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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I spent 2 weeks there 5 years ago at age 33. I am an American woman of color. Obviously different experience than study abroad college age.
One of the most fantastic cities in the world. I was admittedly staying in Camps Bay, sightseeing, going to great restaurants, Stellenbosch for wine tasting and having an amazing time.
I also had a local friend there. She is an American who moved to there for work. She took me to township parties and to visit some of her friends.
I did not feel scared or concerned for my safety, but I was also vigilant and alert. 
I also was treated generally well by locals. 
One of the most beautiful cities in the world.[/quote]

I was there for a month 15 years ago when I was 30, visiting an American friend who was working there - also in Camps Bay. I’m white, and didn’t go to the townships, but I had a similar experience. I did an incredible amount of sightseeing alone. I wasn’t nervous or uncomfortable but I did pay attention to my surroundings and take precautions. I didn’t go anywhere alone after dark. I didn’t get drunk in public, I didn’t carry anything valuable or wear jewelry. I did a few excursions alone - private hire driver to go shark diving and the train to Boulders Beach. It was fine and a couple of young men were very helpful and friendly on the train. I did a lot of solo hiking. It was an amazing experience. It is a beautiful city. It was 15 years ago, but from what I’ve read things aren’t too different in Cape Town than they were then, and with some care and reasonable precautions is as safe as anywhere else (my mom was mugged at gunpoint in a suburban shopping mall parking lot; multiple friends were assaulted at college - is the US very dangerous for women?)

Does your child have experience traveling? Is she mature and responsible? Will she follow the university guidelines or is she going to be drinking at the club all night? These are the things I would consider more than the destination. London can be a dangerous study abroad experience for someone who is irresponsible and intoxicated.

[/quote]

South Africa is much more dangerous for women, sorry. 72 reported rapes per 100,000 vs 44 in the U.S.

https://theconversation.com/rape-is-endemic-in-south-africa-why-the-anc-government-keeps-missing-the-mark-188235[/quote]

It really didn't feel dangerous to me and I was 19 years old studying there. In the University area I was out with friends all the time and it was like any other college town. [/quote]

Well if you aren’t raised, you generally don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on the fact that someone else was.[/quote]

Yeah...but I also went to high school and plenty of girls were raped. I'm just saying it didn't seem all that dangerous and I was an actual 19 year old studying abroad at University of Cape Town from the USA. No one else has provided that perspective yet..[/quote]

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