Backpacker trip to South Africa - which knife'nd more?

Aubrey said:
Yes, travel with lockable luggage and on departure, have it warpped with that shrink wrap. They may have a few seconds to rip a bag and steal something but a hard Delsey case in shrink wrap is rock solid. I know ..... I travel 2-3 weeks a month.
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Aubrey,
I am trying to understand this. I thought you could only lock luggage,
with TSA locks so that security people at the departing airport can
search your luggage. Can you lock it with more or better locks after they
search it? Or, do you fly to an another county first like, maybe Kenya,
so you can put good locks on you luggage for arrival in SA.
 
Hey Aubrey, not to sound too stupid or ignorant, but how do you get "stuff" out there in Africa? You know, like american knives or swedish knives or things like xbox? Are there places that are "americanized?" and does that stuff cost you more for the mass shipping cost? I'm honestly asking and not trying to be dumb, just something I wanted to know.
 
We ship it over, like everyone else. Sure, we pay an inflated price, as the government likes to tax luxury goods so they can afford more luxury goods for themselves, but we can get pretty much anything here. S. Africans are major consumers of fancy electronic shit, we're a few months behind the USA, but it all gets here eventually. Its way cheaper to buy knives direct from the USA however, which is why a lot of us end up in places like this one.

Please be advised, S. Africa is not Somalia or Zimbabwe. Sure we have 'African' problems, like HIV/Aids and a high crime rate, but we also have giant malls, lotsa SUVs, McDonalds, KFC, palm trees, beaches, 5 star restuarants, nightclubs, resorts, the lottery, casinos, a burgeoning movie industry, a passionate sports culture, and many other hallmarks of a developed economy. Of course, certain areas still resemble third world shitholes, hence the crime. Extremes are everywhere here.

Its a tricky thing to sum up in one post, naturally....

batosai117 said:
Hey Aubrey, not to sound too stupid or ignorant, but how do you get "stuff" out there in Africa? You know, like american knives or swedish knives or things like xbox? Are there places that are "americanized?" and does that stuff cost you more for the mass shipping cost? I'm honestly asking and not trying to be dumb, just something I wanted to know.
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lohengrin said:
Aubrey, i'm not a closet SEAL, I need that gear for work purposes, you might note that my earlier post does not specify I always have everything or even most of it on me all the time.
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Boet, so does delta Force but I do suggest you created an impression that it would be the average dress for a civilian. If you operate in close protection details, SAPS or security industry, yes, I agree, it would be normal atire in your job function.

That kind off dress is not normal in civilian use
 
fnc said:
Aubrey,
I am trying to understand this. I thought you could only lock luggage,
with TSA locks so that security people at the departing airport can
search your luggage. Can you lock it with more or better locks after they
search it? Or, do you fly to an another county first like, maybe Kenya,
so you can put good locks on you luggage for arrival in SA.
Click to expand...

Man, TSA is a flight of fantasy that US Homeland Security dreamt up. Once you leave the USA, nobody gives a hoot about TSA or Homeland Security. Even when I am in the USA, I lock my cases and tell them at check it ...I normally have to follow my cases till after they are scanned, before I can go to the gate. Suggest you do the same if flying from the USA :D

From everywhere else, EU and Africa ...l ock them and wrap them.
 
batosai117 said:
Hey Aubrey, not to sound too stupid or ignorant, but how do you get "stuff" out there in Africa? You know, like american knives or swedish knives or things like xbox? Are there places that are "americanized?" and does that stuff cost you more for the mass shipping cost? I'm honestly asking and not trying to be dumb, just something I wanted to know.
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No sweat pal. The answer is the Internet. Our market is small for what I would call specialized "stuff" such as discussed here. The Internet with DHL/FEDEX/UPS makes for happy campers around here. Some "stuff" is available but because of low volumes moved and small marklet size, you pay about an arm and a leg for that.

Some things are universal such as Xbox, PSP, PS3, Wii, Ipod, Garmin :D Cutlery and flashlights are not ......if avaliable, a simple Ka-Bar is close to US$ 120. Busse, Mad Dog and such not available at all.
 
I LOVE South Africa :)

I get my Okapis from there :) :)

I get a bunch of other cheap touristy stuff as well from there too
nice people great gear , awesome colors

but

when the export manager of one of the companies I deal with left and went to England , and described shopping in London as being awesome because she didnt feel like she was in danger all the time

I figured Id cross SA off my to go to list or at least move it down some

I hate cities and never felt safe in one yet ...

this is just me tho ....
 
