South Africa is a wonderful country to visit, offering a huge variety of landscapes and experiences. However, crime rates are high and it’s possible to end up in dangerous situations while in the country if you don’t take precautions. There’s no need to avoid the country altogether though, most visits are still trouble-free. I have visited South Africa twice and have never experienced any dangerous situations, but I was aware of the importance of following local safety advice. Below I have summarised the main tips for staying safe during your visit to South Africa.
Be sure to check out my other post on South Africa for general tips on visiting the country, if you haven’t already.
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Join organised tours
While it is perfectly possible to stay safe in South Africa visiting independently, organised tours will provide added safety reassurances and local knowledge. They will often pick you up from the airport or your accommodation and drive you straight to your destination. Organised tours are also a great option if you’re visiting South Africa for the first time. They will allow you to familiarise yourself with the country and learn vital insights. In my experience, guides are friendly and always happy to provide advice.
If you’d like to join organised tours for any location in South Africa, I would highly recommend checking out Viator. They are part of the TripAdvisor group and boast a huge variety of tours to suit any need and budget. They also offer great booking flexibility, quality standards and customer support, so you can be sure you’re in good hands.
Avoid townships
Townships are a sad reminder of South Africa’s Apartheid past. They are areas of towns and cities that were racially segregated and largely left out of social and economic development. Even today poverty is still common in these areas and many, especially in larger cities, are plagued by violent gang activity. If travelling independently, you should familiarise yourself with the cities you’re visiting and the areas to avoid.
There are organised tours of townships all over South Africa. While I wouldn’t recommend these experiences from an ethical standpoint, as you are effectively visiting crime- and poverty-ridden areas for tourism, they also pose significant safety concerns. The safety situation in townships can be very volatile, especially in larger cities where gang activity is common. There have been incidents involving township tours in the past, so my strong recommendation is to avoid these tours.
If you are keen to visit a township, I would instead recommend looking at volunteering opportunities. I took part in volunteering in a township on my first visit to South Africa, staying with a host family and helping out at a local creche. With these kinds of experiences you’ll be making yourself useful to the local community, rather than just visiting for pleasure, and will also receive support for your safety. Bear in mind though that the safety situation can still be unpredictable, so be sure to volunteer with a reputable organisation with a wealth of local knowledge. If interested, this website offers a variety of opportunities to volunteer with flexibility and support.
Be aware of your surroundings and don’t display wealth
These are common safety measures that can often be taken for granted, but they are vital to prevent dangerous situations and stay clear of petty crime. While tourist areas are generally safe in South Africa, pickpocketing and theft can still occur. Therefore, the best way to stay safe is to dress modestly and keep your valuables in your bag or pockets to avoid displaying wealth. Being aware of your surroundings is also important: for example, before taking your phone or camera out, make sure that no one is behaving suspiciously around you. If you need to withdraw cash, I would recommend using cash machines located inside shopping centres.
Avoid walking at night, drive or take a taxi instead
In all areas, you are more at risk of petty and serious crime after dark. Therefore, walking around at night carries risks, and it’s also uncommon among locals. Instead, it’s best to use your own car if you have one, or take a taxi.
Try not to walk alone, stay in a group wherever possible
When walking, both in urban or wilderness areas, try to stay in a group. In a town, only walk in busy and well-policed areas, where safety risks are low. In remote areas of wilderness, there are many opportunities for hiking, but I would recommend hiring a guide or join a group hike. Viator has many options for guided hikes and group urban walks in South Africa. Make sure to check them out and choose the best tours for you.
Avoid isolated areas
This is especially relevant when visiting natural attractions, such as the Table Mountain, the Blyde River Canyon or isolated beaches. These attractions often have visitor areas that offer amenities and security. If visiting these attractions independently, I would recommend sticking to these visitor zones and avoid venturing into isolated areas unaccompanied.
If you are keen to explore beyond the main tourist areas, consider an organised tour. Look at Viator for walking tours, boat trips and other types of tours that you can join, taking advantage of the added safety and local knowledge.
Lock your car doors and windows when driving and avoid leaving belongings in sight when parked
This is important to ensure your and your vehicle’s safety. When driving, especially in cities, keep your doors and windows locked to prevent any potential robbery or other vehicle crime. When parked, you should never leave any belongings, especially valuables, in sight. Make sure to keep your belongings safe in your hotel room or with you, and leave everything out of sight in the car, preferably in the boot.
Park in secure car parks rather than on the street
Parking on the street always carries more risk. Vehicle crime rates are high in South Africa, so it’s always better to use main car parks that offer some security. Luckily this is not often a problem, as security in general is taken very seriously in the country. Your accommodation will surely have private off-street parking, secured with a gate and high walls. In cities, secure multi-storey car parks are common and relatively inexpensive to use.
Even open-air car parks usually have a guard that looks after the parked vehicles. Sometimes the guards are hired and paid by the car park owner. Often though, the guard will be there on a casual and unpaid basis. In these cases, they will approach you upon leaving the car park and ask for some money, and you should leave them a small amount of cash as a thank you.
Most importantly: always follow local advice
Local advice is the best resource, both to stay safe and to make the most of your trip. In fact, aside from safety tips, locals can provide advice on hidden gems you may want to explore or less popular routes to take. In my experience, South Africans are very welcoming towards visitors and are always happy to chat and give helpful advice. Your hosts will usually welcome you to their property in person and are a great source of local knowledge. Always heed their advice and you will have a pleasant, unforgettable and safe time in South Africa.
