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Practical guides: South Africa

Safety and emergencies

Areas advised against, risks on the road and in town, scams and numbers to keep with you. Advice varies with the country that publishes it.

Crime

  • Travellers have been followed and robbed from Johannesburg's OR Tambo airport: prefer a daytime flight, book your transfer or take the Gautrain, do not withdraw cash at the airport and watch for vehicles following you.

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    France Diplomatie, Travel advice: South Africa, safety

  • The whole country is under heightened vigilance. Do not go out alone after dark, withdraw cash in shopping centres, leave nothing visible in the car and do not blindly follow GPS, which can lead into townships.

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    France Diplomatie, Travel advice: South Africa, safety

In town

  • In Johannesburg, avoid Hillbrow, Berea, Alexandra, Yeoville, the old centre (except Newtown) and the bus station; take extra care in Melville and Maboneng. Visit Soweto with an agency.

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    France Diplomatie, Travel advice: South Africa, safety

  • In Cape Town, avoid walking near the station, Long Street alone at night, and take care in Woodstock, Observatory and Bo-Kaap. Hike in groups on Table Mountain and Lion's Head. Do not go to the Cape Flats (Khayelitsha, Langa, Nyanga, Gugulethu, Mitchells Plain) without someone who knows the area well. Do not swim at Diaz Beach (currents).

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    France Diplomatie, Travel advice: South Africa, safety

  • In Durban, take care at all times on the beachfront and avoid Victoria Embankment, Point Road and the port area.

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    France Diplomatie, Travel advice: South Africa, safety

  • On the road to Kruger park (Nelspruit, Hazyview), do not stop on the roadside or for strangers; near the Phabeni and Numbi gates, fake police cars have been used in attacks: avoid driving there at night.

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    France Diplomatie, Travel advice: South Africa, safety

  • In the Eastern Cape, do not enter the townships of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and East London without a guide, avoid the R335 through Motherwell, and be very careful in Port St Johns and Coffee Bay.

    Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidence
    France Diplomatie, Travel advice: South Africa, safety

On the road

Useful contacts

Contact details taken from the official sources cited. Check them before going.

Sources for this guide

AfriPilot is not an official body. Information comes from the sources cited and may change: each source's date is shown.