Is South Africa Safe to travel? When deciding to travel to South Africa, the first hesitation is whether or not it is safe… We say yes! Here’s why…
Check out a detailed overview about “Is South Africa Safe to travel”
Safety by Area
South Africa is a big country, so safety depends mainly on which areas you’re visiting. Popular tourist destinations like Cape Town, the Winelands, the Garden Route, and the Kruger National Park, boast some of the safest areas for tourists. For Cape Town, safety conditions have largely improved since the city hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2010. Also, the southern coastline, including the Garden Route stretching up to the Addo Elephant Park and beyond, are some of the safest areas in the country with cities like George and East London being top-ranked for quality of living.
According to the South African Police Services (SAPS), the most dangerous areas are as follows: Hillbrow, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga, Khayelitsha, Ivory Park, Temba, Umlazi. Lucky for you, you won’t find yourself in these areas on our trip unless you’re with a local guide.
Safety in the City, Townships, Gang Crime
The infrastructures of South African cities have one thing in common – the positioning of the townships. The Townships listed above are mainly built on the outskirts of major cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg. Sadly, these areas are poverty-stricken and gang-ridden, which means they’re a hotspot for crime. That said, these townships are quite far off from major tourist routes, so you won’t ever have to worry about these crimes affecting you. While visiting these townships can give you a deep insight into South African culture, you should do so with a local guide who knows the area inside out.
The exception is Hillbrow, which is not a township but rather a dilapidated old city center in Johannesburg overrun by illegal immigrants. Still, the district is not going to be on your itinerary unless you absolutely must see it.
Other than that, the central areas and suburbs of the cities lead a largely ordinary albeit vigilant life, thanks to the monitoring of police forces and private security companies.
Petty Crime
Petty crime, on the other hand, does exist in the touristic areas as it does throughout the world’s major cities. Here you’ll encounter shady characters looking to make a buck at your expense. The rule of thumb is that you make yourself a target the minute you flash any valuables and look vulnerable. By following some tips of common sense, which you probably need for any metropole anyway, you’ll find yourself perfectly safe.
- During the day, many touristic areas and suburbs are safe to walk around. However, criminals prefer to come out at night, so don’t go out alone after sunset and always use an Uber if you must.
- Do your best to stay with a group and avoid quiet streets if alone.
- If you are driving, never leave any valuables unattended inside the car, and lock your door and windows.
- Keep wallets, handbags and purses close at all times.
- When booking a place, you should make sure the accommodation provides a safe box for your valuables. If you are near the ground floor, you should avoid leaving stuff near the windows.
- Always walk confidently, and avoid looking confused and lost on the street, as it will attract posers claiming to help you.
- It’s a good idea to put your valuables in the inner pockets of your jacket or bag, where it’s harder to reach.
- Always be vigilant of your surroundings and trust your spidey-sense if you think something doesn’t feel right.
It might seem like a lot of work, but these are simple rules that you have to follow to remain safe in most places around the world, be it New York or Paris.
Advantage of Small Tour Companies
While you can have a wonderful time as a solo traveler or with a group of friends in South Africa, we believe by joining a tour company you’ll elevate the experience. South Africa has so many hidden gems with intriguing stories that you won’t find online and you still might not be sure of how safe they are without a locals insights. Tour companies not only offer unique experiences outside the standard packaged itineraries but also ensure that you interact with locals in the most fun and safe way possible.
Although South Africa has a bad reputation for it’s crime, we believe you’ll be perfectly safe if travelling to visit provided you remain vigilant. With our small groups and a guide present throughout our 17-day trip we ensure you’re in a safe environment so you can get on with having a great time without constantly looking over your shoulder. Contact us with any queries if you’re interested in joining a backpacking adventure!
