Traveling to South Africa

[LPIDelta]

Hello all! I am traveling to South Africa for two weeks and I wanted to get some advice from people who have been there and since there are all kinds of peple here I hoping someone here might be able to help.

I want to take my laptop, primarily to watch movies on the flights and possibly to check email, but I have heard that the country is not really "wireless" yet and internet connections are dial-up. So I do not know if it is worth it to take the laptop given security concerns and having to transport it everywhere. And of course, I am not even sure it will work on their electric currency.

Also, I will need to get adapters for appliances like hair dryer and camera battery charger--it seems that South Africa outlets are completely different from those in Europe and other parts of Africa. Is this accurate?

[macallan25]

We stayed at the Cape Grace on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town. The rooms their have international plug-ins and high speed internet connection. We didn't need any kind of adapters or chargers, but it may not be that way for every hotel. I would just get in touch with where you are staying.

[ragtimerose]

South African electrical outlets are completely different from those in Europe and the US. So, I would look for adapters and converters specifically for that region. If memory serves me right, my friend who did go there (Cape Town) told me that the outlets are three circular plugs in a triangle shape. He even took a picture of one so I could see it.

So, I would recommend taking a spare laptop battery with you if you can. If not, I would say leave the laptop at home. Take batteries for your camera and other appliances. My friend took a battery-operated shaver with him.

I understand the V & A Waterfront in Cape Town is beautiful. I'd like to go there myself some day.

Also, make sure your immunizations are up to date. You can get them updated at your local board of health.

Any other questions, feel free to PM me.

Bon voyage!

PS: Your flight down there and back will probably have many choices of video programming, particularly if you're flying SAA (South African Airways). My friend who went there saw a British comedy on the flight back that was hysterical. We would never have known about it otherwise.

[CutiePie2000]

I was in South Africa in 1997 so I can't remember a lot. There is a hotel that you can take a shuttle from the Hotel to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and back again.

I personally wouldn't bother with lugging a laptop (too heavy, too much potential for it to get damaged, too much potential for theft) all the way to South Africa and back, but that's just me.

SA Airlines is excellent, so relax, enjoy the flight and take a load off.

[RitaMae1908]

I traveled to South African my Senior Year (June-July 1998). It was awesome. I went to both Cape Town, which is pretty westernized and Port Elizabeth. Some of your higher end hotels will probably have an outlet that is compatable to US applicances, electronics, etc. But it won't hurt to bring an adapter with you just in case. I got one, I don't think I paid more than 20 bucks for it. I flew South African Airlines and the crew was great. You can use most gadgets once you reach cruising altitude. But there were good in flight movies and they fed us constantly so that was good. Have fun over there. It's beautiful!!!

[LPIDelta]

Thanks everyone for the advice--very helpful!

[moe.ron]

Lived in South Africa for 5 years.

Internet, they do have adsl connection, go the local net shop, fast connections.

Where to stay? how much money you got and which part of the country are you going to visit?

Other then Cape Town, go to Hermanus, Stellenbosch, the Garden Route.

For the northern side, Kruger Park is a must, but do not miss out on God's Window.

any more questions, give me a shout out.

Btw, don't go to Sun City, a waste of time and money.