General help for overseas visitors to the Berg

Hey all,

I wanted to give you guys an update my solo hike project. Well I landed this sunday in Johannesburg and the plan was to take the buzzbass the following day to Amphitheatre backpackers. But I didn't last 20 minutes in the Johannesburg. As I was walking on Commissioner street to my hostel, 5 or 6 guys assaulted me and robbed me. One of them was strangling me, the others holding me and taking my stuff. They went away with my passport, all my money (9000 rands), my credits cards, cellphone and tablet. This happened in broad daylight and in front of many people as the street was very busy. A taxi driver offered me a free ride to the police station where I
wasted my afternoon filling paperwork. The positive side is they accepted to escort me to my hostel.
It took a day to get my brother to send me money and see my embassy.
I had to cancel my Drakenseberg attempt as the bazbuss only goes every other day to Amphitheatre backpackers and I didn't want to stay another day in that city.
I am in Cape Town looking for an alternative hike.
I was considering the Otter trail but I read it's booked months in advance. What about the Tsitsikamma trail ? Can I just show up and do it ? I will be sleeping in a tent. Are there any other trails I could do that would be easily accesible ? Thank you for any help you can provide.

I find it funny that I was needlessly concerned with dogs and smuglers in the Berg when Joburg was the actual dangerous part.

I am very sorry to hear about your misfortune.
Send me an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I'll try and connect you to mates in Cape Town and George that might be of assistance.

Best,
Kobus


Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

That's horrible, sorry to hear that.

That is quite unfortunate..... Its things like that this that discolour people's opinion of south Africa.... Must have been quite a lousy day filling out paperwork...

Sorry about your horrible experience, what a sad way to start your adventure in our country, and no doubt this will be your lasting impression of our country.

I wish we had had a way to advise you in advance of the dangers of Joburg so that you may have been able to avoid this.

Hope you have some good experiences now to make up for this, and can still have good memories of your trip.

Please come back again to visit the Drakensberg.

Hi Morad, it's a shame that happened to you in Joburg. I am sure you'll bounce to hike another fine trail
By the way, you south-african fellows, does the buses like Intercape or Greyhound have another stop than the one at ParkStation, for instance in Sandton ?
I don't feel very keen to wait for one there.

Hi Mayake,

Many of the buses going towards the Drakensberg (Durban), have a stop at Lakeside Mall in Benoni, the area where I live in the east of Johannesburg. This is not too far from the OR Tambo airport, but I don't have a good knowledge of the public transport available from the airport to Benoni, so can't advise you on this. The surrounding area at Lakeside Mall is quite safe (just avoid going out the shopping mall premises in the direction of the minibus taxi rank), much better than central Jhb, and would be a better option if you can make the appropriate arrangements to get there, and from there get to where you need to go.

mayake wrote: By the way, you south-african fellows, does the buses like Intercape or Greyhoundhave another stop than the one at ParkStation, for instance in Sandton ?

I know some of them stop in Midrand. When I last caught a bus to JHB, I went to Park Station and then via Gautrain to Sandton. I have been to Park Station a few times and never really felt particularly comfortable there.

You could alternatively catch a flight to Durban (Emirates and a few others fly here directly) or take an internal flight from JHB to Pietermaritzburg [PMB] (I don't think any commercial airports are closer to the Berg than this one) - but that will be logistically more difficult, you would have to inquire about shuttles between the airports and bus terminals, or use a taxi (I know Yes Please B&B [www.yespleasetours.co.za] in PMB does provide a shuttle from PMB airport to basically anywhere you want to go - but they do charge quite a bit for it). There are also companies such as Underberg Express who may be able to help out (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

PMB and Durban are not as practical as JHB for getting to the start of a GT (Sentinel is halfway between PMB and JHB, and Durban is 1 hour further), but it is much closer to the Bushman's Nek end of the trip.

Hey all,

I am doing fine in Cape Town. Weather's good and I am about to climb Table Mountain.I'm not planning on letting this incident ruin my South African experience. And I will come back the Drakensberg.
Do you guys know if I can do the Tsitsikamma trail by just showing up ? I have a tent.
I will also try to do the Otter Trail but this is probably fully booked.

Cheers,