Go with a plan.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about South Africa
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go with a plan.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
ATM Fraud
ATM con artists operate in South Africa. Limit the credit and debit cards you carry to those with low balances and set appropriate withdrawal limits.
Unsolicited Offers
Do not accept offers from friendly strangers. If someone insists you follow them to get somewhere or do something, approach with extreme caution.
Payment Pre-delivery
Do not pay anyone for something unless you have the goods in hand.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Tap water safe to drink: Yes
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Cholera, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Measles, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
The visa policy of South Africa is how the South African government determines who may and may not enter South Africa.
Passport validity required: 1 months beyond entry.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in South Africa. The main threat is from individuals who may have been inspired by terrorist groups, including Daesh, and who may carry out ‘lone actor’ attacks. Attacks could be indiscriminate and could target public spaces and places visited by foreigners, such as: tourist sites shopping centres high profile events crowded places Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual activity is legal. It is illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation. See our advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →Right now
In the news the last few days
- JDA restores public art collection , preserves Joburg stories for future generations2026-08-05
- Tyla Pulls Nigeria Tour Stop Following Boycott Calls2026-08-05
- South Africa pushes for Africa migration talks after violent internal protests and Ceuta crisis2026-08-05
- Mandatory Sh6 . 5 million visitor insurance rule sparks tourism fears2026-08-04
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers emphasize that South Africa requires constant vigilance to navigate risks like carjackings, muggings, and violent crime. Success relies on strict adherence to basic safety protocols: avoid driving after dark, keep nothing visible inside your vehicle, stay in safe areas, and steer clear of townships. While some travelers report feeling European-level comfortable in nice areas, the consensus is that safety is the primary concern. Self-driving is common in Kruger and along the Garden Route, but it demands caution and staying on main roads. Aggressive vendors can be an issue in tourist hubs like Camps Bay. Ultimately, travelers who follow these rigid safety rules often report incident-free trips.
“Basic rules we followed: no driving after dark, nothing visible in the car, no stopping by the road, stick to safe areas and avoid townships, etc. We were back at our places by 7pm every night except one late dinner in Dullstroom (which felt safer in comparison).
— r/travel
“Only real issue is safety, so do your homework and pack LOTS of vigilance.
— r/travel
“Of course, we won't be driving at night, do our best to stay on the main roads and read about general safety in SA (windows closed, smash and grab, etc.)
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / M / N · 230V
Driving side
left
Emergency
police: 10 111 / ambulance: 10 177 / fire: 10 177
Tipping
Tipping is the norm in restaurants. Indeed, most of these businesses pay their staff the legal minimum-wage, relying on customer tips to bring staff incomes up to live-able levels. Tips of around 10% of the bill are considered the norm but you may refuse to tip if the food and/or service were below par. Please note some restaurants management shares all "official" tips, you may want to rather give
Cash vs. Card
The currency is the rand, denoted by the symbol "R" (ISO code: ZAR). It is divided into 100 cents (c). Notes are in denominations of R200, R100, R50, R20 and R10. Higher value notes are slightly larger in physical size than small value notes. All notes have a metallic security strip and a watermark. Two series of banknotes are in circulation and are legal tender in South Africa, the "Big Five" ser
Zoom in
6 South Africa cities on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (8 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- reddit — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09