Despite its natural beauty, South Africa is somewhat notorious as a dangerous place to visit. Government travel advisories often recommend travellers exercise a “high degree of caution” due to the high levels of violent crime.
That said, perception doesn’t always reflect reality. South Africa has many safe areas and crime rates vary by location. Before you go, check out reports by the South African Cities Network to learn more about crime and safety trends.
Tourists who are alert to their surroundings and take a few sensible precautions usually have a trouble-free holiday. The Government of Canada advises travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in South Africa due to a high level of significant crime.
It’s true that South Africa has a very high rate of serious crimes. Violent crimes, muggings, armed assaults, and theft happen frequently, often occurring in areas that are popular among tourists. For example, the Canadian Government advises tourists to “avoid the Numbi Gate entrance to the Kruger National Park, as well as the R538 road leading to it due to an increase in criminal activity in the area, including the murder of a foreign national in October 2022.”Sticking to these tips will help you avoid trouble:
- Don’t walk the streets after dark — take a licensed taxi if you are going out at night.
- Avoid mass public transport systems in cities.
- Politely refuse anything you’re offered by a ‘friendly’ stranger.
- Try not to look like a tourist — keep things like cameras and maps tucked away.
- Don’t wear expensive items or flash around money and electronics.
- Distribute valuables across different pockets and consider having a decoy wallet with a few Rand in it to fool muggers.
- When driving, keep the doors locked and windows up. Don’t pick up hitchhikers or stop for motorists who appear to be broken down — these are ploys commonly used by robbers and carjackers.
- Make multiple copies of your important documents, to keep in different safe places.
- Only hike in sizeable groups and be vigilant in isolated areas.
The local con artists see pre-occupied tourists as soft targets. ATM tampering is a common trick, so it pays to use only machines that are located inside a bank or business. Be wary of any vendor that swipes your credit card on one machine and then makes an excuse to use another machine — they may be using a card skimming device. Finally, watch out for criminals posing as friendly ‘tourist police’ especially in airports. There’s no such service in South Africa, and the luggage search you consented to may cost you your laptop or jewellery. “There are reports that criminals use fake IDs and flashing blue lights to stop cars with the intent to rob the passengers or steal the vehicle,” according to the Government of Canada.
Armed robberies and assaults are incredibly common in South Africa and often occur in heavily touristed areas. Armed robberies are also known to occur in shopping malls.
Here is what to do to minimize the risk of assault if you are confronted by an armed robber:
- Immediately comply
- Avoid making sudden movements
- Avoid resisting or antagonizing the assailants
- Avoid eye contact with your assailant
The Government of Canada recommends tourists stay clear of the following areas after dark to avoid becoming the victim of an armed robbery:
- Berea
- Hillbrow and Yeoville in Johannesburg
- Sunnyside in Pretoria
- The beachfront and Victoria wharf in Durban
- Cape Town downtown hotels to the waterfront
Pick-pocketing is common in many areas of South Africa. Don’t hang your purse or other valuable personal items on your chair in a restaurant or other public place. Keep these items on your lap. Ensure that all your bags’ zippers, straps and fasteners are closed and secure and be aware of people behind and around you.
Tambo, a major international airport near Johannesburg, is the entry and exit point for lots of Canadian travellers. It’s also a very risky place:
Luggage theft from Tambo airport is ‘abnormally high’. Airport employees may steal valuables after x-ray scanning the checked-in baggage. Pack any valuables in your carry-on and consider having your checked bags cling-wrapped.
Criminals operate from the terminals and have been known to rob tourists after following them from the airport. Don’t accept help from strangers and use a licensed taxi service or rental car.
“ Rape is common in South Africa”. Alarmingly, South Africa is considered by human rights authorities to be one of the most dangerous countries for women and girls. People most at-risk live-in disadvantaged areas. Most female visitors aren’t victims of gender violence in South Africa.
