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Hitching South Africa is a big and diverse country with 11 official languages and a complicated history which still manifests in a deeply rooted racial-obsession. This will inevitably affect anyone who hitchhikes in South Africa so come prepared. Generally most people who '''hitchhikes'''in South Africapays a little bit for the ride so most of the time you ought to make it clear that you're not intending to pay for the ride. Peculiar enough [[Theo]] found that white South Africans rarely stops but if they do they never seem to expect money for the ride. However most other people do so you may have to let 1,2,3,4 or even 5 cars go before someone is willing to take a '''mahala''' along (see Communication for the word '''Mahala''' ). With the notable exceptions of main roads between main cities (i.e. road N1, N3 and some parts of N2) it is possiblea fairly challenging country to hitchhike in. If you do persevere you'll be amply rewarded with a lot of spontaneous hospitality, extraordinary scenery and a beautiful melange of different cultures.

It is a good idea to have some knowledge of what backpackers, guest-houses, road-side lodges there are === Getting in the general area/direction you are travelling in. This is said because sometimes cars and trucks you are hitching a ride with break down, and you may still be far from your final destination. Don't be surprised if your driver stops to pick up other hithchikers, who could be locals, as it is common practice here. Engage your driver and any passengers, especially if of a different culture to your own, and you will be enriched by learning something new.===

Remember to bring Most people of Western countries don't require a good hat visa and sunscreen with you when hithhiking to avoid sunburnshouldn't encounter any hustle at all at the border. South African winters can also be very warm during the day, depending where you All borders are, so that hat and sunscreen will be useful again including crossable on foot. You'll most likely get a warm jacket stamp which is valid for 90 days in the winter eveningscountry.

The main bordercrossing at Vioolsdrif sees a of traffic going directly to [[Cape Town]]. It's a fairly quite border without too much traffic. Hitchhiker [[Theo]] made the mistake of arriving after midnight and found himself being searched thoroughly and asked ridiculously nosy questions.  The most common route from [[Namibia]] to [[Johannesburg]] and [[Durban]] is through [[Botswana]] but the border close to [[Upington]] is fairly hitchable. ==== From [[Zimbabwe]] ==== There are 2 border crossings. If you take the tourist crossing into Kruger National Park it might be quiet. However the hitchability of that crossing remains unknown. If you do take the main border crossing at Beitbridge one good advice is '''prepare for Chaos with a big C'''. It's the the busiest border crossing in [[Africa]]. People cut in line shamelessly, it's quite a complicated system of lines for people with non-Southern African passports and a lot of people who try to '''Crimehelp''': While there is crime you (beware of them). Even if you cross it in every countrythe middle of the night you're not, as hitchhiker [[Theo]] found, hitchhikers should note guaranteed to leave the realityborder without a severe headache. Rape statistics for South Africa have gone [[Theo]] ended up instead of done over the past 5 yearswaiting in line from 1 to 3. 30 A woman .M. ==== From [[Mozambique]] ==== ==== From [[Swaziland]] ==== ==== From [[Botswana]] ==== === Communication === There is raped every 17 seconds; Half a million women are raped every year; special sign language used by hitchhikers in South Africa has to communicate '''what kind of hitchhiker''' they are. For example in many areas it's common to see people stand with cash in one hand while thumbing with the other hand to indicate that they wouldn't mind paying for the highest estimated incidence ride. Hitchhiking with your indexfinger instead of rape your thumb signalizes that you're going long distance along the main road and indicates that you don't mind contributing gasmoney, hitchhiker [[Theo]] found the index finger-technique to be useful when hitchhiking out of major cities works as well as a sign does unless there is a big intersection ahead. Provided that you intend to hitchhike in the worldwestern sense of hitchhiking (i.e. for free) the most useful word you'll need for hitchhiking is South Africa is '''Mahala''' which is a South African slang word meaning roughly free of charge. [httpPossible ways to use the word include://wwwI'm mahalaing or I'm a mahala.rape Generally everyone speaks basic English but it could potentially be useful to learn some words of the local languages if you intend to hitchhike on small roads in the countryside.coIn many predominantly Afrikaans-speaking areas it's not uncommon to come across older people who don't speak English at all.za/index2.php?do_pdf === Crime =1&id=875&option=com_content Rape Statistics][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_violence_in_South_Africa Sexual Violence  While there is crime in every country some areas of South Africa]have a extremely high occurrence of rape and armed robbery. Do take precautions and do your research. Don`t trust everyone`s advice too much though as many people, especially the rich, are overly paranoid. As always use common sense and you should be fine.