Is South Africa Safe for Tourists? Here's Everything You Need to Know [UPDATED 2022]
Updated 2022 | How safe is South Africa for tourists? This comprehensive guide contains absolutely everything you need to know about safety in South Africa, including the historical context, common travel scams, safety on roads, hiking safety, advice for solo and female travellers, and much more.
When we first told people we planned to visit Mark's family in South Africa, the responses ranged from mild concern to deep horror. Stories were recounted to us; friends of friends who'd been mugged, so-and-so's family member who'd been carjacked. It's "crime-riddled!" they'd exclaimed, "you'll get mugged... or worse!".
Yet travel to South Africa we did, spending 6 weeks living in the ultra hipster neighbourhood of Woodstock, Cape Town.
We lapped up its wild natural beauty, swam in its sparkling bays, tried to understand its complex and colourful cultural fabric, wandered through the historic Bo Kaap area, and the township of Imizamo Yethu — and we survived, as we expected, without a single incident that made us question our safety or decision.
That's not to say that everything in 'the rainbow nation' is rosy now, because it simply isn't. The disparity of wealth is still obvious - townships still exist, gated communities too.
And yet, we came away with nothing but positive experiences in the country. In fact, we very nearly cancelled the rest of our travel plans to live there for the summer!
But how safe is South Africa for travellers, really?
This guide contains absolutely everything a traveller needs to know about safety in South Africa, including the historical context, the most common travel scams to watch out for, how to stay while hiking, driving, and exploring, safety tips for both solo and female travellers, plus how to travel around the country safely.
SAFETY IN SOUTH AFRICA: IS SOUTH AFRICA SAFE FOR TOURISTS?
TRAVEL INSURANCE IN SOUTH AFRICA | SAFETY ESSENTIALS
Before we get into the crux of this safety in South Africa guide, it goes without saying that when you travel through this part of the world, travel insurance is super important.
Like anywhere in the world when you’re travelling somewhere unfamiliar or doing activities you wouldn’t normally (for example, hiking Table Mountain), you face more risk than usual. Petty theft and personal safety are both issues in South Africa, while if you’re planning on doing any activities like diving with sharks, mountain biking, or bungee jumping (all very common activities to do here!) you’ll absolutely need to have travel insurance that protects you and your belongings here.
We use World Nomads, and find they're the best when it comes to providing a good range and level of cover at affordable rates.
SAFETY IN SOUTH AFRICA | THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT: APARTHEID + STRUGGLE
To really understand safety in South Africa today, you have to look back at its not-so-distant chequered past.
See, South Africa’s notorious apartheid era shaped so much of the country and still impacts it greatly decades later. Today safety, crime, and social inequality are inextricably interlinked.
South Africa had already been segregated along racial lines for many years prior, but in 1948 the division was made official by the legalisation of Apartheid.
Apartheid means 'apart-hood', and in these years the simplest definition was: whites benefit, non-whites do not. Moreso, non-whites were denied basic rights, voting rights, land ownership, entry to certain areas, forced to carry papers, forcibly removed from their homes and into townships, and mixed marriage was outlawed entirely.
Though apartheid was finally abolished in the early ‘90s through the joint negotiations of president FW De Klerk and Nelson Mandela and black South Africans were granted equal rights, the economic inequality which stemmed from decades of discrimination remained.
Apartheid's legacy is one of anger, oppression, and goes beyond money and legalities; it divided a people and nation into lines of ‘us and them’, ‘investment and neglect’.
In 2012, South Africa’s first census in over ten years found that the average black family still only earned about one sixth of what an average white family earned. Deep poverty, unemployment and inequality are still rife in the country, and it’s generally the black majority who continue to suffer.
It is, and continues to be a long, slow process to overcome the deep social and geographic divides to heal the wounds.
TRAVEL SAFETY IN SOUTH AFRICA: THE VITAL STATISTICS
Whichever source of information you listen to, whether its a concerned relative, a guidebook, or website; it indicates South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world.
Indeed, their homicide rate sits at 35 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, which ranks extremely high in comparison to places like, say, Australia (1 per 100,000) obviously, but far less than Honduras (85), Jamaica (57), Belize (44).
If you look at the top 50 dangerous cities globally, South Africa has 3 on the list (Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth) compared to 5 US cities (including New Orleans, aka an extremely popular tourist destination), or 15 Mexican cities (including Cancun and Tijuana, also popular tourist destinations). In terms of firearm deaths, the US rate sits at 12.21 per 100,000 compared with 8.3 per 100,000 in South Africa.