That said, women travelling to South Africa alone should take the following precautions to avoid becoming victims of sexual violence:
- Don’t travel after dark
- Only stay in hotels and other lodging that has reliable security.
- Consider joining a travel group if you are a solo traveller, or book city group tours with a guide.
When you are a solo traveller, you don’t have the benefit of extra pairs of eyes on your surroundings. You should take even more precautions than couples, families and other groups travelling in South Africa.
The following tips can help you stay safe if you’re a solo traveller in South Africa:
- Notify your family and friends about your travel plans Check in with them when your plane lands and if you change cities or accommodations.
- Learn the locations of essential services, such as the Canadian Embassy in your destination and the nearest medical facility.
- Stay alert and use good judgment while travelling in crowds.
- Consider purchasing devices for self-protection. A dual door lock and door stop alarm is good added protection and a way to be alerted if someone enters your room uninvited. The She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm can help you alert others and deter attacks with whistles, strobe lights, and an alarm.
South Africans are known to be incredibly friendly and gracious. Return their courtesy and friendliness. Respect for elders is important in this culture. Tipping for services is expected.
There are high quality medical facilities in the cities, but outside of urban areas there is a lot of variation in the quality and availability of services. Most hospitals will demand that travellers pay up-front for treatment. In remote areas, sick or injured travellers may need an expensive medical evacuation to a city hospital. There are a few risks of picking up illnesses or diseases, depending on where you’re travelling:
- Tap water in cities is generally okay to drink but stick to bottled water elsewhere.
- Rural and remote areas have higher risks of infectious diseases, such as malaria, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, schistosomiasis, and rabies. Talk to your doctor about vaccinations and preventative measures well before you leave.
Coastal tourism has been hit hard by natural disasters in South Africa. In the weeks before your trip, keep an eye on the weather forecast in case of flooding and tropical cyclones.
If you are caught in a natural disaster:
- Follow the advice of local authorities and your tour operator.
- Secure your passport in a safe, waterproof place.
- Keep in touch with your friends and family.
Going to safari parks to see the ‘Big 5’ game animals is a popular tourist activity. It’s also likely that you’ll come across a lot of animals out in the open. But many travellers aren’t used to wild animals that are as big, fast or fierce as the local wildlife in South Africa:
Never feed the animals or try to interact with them — even ‘cute’ monkeys can become dangerous if provoked.
When driving through a game park, stay inside the car and keep the windows up.
On guided tours, listen to your host and follow all instructions.
Keep a safe distance, even in a vehicle — elephants, hippos and rhinos have been known to attack cars that get too close.
Tourists who decide to brave South Africa’s roads face an assault from all fronts. In cities, you will be challenged by aggressive drivers, poor street lighting, manic minicabs, strange street signs, crazy cyclists and pedestrians who often rush out into traffic. It’s also not unusual to see people and animals walking up the middle of a freeway. Carjackings do happen everywhere, but Johannesburg, eThekwini, and Ekurhuleni lead the charts. A common tactic is to ‘box in’ cars at traffic lights, so always leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front when stopping.
In rural areas, many people walk beside the roads (and even on them), as well as herding cattle that can spill out onto the road.
NOTICE: While the Information is considered to be true and accurate at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information. We strongly recommend verifying the travel advisory of your destination prior to departure.
DISCLAIMER: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all information as at the date of publishing, Allianz Global Assistance does not accept liability for any errors or omissions. Allianz Global Assistance strongly recommends seeking the guidance of a professional travel agent/agency for further information on a specific destination. On your next trip, whether to another province or country, ensure you have travel insurance as it may assist you in cases of unforeseen medical emergencies and other types of mishaps that can happen while you travel. Travel insurance does not cover everything, please always refer to the policy document for full terms and conditions, including limitations and exclusions. Travel insurance is underwritten by CUMIS General Insurance Company, a member of The Co-operators Group of Companies, administered by Allianz Global Assistance, which is a registered business name of AZGA Service Canada Inc.
