Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland (3rd ed)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I was quite disappointed with this book. The information provided in the book is somehow outdated. I was in South Africa in early December 1999. And I was having problems finding accomodations by using the telephone numbers provided in the book. Also the price listed for transportation, accomodation,...,etc are also not up to date. At the end, I had to buy another guide book for the information that I was looking for.

This book is an absolute dud and rates/deserves zero stars. Not only is just about all the information 3 years old, but this pathetic attemp misinforms travellers about everything especially safety. It would seem that this is just a reprint spiced up with one or two new details. I've been in tourism in SA 8 years and was astounded while reading sections. Places gets recommended you wouldn't see me dead in like an all night Steers fast food place in Durban centre for example - a definite/guaranteed redistribution of wealth waiting to happen. Then in Jo'burg 4 hostels mentioned after each other have all been closed for 3 years or more. I wouldn't even have picked up on that but the traveller who had the book tried them when arriving and he wasted about half an hour. He said he was also going to dump the book after i brought him up to speed on the Durban section. To Jon Murrays' defense (though i haven't met him) i don't think he is the guilty party. To my knowledge he hasn't even been in SA since 1996. But Jeff Williams has - a whole 3 weeks since 1996 of which he apparently spend 5 days in Swaziland. His political views on SA is well known in the industry here as is his alcoholism and his unprofessionalism. Although he has been tolerated up to now he will not be in future - not after this publication.

This must be one of the worst researched books ever written. IT IS OUT OF DATE! Too many places mentioned have closed down 3 years or more before printing. An unacceptably high number of telephone numbers are wrong. Advice given is quite out of date - this can be costly in Africa! This guide is badly rated by just about anyone that have used it. Of an estimated 600 or more pax that i have met that have used this ancient "bible" about 5% said it was OK, the rest hated it. I cannot recall 1 person saying that they have found it useful. I would seriously recommend that anyone contemplating buying this online first compare this with other travel books available. Pick a couple of things that interests you and compare the different guide books. Not Recommended at all.

I made my first trip to South Africa last year and the book was excellent in recommending places to stay and visit. It gave me detailed descriptions of how to travel inside the country and how to get the best out of the travel in South Africa. The restaurants and the hotels were exactly as they were described in the book.

This book typical of Lonely Planet guides--frank descriptions of places and activities covering a range of topics. I am a historian with a specialization in Southern Africa, and I have found that the places listed in the guide are selected with great care and attention. However, parts of the "tribal" sections contain incorrect information, errors that have remained uncorrected even in the most recent edition. The guide itself is terrific, but don't rely on it for historical information.

While travelling in SA for 4 motnhs I found this book amazingly helpfull. It had the best advices on how to save money, it had the best maps...I acctually knew more than the buss drivers sometimes and ended up advising them...hostels recommandations were great too. I have been looking into other guides to SA and found this one to be the absolute best.

The book gives -like the most of Lonely Planet books- detailed information on the subject (South Africa). Contains recent info on every aspect a traveller needs to know, prices, touristc information. Easy to read, easy to use on the spot . (I recognised this in most books of Lonely Planet)

Instead of being a travel guide as I expected and paid for, I find this book to be more of a political "manifesto." Seems those Africaneers are only getting what they deserve according to the author. After reading this disappointing book I've decided to vacation elsewhere. If I should return to Australia I will not bother with another Lonely Planet "guide" like I threw out after only two days the last time I was there.

Instead of being a travel guide as I expected and paid for, I find this book to be more of a political "manifesto." Could Jon Murray only be a pen name for Karl Marx? Seems those Africaneers are only getting what they deserve according to the author. After reading this disappointing book I've decided to vacation elsewhere. If I should return to Australia I will not bother with another Lonely Planet "guide" like I threw out after only two days the last time I was there.

Used the first edition of this book for a trip to Cape Town and surrounding area in 1995. I found it to be excellent. I was able to book a cheap place to stay in advance, and learned about the culture and the people in LP's typical comprehensive but informal style.