South Africa has been a mysterious country to me.

Too many people talked about the safety issues in SA. Before I even had the idea of going to SA, a friend told me her auntie was robbed in Johannesburg in day time. Another friend shared her SA experience when I said I wanted to go SA. She said would never go back to SA because of the safety concerns.

Anyway, I went to SA. And I have resisted my wanderlust for a night walk (see the adages in, for example, Johannesburg – Travel guide at Wikivoyage).

But Hillbrow seemed too intriguing to be missed. I was warned at least 8 times to not go there.

• On the bus from Gaborone to Johannesburg, the guy sitted next to me singled out Hillbrow from the map, and told me there was not safe.
• Two guys outside Park Station asked me how I went to the hotel, and I said on foot. They told me Hillbrow was not safe. I should take such such route.
• The guy in Johannesburg Art Gallery who spent some like 30 minutes to introduce beads culture of SA told me I can go to Constitution Hill for some local food, but I’d better not walk there as that was unsafe.
• The lady at the Art Gallery Entrance told me again Hillbrow was not safe to walk. She asked me to take an Uber before I went out the gallery.
• The janitor of the Art Gallery came to me when I was making a phone call in Joubert Park. He informed me that people may approach me while I was calling, and friendly asked me to go to the janitor room. I was reassured that Hillbrow was not safe from him and the lady there.
• Another guy said good luck to me when I was about to take the adventure to Hillbrow after he invited me to talk to the officer just passed by.

Their advices have been effective to a certain point. But I saw the following excerpt from wikivoyage in the consititution hill this afternoon.

Hillbrow has a bad reputation for drug dealing, sex bars, crime, etc., but is slowly improving. If you visit Constitution Hill, or Johannesburg Art Gallery, Hillbrow is right across the street, not that scary. Empty your pockets and go for a walk to the base of the Hillbrow Tower on a Sunday morning. Stay on the main streets and keep your wits about you, and don’t carry anything that is worth stealing. It is certainly an interesting experience. Worth watching Louis Theroux’s Law and Disorder in Johannesburg before your visit.

So I decided to have a go at my own risk. I was not robbed. I did the following for my walk.

• I bought short trousers with spacious zipper pockets.
• I put all my important stuff in the hotel so that I can manage even if I cooperate.
• I memorized the map before entering Hillbrow.
• I never stopped and walked in a fast pace.
• I kept a close eye on all the people loitering around.
• I paid special attention to people in a group.
• I constantly looked back to ensure I was not stalked.
• I was lucky.