While the above might paint a pretty grim picture, what you also have to understand is that for tourists to South Africa, the risk of crime is generally low.
80% of all homicides happen within a specific social context, mostly between people who know each other in certain neighbourhoods.
Overwhelmingly, South Africa’s violent crime tends to take place in townships, like the Cape Flats, or in isolated areas well away from tourist spots. It also occurs predominantly between gang members or other township residents, and doesn’t tend to spill over into other areas.
Like anywhere in the world, do your research, keep your wits about you, and don't take unnecessary risks.
For travellers, check the advice on your country’s travel website for their recommendations:
visiting africa?: a travellers’ guide to languages in southern africa
GENERAL SAFETY FOR TOURISTS IN SOUTH AFRICA | COMMON TRAVEL SCAMS IN SOUTH AFRICA
For the most part, the safety concerns for tourists in South Africa are similar to those elsewhere in the world: petty theft, credit card skimming, tourist scams, etc.
The key to safety as a traveller in South Africa is being alert. Always be aware of your surroundings, and if you get that prickly feeling that something just 'isn't right'; listen to it, and move yourself or your belongings to a safer place.
Don't stress about offending someone else by doing so - your safety is #1 priority. Learn more about common travels scams around the world.
As a tourist, these are the main things you need to look out for, as well as how to stay safe in South Africa:
PETTY THEFT
Although this is quite broad, petty theft is your main concern in South Africa.
Bags may get snatched from the back of chairs, leaving your things unattended is generally unwise, and pickpockets operate in all major cities and tourist attractions. Like anywhere in the world, tourists are seen as easy prey so always be alert and take all the normal precautions you would in any major city.
Don’t flash expensive jewellery about, be discreet with cameras and the like, and just generally keep your valuables out of sight!
CREDIT CARD SKIMMING
Although this is a global problem, it is rife in South Africa.
We had our cards skimmed at a gas station in the middle of nowhere during our road trip, and hundreds of dollars worth of charges were racked up in the Khayelitsha township within hours. Thankfully the bank returned our money to us asap, but having to cancel our main debit card in the midst of a year-long trip was a pain, to say the least.
Credit card skimming usually takes place when a fraudster captures card data on devices similar to those used for legitimate point-of-sale or ATM transactions. These devices fit nicely over an ATM card slot and some even have cameras to record your PIN code. Never let your card out of your sight and when entering your PIN, always cover the PIN pad.
FAKE TOURIST POLICE
One scam affecting tourists particularly is the incidence of fake ‘tourist police’ who stop buses or unsuspecting tourists landing at the airport under the guide of checking their ID and luggage.
Tourist Police don’t exist in South Africa, so if anyone requests to see inside your bags outside of airport security, decline and ask for their official police ID. Obviously, if these “police” are armed in any way, cooperate.
STAY CLEAR OF TOWNSHIPS
Townships are home for many South Africans, and as such they are treated that way. However, as we mentioned before, gang warfare and other social problems are rife within these areas, with upwards of 80% of South Africa’s crime occurring in its townships.
Quite simply, unless you’re on a guided tour (like the one we took through Imizamo Yethu), you shouldn’t be visiting these areas. Period.
DON'T WALK AROUND AT NIGHT
Walking around after dark in South Africa is not a good idea as it provides a thief with an easy target. Just don’t do it. Uber is extremely cheap in South Africa so use it to get around. If you have to walk at night, place your belongings out of sight and be alert.
What’s more, don’t get wasted on a night and walk around by yourself — it’s basically sending a beacon out that you're an easy target!
SPEND MORE TO STAY SAFE
Thankfully, South Africa is one of those places where, as a traveller, your dollars will tend to stretch further. The exchange rate is favourable for more travellers, and you’ll generally find that you can get way more bang for your buck here.
Still, we feel that this is a place where spending more to stay in a safer part of town, or to take an uber instead of local transport, is the safest way to travel here. Travelling here can already be a ‘budget’ trip; don’t opt for doing everything on the cheap and risking your safety.
BOOK A GROUP TOUR
We travelled independently through South Africa without issue, and it’s entirely possible to do so. However, if you’re a solo traveller or would feel more comfortable in an organised, group tour, we highly recommend the following South Africa group tours with G Adventures (our fave small-group responsible travel company!):
G Adventures Cape Town and Kruger tour | A 10-day tour from Cape Town to Johannesburg taking in the delights of Cape Town, some of the key anti-apartheid and Nelson Mandela sights in Johannesburg, an epic Kruger safari, and a visit to Karongwe Private Game Reserve.
