South Africa Travel Safety Guide
What are the emergency numbers in South Africa?
South Africa emergency numbers: 10111 (Police), 10177 (Ambulance), 10177 (Fire Department).
Is South Africa safe for travelers?
Violent crime, carjacking, and theft are major practical issues. Avoid displaying valuables, avoid quiet areas on foot, and do not stop casually in unfamiliar places at night.
Tap water is generally safe in many urban areas, but local conditions can vary and outages can affect confidence. Check locally if you are outside the main city core.
What health risks should travelers know about in South Africa?
Sun, heat, and road safety often matter more to tourists than disease, but malaria prevention may matter in some areas and seasons.
What laws should tourists know about in South Africa?
Keep doors locked while driving and avoid visibly using phones at traffic lights in high-risk areas. This is more of a survival habit than a formal law, but it matters.
Carry identification and follow police instructions carefully at checkpoints or traffic stops.
How is transportation in South Africa?
Do not assume walking or normal public transport is the safest default in major cities. App-booked rides or arranged transport are usually the safer choice.
Uber operates widely in South Africa and is a practical mainstream option in many cities.
What should travelers know about money in South Africa?
Currency is South African rand (ZAR). Cards work widely in urban areas, but carrying some cash is still useful in smaller settings.
ATM crime, card scams, and distraction theft are real risks. Use ATMs inside malls or bank premises rather than exposed street machines.
Tipping is expected in restaurants and for some service roles. Around 10 percent is common.
What practical info do travelers need for South Africa?
Plug type is mainly M, with some type N or C seen in modern settings. Voltage is usually 230V.
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, safari regions, and the Garden Route do not share the same safety pattern or logistics.
City Specific Info
Johannesburg
Do not treat city-center walking after dark as routine. Use arranged transport.
Cape Town
Hiking and scenic spots are popular, but theft from parked cars and isolated-viewpoint robberies still happen.
Which embassies are in South Africa?
Mostly in Pretoria, Cape Town, Johannesburg.
Algeria
Angola
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Benin
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Canada
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Côte d’Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Holy See (Vatican City)
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kuwait
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Republic of the Congo
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Somalia
South Korea
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Syrian Arab Republic
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Traveling Nearby?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the emergency number in South Africa?
In South Africa, you can reach police at 10111, ambulance at 10177. These numbers work from any phone, including mobile phones without a local SIM card.
Is South Africa safe for tourists?
Violent crime, carjacking, and theft are major practical issues. Avoid displaying valuables, avoid quiet areas on foot, and do not stop casually in unfamiliar places at night.
What currency is used in South Africa?
Currency is South African rand (ZAR). Cards work widely in urban areas, but carrying some cash is still useful in smaller settings.
What health precautions should I take in South Africa?
Sun, heat, and road safety often matter more to tourists than disease, but malaria prevention may matter in some areas and seasons.
What laws should tourists know about in South Africa?
Keep doors locked while driving and avoid visibly using phones at traffic lights in high-risk areas. This is more of a survival habit than a formal law, but it matters.
Get wayGard for iOS
Get all of South Africa's safety info offline.
