be utterly spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out in South Africa. On the whole, food is affordable and the standard of food is usually excellent. Service is good. Cusine ranges from seafood, Malay curries and international cuisine to steak houses. For kosher food try Avron’s in Sea Point and for halaal food try Biesmiellah in the Bo Kaap.
I like Osumo, Kauai and Wellness Warehouse Cafe for divine fresh salads and smoothies. Vegetarians are well catered for there. Have a look at the Eat Out and Dining Out websites for more ideas.
After that you could head down Long Street for anything from stand up comedy, live music to an all night boogie. Green Point and Camps Bay also have a good few clubs and cocktail bars. To get about call a Rikki cab. They are London style share-cabs that are well priced and safe. It’s safe to walk about the busy areas but I wouldn’t get drawn into conversations with people on the street trying to sell things to you. Just say no!
For something completely different, how about an evening cycle tour? Or maybe a moonlight hike up Lion’s Head. For the cycle tour which is a 13 kilometre route that starts at 16.00pm at Cape Grace visit the operator website – Bike and saddle. For the full moon hike, take a turn up Signal Hill and find a parking space early. It’s a popular walk and can get crazy full of people. Take some snacks or sandwiches and a bottle of wine and head up to watch the full moon rise.
It’s like Soccer World cup all over again here in Cape Town. The roads are closing and fans are flocking into our part of the world. If we can pull off Soccer World Cup, well one more game is a doddle. An on-line poll done by a local newspaper shows that South Africans are feeling optimistic. Sixty-six percent of us think we will beat the Americans. Let’s hope the makarapas and the rest of the fan gear is as stunning as it was for Soccer World Cup.
A makarapa for the ignorant, is a hard hat that is carved with great care to create relief designs on the hat. The colour of the hard hat and optional painted images allow fans to display their club colours. And of course a hard hat is handy if fans become a bit boisterous. The de rigeur accompaniment is a pair of bright plastic oversize glasses. Tres soccer chic!
And what would a game of soccer here be without the obligatory vuvuzela. Bring them on!
In my last blog I was waxing about how incredibly wonderful South Africa and South Africans are. Funny thing is, the rest of the world don’t see us like that. I can’t count the amount of times after I was asked where I was from, people would ask me about crime and how I manage to live with it. It’s almost as if they think we’re all living in fear here.
I can’t lie and say we don’t have crime. We’re definitely at the top end of the statistics lists. And while most of the people I mix with have not been affected by crime, I do know some people who have. Crime happens in hot spots and for the most part – to people who don’t take proper care. If you leave a laptop on the passenger seat of your car, well don’t expect to find it when you come back. If you get blind drunk and walk off in a dark alley, there is a chance you will be attacked. If you don’t do stupid things you should be fine.
But there is good news. Crime in SA is coming down. National Crime Statistics showed our murder rate had dropped by 8.6% since last year. Soccer Cup went off with hardly a glitch. Except for the soccer team that invited ladies of the night into their hotel and left cash lying around. Then wondered why their money got nicked. I can tell them why. But then what do I know?
Coming home is a bit like getting wrapped up in a thick warm blanket on a cold wet night. It’s the same oldness that feels so right and comfortable. Especially since I have had three and a half months of always different. I can find and eat what I want to. Me and the guy who sells the Big Issue on our corner street are on first name terms. I know what to expect with the weather and I won’t get lost if I go for a run.
Europe is in many ways far more trendy and affluent than we are back here in SA. But there is a wholesome naivety about South Africans. We don’t fear lawsuits or risking our health and safety. We say what we think and we mean what we say. We make do on far less and we get things done without fuss. I like that about us. Actually I love that about us and before I left I said that was what I would miss.
A friend passed the picture on to me of Green Point during the Soccer World Cup. I have to add, that apart from our down-to-earthness, we live in a spectacular city. I am so glad to be back home. I hope other people can see just what it is about being right here in Cape Town that makes me happy.
