Cape Town – American TikToker Aubrey has gone viral for dispelling misconceptions about travelling to South Africa.
The TikToker from New York goes by the handle @aubs.ba.daubs on the app.
One of her videos got over 1.5 million views, with South Africans praising her for “such a good review of the country”.
Aubrey, who has more than 24 900 followers and over 500 000 likes says she’s been in the country for three weeks and has travelled from Cape Town, Durban, Kruger National Park, Johannesburg and Polokwane.
In her first video titled “Misconceptions about South Africa” and captioned “travel is the best education”, she lists the use of cash as one of the misconceptions about travelling to South Africa. She says she thought she would use cash when travelling but she soon found out that was not the case.
@aubs.ba.daubs Travel is the best education ??? #southafricatiktok?? #southafricantiktok #capetowntiktok #capetownsouthafrica?? #johannesburg #johannesburgtiktok #southafricanculture?? #polokwanetiktok ♬ original sound – Aubrey?
“I thought I was gonna need cash everywhere, you don’t. Not only do they take credit cards but Apple Pay. South Africa takes more Apple Pay than even in the United States,” says Aubrey.
Another misconception she tackles is “the gay culture”. Identifying as a lesbian herself, she says she thought she and her partner would have to be closeted for the duration of their trip but found that gay culture was more than acceptable.
“In Cape Town being gay is celebrated but all over the place, it’s just… It’s normal, I don’t know how to explain it. It’s not a big deal,” she says.
@aubs.ba.daubs Replying to @mianereynolds #capetown #capetowntiktok #johannesburg #southafricatiktok?? #southafrica?? #southafricacomedy #capetownsouthafrica #southafricatourism ♬ original sound – Aubrey?
On transportation, she says she found Uber to be accessible, as it is anywhere in the US.
In the second edition of her misconceptions about South Africa, she says she was impressed by restaurants that offered gluten-free dishes, and the smell of campfire that smelt different from what she’s used to.
“Number three, the cellphone service here is top tier, better than New York State,” she says.
@aubs.ba.daubs Both were a dream ❤️?? #southafricatiktok?? #southafrica?? #southafricacomedy #capetownsouthafrica #capetowntiktok #johannesburg #capetownsoutafrica?? #capetowngirls ♬ original sound – Aubrey?
In the third installation of her video on “Misconceptions about South Africa“, the New Yorker compares Johannesburg and Cape Town on three categories, safety, community, and experience and culture.
She says she felt much safer in Johannesburg, while the Cape Town community “literally made me want to move to Cape Town”.
And on the experience, she voted for Cape Town due to its variety of things to do on the coast, the winery, food, and shopping.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Pixabay
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
