9.1.2017 - 21.1.2016

Around the world trip has proceeded to the last continent. The three dots in South Africa from left to right are: Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban. The whole route: Finland - Australia - New Zealand - Argentina - Uruguay - Chile - Brazil - Paraguay - South Africa.
Around the world trip has proceeded to the last continent. The three dots in South Africa from left to right are: Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban. The whole route: Finland - Australia - New Zealand - Argentina - Uruguay - Chile - Brazil - Paraguay - South Africa.

I had bought a bus ticket from Cape Town to Johannesburg from BazBus bus company. With the ticket I was able to hop on and hop off in different places during the three week time period.

I chose my stops as I traveled further to east. In this blog post I cover these places:

  • Cape Town
  • Wilderness
  • Plettenberg bay
  • Storms river
  • Port Elizabeth
  • Coffee Bay
  • Durban
This time we cover the route in South Africa from Cape Town to Durban. The whole route in South Africa: Cape Town - Wilderness - Plettenberg Bay - Storms River - Port Elizabeth - Coffee Bay - Durban - Northern Drakensberg - Johannesburg.
This time we cover the route in South Africa from Cape Town to Durban. The whole route in South Africa: Cape Town - Wilderness - Plettenberg Bay - Storms River - Port Elizabeth - Coffee Bay - Durban - Northern Drakensberg - Johannesburg.

Wilderness – My hostel room gets robbed

On the second day of my stay in Wilderness I was sitting in the common room browsing my laptop. A Canadian guy accommodating in the same room sat down next to me and told our room had been robbed.

I quickly went to my room to see whether anything had been stolen. Apparently not. My passport had been in the room but luckily it was still there. I had all other valuable stuff with me so no losses for this time.

Ryöstön kohteena ollut hostellihuone Wildernessissa. Rinkkani nojasi oikealla puolella olevaan alasänkyyn. Tavarat oltiin vedetty lattialle ulos rinkasta. Pienempi reppu, jossa passini oli, jäi huomaamatta suoraan ikkunan alla.
Ryöstön kohteena ollut hostellihuone Wildernessissa. Rinkkani nojasi oikealla puolella olevaan alasänkyyn. Tavarat oltiin vedetty lattialle ulos rinkasta. Pienempi reppu, jossa passini oli, jäi huomaamatta suoraan ikkunan alla.

Later I heard about many, many robberies that had occurred to other backpackers. iPhone stolen in Cape Town. Car windows crashed in Port Elizabeth. And so on.

Coffee Bay – Surfing on countryside

After quick stops in Plettenberg Bay, Storms River and Port Elizabeth I decided to visit in Coffee Bay between Port Elizabeth and Durban. The scenery was very original African: round clay huts here and there, animals wandering free on the streets. Contrary to my expectations, Coffee Bay was one of the nicest places I ended up to spend my time. I made some short hikes and took a two-hour surf lesson. I would say, it was surprisingly easy.

South Africa is well known from its surffing opportunities. The photo is from Coffee Bay. I surffed very first time and managed to surf a couple of waves.
South Africa is well known from its surffing opportunities. The photo is from Coffee Bay. I surffed very first time and managed to surf a couple of waves.

Durban – A ghost town invaded by heroin addicts

Durban was very bad place for tourists. My roommate lost his GoPro video camera for thief and I was advised to take extra care while going to grocery store. Lots of homeless people were living on streets and showing wealth would be a thing to avoid there. I couldn’t take my cell phone with me so I had to memorize the instructions and street names to make it to the grocery store.

Neighbourhood looked like nice area from the roof of the hostel but bad districts started just a couple of blocks away. As it wasn't adviced to carry cell phone with you on the streets, this was the best photo I had.
Neighbourhood looked like nice area from the roof of the hostel but bad districts started just a couple of blocks away. As it wasn't adviced to carry cell phone with you on the streets, this was the best photo I had.

Conclusion

According to my experiences I can’t recommend visiting South Africa for anyone. There are much nicer and safer places in this planet to go.

Photo Gallery - More Pictures from the Activities

I was able to walk to grocery store along closed railway from my hostel. So don't try this at home!
I was able to walk to grocery store along closed railway from my hostel. So don't try this at home!
A local woman had got a sign from the God to move to this cave around 15 years ago. After that, more than ten people have moved to the cave with her. They don't work but they fund their simplistic living by introducing the cave for occassional tourists.
A local woman had got a sign from the God to move to this cave around 15 years ago. After that, more than ten people have moved to the cave with her. They don't work but they fund their simplistic living by introducing the cave for occassional tourists.
Plettenberg Bay beach from Robberg cape where I did some hiking.
Plettenberg Bay beach from Robberg cape where I did some hiking.
Umbrella drinking game. The first card is balanced on top of an empty bottle after which each player sets a card so that two corners can't touch existing cards. Players can settle a punishment for a player who screws up. In the picture whole deck of cards makes the umbrella. Don't be confused from the beer as I have drank only 12 portions of alcohol during four months.
Umbrella drinking game. The first card is balanced on top of an empty bottle after which each player sets a card so that two corners can't touch existing cards. Players can settle a punishment for a player who screws up. In the picture whole deck of cards makes the umbrella. Don't be confused from the beer as I have drank only 12 portions of alcohol during four months.
Knysna Elephan Park close to Plettenberg bay. I leared that elephants can communicate by stamping ground up to 15 kilometers and they are able to prepare to their own death after their teeth are too worn for eating.
Knysna Elephan Park close to Plettenberg bay. I leared that elephants can communicate by stamping ground up to 15 kilometers and they are able to prepare to their own death after their teeth are too worn for eating.
Pletenberg Bay, Ostrich meat sausages. Ostrich meat is fairly common in grocery stores in South Africa.
Pletenberg Bay, Ostrich meat sausages. Ostrich meat is fairly common in grocery stores in South Africa.
Countryside had low density of population and conditions were really rough. Probably the most glorious building of the area in the picture.
Countryside had low density of population and conditions were really rough. Probably the most glorious building of the area in the picture.
Hiking in Coffee Bay. Around 30 people participated to a hike that was organized by the hostel.
Hiking in Coffee Bay. Around 30 people participated to a hike that was organized by the hostel.
Some fit ladies getting tanned on a beach in Coffee Bay.
Some fit ladies getting tanned on a beach in Coffee Bay.
To get to rooms from reception in the Coffee Bay hostel you had to cross this tidal pool. Sometime your feet got wet, sometimes not.
To get to rooms from reception in the Coffee Bay hostel you had to cross this tidal pool. Sometime your feet got wet, sometimes not.
Neighbourhood looked like nice area from the roof of the hostel but bad districts started just a couple of blocks away. As it wasn't adviced to carry cell phone with you on the streets, this was the best photo I had.
Neighbourhood looked like nice area from the roof of the hostel but bad districts started just a couple of blocks away. As it wasn't adviced to carry cell phone with you on the streets, this was the best photo I had.