South Africa

Is South Africa safe to visit?

It sits in the bottom fifth of the countries we cover, and we score it 46. South Africa's police recorded a murder rate of 36.6 per 100,000 people between April 2025 and March 2026, according to GroundUp's analysis of SAPS data. That is lower than the 40.7 of the year before, but still about nine times the US rate and well above Brazil or Mexico.

Most of that violence happens in townships and informal settlements far from tourist routes. Even so, crime reaches visitors more often here than in the other countries we score: on airport roads, at traffic lights, on hiking trails and through ATMs. A safe trip to South Africa is entirely possible, but it takes more planning than most destinations.

Where crime meets visitors

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary's South Africa page is unusually specific, which helps.

Airports. Criminals have followed travellers from OR Tambo in Johannesburg to their homes or hotels and robbed them at gunpoint. Keep valuables in carry-on bags, use main roads, and do not return a hire car at night. In Cape Town, attacks on visitors in hire cars have increased on airport roads; stay on the N2 and M3 rather than the R300 and use the Airport Approach Road at exit 16.

Driving. Carjacking happens at traffic lights, junctions, petrol stations and driveways, mostly after dark. "Smash and grab" thieves break windows at junctions to take bags from the seat. Keep doors locked and windows closed, leave nothing on the seats, and stop far enough back from the car in front to see its tyres, so you have room to drive away.

Hiking. The FCDO reports violent attacks on hikers in Table Mountain National Park, including Lion's Head and Signal Hill. It advises groups of four or more. Start early, stay on popular routes and leave expensive cameras at home.

ATMs and kidnapping. Strangers offering help at ATMs are a classic trick, and card skimming is widespread. The FCDO says kidnapping for money is increasing, including express kidnappings where victims are held while their cards are used. The US cites kidnapping as one of four reasons for its Level 2 advisory.

Dating apps. Both the US and UK warn that criminals use them to lure people into robbery and sexual assault.

Unrest and terrorism

Protests over services, electricity and jobs are frequent, and roadblocks with burning tyres can appear without warning. In July 2021 riots and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng killed more than 300 people. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says terrorists are likely to try lone-actor attacks, though attacks have been rare.

Roads and transport

WHO estimatedWHO road-death estimateThe World Health Organization's estimate of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in a country, adjusted for deaths that police statistics miss.More in the glossary 22.2 road deaths per 100,000 people in 2019, about seven times the UK rate. Deaths rise around Easter and Christmas, when long-distance traffic and drink-driving peak. Minibus taxis are cheap but poorly maintained and erratically driven; visitors should use Uber, Bolt or hotel transfers, checking that the driver and plate match the app, especially at airports.

Health and nature

Private hospitals in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban are excellent, but you need insurance. HIV prevalence is among the highest in the world, and malaria is present in the north-east, including parts of Kruger and northern KwaZulu-Natal, mainly in the wet season. Cape Town and Johannesburg tap water is generally safe.

Natural hazards are moderate. Floods in KwaZulu-Natal in April 2022 killed more than 400 people around Durban. Cape Town suffers droughts and summer wildfires on its mountain slopes. Strong currents and sharks make some beaches dangerous; swim where lifeguards and shark spotters work, as at Muizenberg.

How to stay safe in South Africa

• Arrive in daylight if you can, and book an airport transfer for your first night.
• Keep car doors locked and bags in the boot, even on short drives.
• Hike Table Mountain in a group of four or more, and start early.
• Use ATMs inside malls or banks, and never accept help from strangers there.
• Visit townships only with a reputable guide.
• Read our Cape Town and Johannesburg pages for neighbourhood-level advice.

How we scored it

Violent crime (22) and petty crime (35) are the weakest factors, and road safety (40) is poor. Natural hazards (75) and health (65) are the strongest, helped by excellent private hospitals. If the murder rate keeps falling, the score will rise.