Hi,

I'm a single woman traveller and looking at doing a trip to SA! I've heard some very positive reports from friends of mine who have gone there but am struggling tying to decide where to go.

I need to go to places that are safe for single woman but I don't really want to stick to the beaten track! Any suggestions?

I also need some advice on how to get there and around!

Beth x

I had a great time last summer in SA....definately reccommed it! If you are travelling alone I would suggest the Baz bus, at least to begin with until u get your bearings. This is a bus that covers the whole of South Africa and runs between most destinations every day. It picks u up from certain backpackers and drops u off at the next one... Also it only travels to reccommended hostels. In all of the hostels we visited the staff were great and willing to give us lots of info about places to visit. Most organise day trips and you'll meet loads of people travelling in a similar direction, if you decide you'd rather travel in a group once you're there.
The garden route from Cape town to Port Elizabeth is amazing .... with the baz bus u can stop at any town along the way you feel like visiting. This area is propbably the most touristy tho and if u want to get off the beaten track then Swaziland is an option....very rural and only a couple of hostels in the whole country, (Milwane reserve and Swaziland backpackers are good). Swaziland's much more relaxed than SA and the locals are lovely. The market in Manzini has loads of hand craft stalls. If u can, try to get to the 'reed dance' in the royal valley (it's in early September) where the King of Swaziland choses another wife (he has about 11). It's amazing, just about all of the women in the country dance for him over the course of 3 days (check with backpackers staff for details).
Once in SA, the approved backpackers are all published in a little book called something like 'VIP backpackers guide'.
I could write forever cos I had such a good time there. It's a wonderful country. Just make sure u always talk to local people wherever u go and you'll find out for yourself what is a good idea and what isn't. In my experience most South Africans go out of their way to look after u because they know how their country is seen from the outside. Hope some of this helps...have a good trip!