Note to Travellers...

FYI:

1. Border crossing is sketchy, especially at night. You have to get out of the nice big bus, and walk these barbed wire fence paths to get your passport stamped.

2. The 'Luxury Bus' that goes overnight from Maputo to Johannesburg is comfy and all but the movie is bad and they don't run the heater.

3. South Africa at night feels like the Alaskan Tundra. (not that I have actually been to any sort of tundra region, but I can imagine.)

4. Bring your sleeping bag aboard the bus. Do not leave it with your luggage in the back unless you want to end up like a bag lady - me - curled up in scarves, capulanas, and, yes, plastic bags.

5. Wear closed toed shoes.

6. If you wear sandals, and do not have socks (this is the prime moment to pull out the socks with chacos look. I wont judge. In fact, I would be jealous), try a plastico (plastic bag).

7. Be prepared to break down at 2am, wait int he frigid tundra for another bus that is far less luxurious and drafty/colder, then break down again at 4am ( the time you are actually supposed to arrive in Joburg) and wait, this time to catch the first bus again which actually hasn't been fixed but its better than nothing.

8. Many young South Africans smoke. It is funny to watch them shivering outside with their sleeping bags strategically draped around their shoulders as they get their much needed nicotine kick... you think that's bad, wait till you get lung cancer bud.

9. The Joburg bus station is not as nearly as sketchy as rumor has it. In fact, it actually resembles a Western European train station. That being said, keep your wits about you because its not a good sign when lonely planet says, "be careful because daylight muggings are not uncommon." I am actually glad we arrived 2.5 hours late, because 4am could have been uber-sketch.