Safety in South Africa

In the past the media has given (too) much attention to criminality in South Africa. Although poverty, and mainly the large gap between rich and poor, attributes to criminality, South Africa is generally a safe country to travel. Crime mainly takes place in the large cities and especially in Johannesburg. It concerns especially robbery, house burgling and car theft. In the countryside you will probably feel just as safe as in most western countries.

The makers of this site have visited South Africa numerous times, without experiencing any criminality. This does not mean however that there is none. Below are a number of useful tips to prevent problems:

• Keep the doors to your car locked, especially in cities
• Do not walk around in visibly expensive clothes, don’t wear showy jewelry and don’t show off your expensive camera. If necessary, carry your belongings in an old, worn bag
• Don’t carry anything you can’t afford to lose
• In the city, try to come across confident and don’t look lost
• Avoid groups of young men who hang around in the street
• Listen to local advise on unsafe areas
• If you are lost, ask directions at a gas station (when by car) or at a shop
• In large cities, don’t walk in the streets alone or with two people. Take a taxi
• Don’t pick up hitchhikers
• If you find yourself in a situation where someone wants to rob you of your rental car or belongings, make it known you are not armed and give the person what he wants
• If on the highway (particularly around Cape Town) something is thrown on top of your car, do not stop. There have been incidents in the past with people throwing rocks from flyovers onto passing cars, to then rob the driver who stops of his car and belongings.