Yes I went with a church group in 2017 to south africa.
We were a group of about 50.
We didn’t have any problems. While in Capetown we also did the things on your list except for Robben Island
But our tour guides were the best.
I lived in Manhattan for about 15 years. There I developed what can be called a predator radar. Donald Trump has the predator radar in spades. But I think most everyone who lives there develops it to one degree or another.
I left Manhattan in the early 1990’s. Since then my predator rarely goes off.
In south africa my predator radar went off maybe a dozen times over 10 days. Its lousy to feel like a prey animal.
Our guides did a good job of keeping the group just outside of real danger.
Even with the animals in the game reserves. At one point our tour car stopped right beside a group of maybe 6 lions feeding on a giraffee carcass. There were probably another six lions resting in the grass—whom we could not see. But occasionaly one would lift its head.
There the sense of being in a bubble of protection provided by the tour car was palpable. If one were to be so fool hearty as to step out of the tour car and walk on the ground seperate from the tour car—the lions would pounce.
That’s what a good tour group guide will do for you in South Africa. Keep you in a protective bubble. But you have to never forget that you’re in a bubble.
Step outside the bubble, and unless you made of the right stuff and have some real skills and equipment—you are prey.
Great post on Manhattan and being “prey”.
I used to visit relatives there and it was super high stress for me.
That is my view of all large cities these days.
I am retired so I have the luxury of avoiding all cities.
Life is too short to waste any of it in fear of your surroundings.
OK you have touched on my biggest concern is safety and being able to recognize dangerous situations. I do not have the experience in that area. While other members of the group do we will not always be together.
OK you have touched on my biggest concern is safety and being able to recognize dangerous situations. I do not have the experience in that area. While other members of the group do we will not always be together.