G Adventures South Africa: Sea Cliffs and Safari tour | 10-day tour from Durban to Cape Town ideal for those wanting to maximise their wildlife experiences, taking in the Chintsa coastline, Addo Elephant Park, Tsitsikamma National Park, Knysna Lagoon and sea cliffs, and Cape Town.
BOOK | G Adventures South Africa: Sea Cliffs and Safari tour
HIKING SAFETY IN SOUTH AFRICA | IS IT SAFE TO HIKE IN SOUTH AFRICA?
One of South Africa’s greatest drawcords is its stunning natural beauty and world class hiking opportunities. It’s natural then that as a tourist, you’d want to get out onto the hiking trails as much as possible — an idea we fully support!
If you’re planning to hike in South Africa, it’s really important that you’re aware of all the risks. From temperamental weather to dangerous trails with falling risks or instances of criminal attacks, there are a few precautions that you’ll need to take when hiking.
Avoid (or at least be vigilant in) more isolated areas of the park, tell someone that you’re going for a hike, apply the safety in numbers rule by always hiking with at least one other person (but preferably a group), stick to the more popular trails (especially during the early morning and evening), and avoid taking valuables other than your (well-charged) phone.
Additionally, always make sure you have extra food, water, and some warmth clothes in case of rapid weather changes!
If you’re visiting Cape Town and want to hike through the Table Mountain National Park, we recommend this guided hike through Platteklip Gorge or this alternative guided hike through a lesser known trail to the top of the mountain.
IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE IN SOUTH AFRICA? | ROAD SAFETY IN SOUTH AFRICA
One of our all-time fave travel memories is the road trip we took from Cape Town through South Africa and into Namibia a few years ago. The open road, the feeling of freedom, the unbelievably stunning landscapes; it was a 10-day adventure we rave about to this day.
Then there is the famous Garden Route, which is one of the world’s best drives.
South Africa has some truly epic road trip opportunities and we believe that it’s probably the best way to explore the country’s cosmopolitan cities, stunning landscapes and wildlife sightseeing.
But let’s be honest - you’re probably here because you’re thinking ‘yeah, but is it actually safe to drive in South Africa?’
For the most part, driving in South Africa as a tourist is relatively safe — indeed, our trip was almost incident-free, except for our debit card being skimmed at a gas station in the middle of nowhere! — although it does require a little extra caution.
If you’re planning to drive in South Africa yourself, here’s what to be aware of (and our tips for staying safe):
CRAZY DRIVING
Bluntly put, some of the driving we encountered in South Africa was bloody chaotic; speeding and overtaking are like a game here. Just keep your wits about you on the road!
DRINK DRIVING
South Africa is somewhat notorious for its drink-driving record and unfortunately, this is probably the biggest threat to safety on the roads there.
In 2018/2019, there were almost 83,000 reported DUI cases (and that’s just what was reported to police). Be wary of anyone driving suspiciously, and be extra vigilant at night and weekends.
NOTE | Currently the legal limit is .05, but it’s been reported that from June 2020, new laws will come into action lowering the legal blood-alcohol limit for drivers to 0%. Don’t be caught out if you’re travelling there after this date.
ROADSIDE CRIME
Generally, carjackings are carried out by highly organised crime syndicates, who can strip the car down into sellable parts within hours. The majority occur around Gauteng (Johannesburg), in remote areas, or at night. Be careful around Kruger Park too, as some roads here have become a hotspot too.
Always drive with your windows up and doors locked, leave plenty of room between you and other cars to avoid being boxed in, be vigilant about your surroundings (check your mirrors constantly!), don’t stop for anyone (hitchhikers, debris on the road, people approaching the car) and don’t stop at traffic lights at night — roll up until they turn green. Though unlikely, if something unfortunate does happen, don’t fight back.
DRIVING AND WILDLIFE
If you self-drive through any game reserves, obviously remember that these animals are not your average garden variety! Never get out of your car, keep your windows up (especially if you have food), and if you come across animals, turn off your engine and sit quietly so as to not scare them.
GENERAL SAFETY TIPS FOR DRIVING IN SOUTH AFRICA
Have adequate insurance | In a place where cars can be a target for criminals, ensure you’re covered with theft, damage, and third-party insurance. We use World Nomads
Use a GPS and always know where you are | Always make sure you have a reliable GPS to avoid driving into unsafe areas or potential risk zones.
Seek advice from locals | Chat to locals about which roads to take, and whether there are any spots to be cautious in
Avoid driving after dark | this is when most offences occur
Lock yourself in | Keep your windows up and doors locked
Hide your valuables | Never leave anything valuable (bags, etc) in plain sight - it’s a beacon for would-be thieves.
