Before we are picked up from the airport of Johannesburg we need to get cash from a ATM machine.
As we don't know our driver and we don't want him to know we just got our money i like to get the money before entering the airport terminal and pickup area.
is this possible or can we only get money after bagage claim and thus in the main airport pickup area?
JNB is a large modern airport and yes sensible precautions but don't worry that people will be out to rob you at every corner (sorry but thats how your post came across) we travelled happily and safely in Joburg. There are ATMs throughout JNB; are you being met by a pre-booked driver as you come through customs?
Personally I would get some rand beforehand and fly in ready prepared. We had a Lonely Planet guide and used some of the taxi company numbers recommended and pre-booked. We never had any trouble anywhere.
I think there is an assumption that any international arriving passenger will have $$$ on them, irrespective if the driver saw you get the money out of the ATM or not. If you're going to be robbed, the "before or after for ATM" decision probably won't make a difference.
I can't remember seeing an ATM before exiting the baggage reclaim in JNB, but you could always split with your travel companion: they can "go to the toilet", and you can wait with the bags with the driver. Don't change cash as the rate in the airport aren't great. There are plenty of ATMs though.
Yes, there aren't ATM inside the airport, you can find ATM after the baggage claim.
Usually in South Africa people like drivers, guides, waiters are very reliable. The danger is about walking around after dark.
Never heard about a robbery by taxi drivers or hotel staff, as it happened in other countries.
Here you can find the ATM locations throughout the world: http://www.mastercard.us/cardholder-services/atm-locator.html
The O. R. Tambo Airport is a very safe place. I worked there for one week in the public areas.
ATMs are NOT in the baggage area but there are many after the custom controll INSIDE the airport building.
As a matter of principle enter the card into the slot and press "CANCEL" before you enter the pin code.
The card must be released immeditatly. This is the prove that there is no fake adapted slot at the ATM
you want to use.
Sandton, Rosebank and Centurion are very safe places from my experiances. My two safari holidays at Kruger
and Kalaharie went perfectly without any disturbance. I just got informed by my companys local colleagues that
you should not hike in small groups (2 to 3 person) at the table mountians at Cape Town. I waited at the main
parking of the track for a larger goup and "joint" them.
Saturday I will be back in Joburg for three weeks.