U.S. Department of State
Level 2Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased cautionin South Africa due to crime, terrorism, unrest, and kidnapping. Violent crime is common and includes robbery, rape, carjacking and mugging.
Full advisory →Is South Africa safe? 🇿🇦
Africa · Updated
As of July 2026, South Africa scores 49/100 on the IsMyTripSafe safety index (average across assessed destinations). The U.S. State Department rates South Africa Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Of the 1 South Africa destination assessed, Cape Town scores highest (49/100).
01 · Official Guidance
Government advisories
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)
Level 1No advisory against travel
Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide.
Full advisory →Government of Canada
Level 2Exercise a high degree of caution
Canada's official risk level for South Africa: exercise a high degree of caution.
Full advisory →02 · Destinations
South Africa destinations by safety score
Missing a place? Generate its report in about a minute.
03 · Evidence Signals
South Africa safety data
| Indicator | Value | Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government travel advisoryUS State Dept · Canada | Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution · 2 govts | 70 | US State Dept · Canada |
| Homicide rateWorld Bank Open Data · 2022 | 43.7 / 100k | 10 | World Bank Open Data (2022) |
| Feel safe walking alone after darkUN SDG Global Database · 2022 | 37.0% | 33 | UN SDG Global Database (2022) |
| Political stability & no terrorismWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2024 | 55/100 | 55 | World Bank Governance Indicators (2024) |
| Rule of lawWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2024 | 57/100 | 57 | World Bank Governance Indicators (2024) |
| Road traffic deathsWHO Global Health Observatory · 2021 | 24.5 / 100k | 35 | WHO Global Health Observatory (2021) |
04 · Questions
South Africa safety FAQ
Is South Africa safe to visit right now?
The U.S. State Department currently rates South Africa Level 2 of 4 — Exercise Increased Caution. On our composite index South Africa averages 49/100. See the destination reports above for city-level detail. (Updated 20 July 2026.)
What is the safest place to visit in South Africa?
Of the destinations we've assessed, Cape Town currently scores highest at 49/100 (Use Caution).
Where does this South Africa safety data come from?
Directly from public sources: US, UK and Canadian government advisories, World Bank and UNODC crime statistics, WHO health data, live air-quality, disaster and earthquake feeds — plus AI field research over current local reporting. Read the full methodology.