Never stop for hitchhikers | Never stop for anyone, or anything, when driving, as gangs have been known to prey on well-intentioned drivers. If someone looks like they might need help, report it to the police.
Keep your cool | South African driving can be a little…. chaotic. It’s best to employ a defensive driving approach :)
Don’t get out of your car | If you break down or have a collision, call the police or road-side assistance and always stay in your car
Always have enough petrol | Don’t put yourself in unnecessary danger by running out of fuel - always fill up when you see a gas station, particularly on long drives!
Tip your car guards | Most free car parks have an unofficial “car guard”; you’ll be able to spot them by their bright vests. They’re there to guard against theft — pay them a few Rand when you get back to your car.
IS SOUTH AFRICA SAFE FOR FEMALE TRAVELLERS | FEMALE SAFETY IN SOUTH AFRICA
Increasingly, we’re super wary of labelling places as ‘safe’ or ‘not safe’ for female travellers because, well:
it’s 2020, and we think it’s time to stop perpetuating the idea that it’s up to women to choose designated ‘safe places' for themselves to avoid crime, and…
Bad things can happen to anyone in ‘safe places’, good things can happen in ‘unsafe places’, and basically, it’s all about doing your research and experiencing places
Unfortunately though, it’s near-impossible to ignore the stats on crime and violence against women in South Africa, and how much of an issue this has become in recent years.
Assault, rape, and murder rates are extremely high for women, and a number of high-profile cases have led to widespread protests in recent months
HOWEVER.
Like much of the crime we’ve spoken about throughout this post, much of these crimes take place in townships or suburbs that travellers simply wouldn’t be visiting. It doesn’t excuse these stats, nor make them okay, but the reality is that as a tourist visiting the main sites, you’re unlikely to be affected.
Use your common sense and stick to the normal safety precautions you’d take anywhere in the world; don’t wander around by yourself of an evening (this applies to males too), always know where you’re going, buddy up, don’t hitchhike, and never enter townships unless you’re on an organised tour.
Solo travellers, we’d recommend either joining a group tour of South Africa (this G Adventures Cape Town and Kruger tour, or this G Adventures South Africa: Sea Cliffs and Safari tour are our fave picks) or at least joining organised day trips so you have a group, a local guide, and transport sorted.
READ | We’ve also written a post about our favourite things to do in Cape Town as well as our favourite Cape Town day trips here
PUBLIC TRANSPORT SAFETY IN SOUTH AFRICA
As with most destinations around the world, South African public transport and its hubs can be places where unsavoury characters and crime can occur. Here’s what to know about safety on South African public transport:
AIR TRAVEL
Due to the land distances, the most common way to get between major cities in South Africa is often by air. South Africa’s pilots are extremely well-trained and its flagship airlines are safe and reliable. Both Johannesburg and Cape Town International airports have had major renovations in recent years, and are generally safe (just watch for the regular petty theft issues!).
LAND TRAVEL
TAXIS
Taxis and uber services tend to be the backbone of South Africa’s tourist transport network, as they’re often the safest and most reliable option. They also tend to be affordable for most travellers. We took Uber almost exclusively through our travels in South Africa and found them super affordable, extremely safe, and comfortable and recommend that travellers to South Africa use Uber in major cities too.
BUSES
For tourists, we recommend either using the Hop-on Hop-off bus (purchase your 1 or 2-day tickets in advance here), or in Cape Town, the Myciti Bus (You must purchase a MyConnect card to ride)
TRAINS
For the most part, the long-distance services around the country (i.e. the famous luxury ‘blue train’, Premier Classe trains, and new Gautrain) are all super modern and safe.
Suburban trains, particularly around Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town are a different story. The first two should be avoided by travellers entirely, while the latter can be used, if you’re careful, between Cape Town and Stellenbosch [although we’d really recommend booking this Cape Winelands tour instead]. Expect lengthy delays and cancellations too.
A full guide to South African trains can be found here
SHARED MINIBUSES / TAXIS
We took minibuses all through other African nations, yet we’d still say South African minibuses are to be avoided at all costs. They might be cheap, but driver and vehicle conditions are questionable, they’re overcrowded, harassment and pickpocketing can be rife, and there are extremely frequent fatal accidents.
OVERLAND BUSES
We travelled through South Africa and other African nations via the Intercape Bus service and would highly recommend them if you’re looking for safe overland transport options. Another great options are the Greyhound service, which is super safe and luxurious.
