South Africa
Earth > Africa > Southern Africa > South Africa
This article is a stub. This means that the information available to us is obviously insufficient. In these places little information is available or the description is severely outdated. If you have been there, whether hitchhiking, for travel or as part of an organized tour − be sure to extend this article! |
Information | |
Language: | English, Afrikaans, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
Capital: | Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Cape Town |
Population: | 50,586,757 |
Currency: | Rand (ZAR) |
Hitchability: | <rating country='za' /> |
Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots | |
<map lat="-29.236080457085" lng="25.275075312611" zoom="5" view="0" float="right" /> |
Hitching in South Africa is possible.
Hitchiking in South Africa is possible and can be easy, but not as easy as in Europe. Along main roads it can be helpful to use a cardboard sign with your destination written on it. On smaller roads through the suburbs, just thumbing it should be fine. When travelling long distances between towns and cities, hitching from gas station to gas station (called petrol stations in South Africa) will help one to avoid be dropped off in an isolated area. Approaching drivers at these petrol stations can get you lifts, or you can use the cardboard sign suggestion mentioned earlier.
It is a good idea to have some knowledge of what backpackers, guest-houses, road-side lodges there are in the general area/direction you are travelling in. This is said because sometimes cars and trucks you are hitching a ride with break down, and you may still be far from your final destination. Don't be surprised if your driver stops to pick up other hithchikers, who could be locals, as it is common practice here. Engage your driver and any passengers, especially if of a different culture to your own, and you will be enriched by learning something new.
Remember to bring a good hat and sunscreen with you when hithhiking to avoid sunburn. South African winters can also be very warm during the day, depending where you are, so that hat and sunscreen will be useful again including a warm jacket for the winter evenings.
South Africa has 11 official languages. Trying learning a few words of one you don't know!
While there is crime in every country, hitchhikers should note the reality. Rape statistics for South Africa have gone up instead of done over the past 5 years. A woman is raped every 17 seconds; Half a million women are raped every year; South Africa has the highest estimated incidence of rape in the world. Rape Statistics
Cities
External Links
- How to Hitchhike in Southern Africa: 15 Tips [1]