🇿🇦 South Africa · Africa
Safety South Africa
Vigilance conseillee
South Africa offers spectacular landscapes and unique biodiversity. Crime is a real problem, especially in large cities. A vigilant attitude and basic precautions let you travel with peace of mind in tourist areas.
Specific risks
Theft & petty crime
4Risques importants
Scams
3Vigilance conseillee
Natural disasters
1Tres sur
Health risks
2Globalement sur
Political stability
2Globalement sur
Areas to avoid
- Townships without a local guide
- Certain neighbourhoods of Johannesburg (Hillbrow, Berea) — high crime
- Isolated roads at night
Emergency numbers
Police
10111
Ambulance
10177
Fire department
10177
Health & precautions
Vaccinations
- Hepatitis A and B
- Typhoid fever
- Yellow fever if transiting through an endemic zone
Drinking water
Tap water is drinkable in major cities.
Mosquitoes
Malaria present in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and northern KwaZulu-Natal. Prophylaxis recommended for safaris.
General notes
The private healthcare system is excellent. Public hospitals are overloaded.
Women travelers
Avoid walking alone at night. Use reliable transport services (Uber works well). Tourist areas are generally safe during the day.
LGBTQ+ travelers
South Africa is the only African country to constitutionally protect LGBTQ+ rights. Cape Town is very welcoming. Caution still applies in rural areas.
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