HEALTH SAFETY IN SOUTH AFRICA | MEDICAL MATTERS
VACCINATIONS + GENERAL HEALTH
Check with your doctor, but for the most part you’ll just need your regular travel vaccinations, like Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid and Malaria (this is generally only a risk in certain areas of South Africa, like Kruger National Park.
You will need to have proof of Yellow Fever vaccination if you’re travelling from yellow fever risk countries (a number of African nations are), or have transited through them.
FOOD AND DRINK SAFETY IN SOUTH AFRICA
Honestly, once you arrive in South Africa, you’ll discover just how insanely good their gourmet scene is! Expect an extremely high standard of food prep, and don’t stress about bugs etc any more than you would at home.
Tap water is generally drinkable across the country (we did, and were absolutely fine), but just double check with a local if you’re worried.
Please, don’t buy unnecessary bottled water. Instead, invest in a water purification bottle, like our faves from The Grayl. We’ve drunk the tap water in Bali, Sri Lanka, India, and beyond with these and never once been sick!
CAPE TOWN DROUGHT
Cape Town is in an extremely water-scarce part of the world; in recent years it’s experienced severe drought, and came very close to running out of drinking water in 2017/2018. Currently, that crisis is over, but light water restrictions remain in place. Just be conscious of your water consumption when travelling here!
SO, HOW SAFE IS SOUTH AFRICA FOR TOURISTS REALLY?
Honestly, in our experience, and the experiences of so many others we’ve met, South Africa is no more or less dangerous than most popular tourist destinations around the world.
At no time during our stay did we personally feel unsafe, although we did take a lot of precautions and we knew in advance what to look out for. We’d even go as far as saying that South Africa has some of the friendliest, most helpful and hospitable people of anywhere we’ve ever visited.
South Africa is still a wealthy, prosperous country with brilliant tourism infrastructure and a highly functioning tourism industry. But what tourists need to remember is that poverty and inequality is still rife; and often these two factors breed desperation.
As a traveller, the best thing that you can do to prepare yourself for safe travels in South Africa is to 1) do your research (lucky you landed on this post - and also read this South Africa backpacking guide!), 2) take the necessary precautions above, and 3) remain alert, but not scared, as you travel through the country.
Above all else, South Africa is a wonderful, exciting place to travel to, and we absolutely guarantee that the memories you make there will far outweigh any of the fears or issues you face as a traveller to the country!
SOUTH AFRICA TRAVEL | TRIP PLANNING ESSENTIALS
WHERE TO STAY IN SOUTH AFRICA
We’ve got a comprehensive guide to where to stay in Cape Town ( you can read it here).
In the meantime, if you’re searching for hotels, we recommend Booking.com.
If Airbnb is more your thing, use our code when booking to get £30 off your first AirBnb booking
TRAVEL INSURANCE
When travelling to South Africa, travel insurance is super important.
In the past, we've used World Nomads. We find they're the best when it comes to providing a good range and level of cover at affordable rates.
BOOK | Book travel insurance here
read our post on everything you need to know about travel insurance
PLANNING A VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA SOON?
We have a whole lot of essential reading before you travel to Cape Town:
CAPE TOWN DAY TRIPS | Looking for some epic day trips to take in the Mother City? This guide has you covered
WHERE TO STAY IN CAPE TOWN | The ultimate accommodation guide to Cape Town
WHAT TO DO IN CAPE TOWN | Our favourite things to do in Cape Town
AFRICA TRAVEL TIPS | Everything you need to know before you travel in Africa
PACKING FOR AFRICA | Our ultimate Africa packing list (what to pack and what to leave behind!)
TRAVEL INSURANCE | Don’t leave home without travel insurance (seriously, don’t!). Click here to get the best deals with World Nomads, our trusted travel insurance provider
PHOTOGRAPHY | Love our photography? Wondering what gear we use to get all of our photos around the world? Click here to view our detailed photography gear guide, as well as our top travel photography tips!
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL | Responsible travel is important. REALLY IMPORTANT. Learn our top responsible travel tips to help you, your family and friends travel more consciously around the globe
ECO FRIENDLY PACKING ESSENTIALS | Don’t leave home without our favourite eco-friendly travel essentials
Have you visited South Africa? Did you find South Africa safe for tourists? Let us know in the comments, and if you've got any helpful hints, drop them below.
HEADING TO AFRICA SOON? CHECK OUT THESE POSTS TOO!
Some of the links on this how safe is South Africa guide are affiliate links.
If you choose to purchase using these links, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please know that by using these affiliate links, you're directly supporting The Common Wanderer to stay wandering, the running costs of the site, and our ability to provide you with free content to help you on your travels.
That, and you're officially a legend.