Geeez....feels like I'm reading the Cape Argus....
Lots of good advise from Buffhump & Aubrey.
My viewpoint - Most visitors (and locals) who get mugged / murdered are sheeple anyway. Edc that BM 710 and keep a sharp lookout. You'll be okay. Use a hard plastic case like the Delsey and lock it on departure. Soft cases are simply cut open; even if locked. Perhaps you can cable-tie or lock the knives to the inside of the case so that customs or security can't take them.
Yes, life here is 'different', but you should have a good time. Remember, shit happens fast. Don't waste time thinking 'This shouldn't be happening to me."!!!
I can legally carry a firearm but I only do so when travelling to strange areas with my family. I always edc a folder, at all times. It's enough for my lifestyle. Enjoy the visit!
 
Relax,

I've been living in SA for the last 7 years and love it. People are generally friendly just use common sense and be a bit streetwise. There are no specific knife laws but they are not common so rather were them hidden. Actually this is not illegal, guns can only be worn covert unless you are a cop.

The rules on security and so are fairly simple, check what the locals are doing. Enjoy your vacation, its a great country.
 
batosai117 said:
Hey Aubrey, not to sound too stupid or ignorant, but how do you get "stuff" out there in Africa? You know, like american knives or swedish knives or things like xbox? Are there places that are "americanized?" and does that stuff cost you more for the mass shipping cost? I'm honestly asking and not trying to be dumb, just something I wanted to know.
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You wouldn't believe how the malls in Uganda or even Nigeria look like. In the 3rd world you are handling extremes, you have people who work in an 1st world environment and you have squatter camps. People are exteremly brand driven in all African countries I've seen so far. You can get whatever you want basically and with the low dollar exchange rate it means that American knifes are cheaper than before. Thanks to paypal. :D
 
Thanks a lot for the useful info. I never would have guessed that ya'll had all of that stuff down there, then again I should have known since you are talking to me on the internet, lol on my part. I guess it's all of the TV stuff that waters down what is really out there. I always pictured all of africa being full of wild animals and always in a constant warzone where there is people. Then again, my dad almost went to work over there for the oil industry but they were warned about being shot down so me and my mom talked him out of it. Probably just the area that he was going to be at. Thanks again for the input, J.
 
Damn after reading all the post's i think i would carry this over there!


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ivan51 said:
Damn after reading all the post's i think i would carry this over there!


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We will visit you in prison, semi and automatic rifles are VERBOTEN for normal consumers. The only exceptions being military, police, security companies and cash'n transit robbers. :D
 
Fallkniven F1 is hard to beat. I used it around the Nursery for a couple months and it did everything that I asked of it. I dont have expierence with the other knifes so cant speak for them.
 
I read that people suggest the F1. I would choose that knife too or the S1. However the S1 looks a bit too big.

Bring at least TWO F1. Either you carry one each (best option) or wear one and have one in your pack. Also carry a whistle, you dont know when you need it, and maybe a firesteel to start a fire to make smoke if lost etc. It is not too heavy to carry.

Good luck with your trip.
 
My son and I love to go backpacking. We find a lot of really amazing places in the US (New Mexico, Michigan, New Hampshire, Colorado) to go and see sonme amazing things. Then there is Australia, New Zealand, Europe, etc. I guess I would need to do some research, but I don't know what South Africa would offer that other safer places would not. And yes, things can get worse over just a few years - look at Egypt and even Mexico.

Please do your homework and stay safe!!

CAT
 
He probably got to Cape Town and decided to stay!:p

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Just spend 2 weeks with my 13 and 16 year old sons all over SA and mostly in remote places with our Land Rover. There is no more beautiful country in the world than SA!! If you are soft, stay in Cape Town as it's all gayed up. If you live in fear all day long, please don't come here ....we have enough fear mongers here :grumpy: The real beauty is in the remote parts.

Oh, don't bother with the whistle unless you can play tunes on it ...which is always a bonus. In town, get pepper spray!! Here you cannot sue anybody for stupidity or call 911 for help ....in Africa .... stupidy can kill and frequently does :cool: You know what they say ..... Africa is not for sissies!

For all the post and tough talk, I am extremely amused at the public display of fear and yello by some posters and the Disney zombie slayers . Think of it this way ...... false perceptions like this makes me wander into the bush without fear of running into a pale white foreigner hiding in a bush with his 500mm zoom lense, which in my book is more scary than a dopped up local with a knopkierie.

Post first hand info and you will be amazed at how much BS is passed off as fact :thumbup:

As this is an old post ...did you ever reach Africa? If yes, what was it like?
 
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