Travel Smart

Honest, sourced guidance so you travel confident. Most of any country is calmer than the headlines suggest.

Safety

Countrywide advisory (Government of Canada)

Exercise increased caution

Exercise a high degree of caution

Source: Government of Canada · Verified 2026-07-26

Cape Town & Western Cape

Exercise increased caution

Popular tourist destination with good infrastructure and visible policing in main areas. Street crime and petty theft occur in specific neighborhoods; avoid walking alone at night in Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, and the city bowl after dark.

Avoid: Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Hanover Park townships at night; Foreshore area late evening

Source: UK FCDO · Verified 2026-07-06

Johannesburg & Gauteng

Exercise increased caution

Economic hub with pockets of high crime and safer residential/business zones. Johannesburg inner city has deteriorated; Sandton, Midrand, and Pretoria are relatively secure for business and leisure if you stay aware.

Avoid: Johannesburg inner city CBD after dark; Hillbrow, Yeoville, parts of Berea

Source: UK FCDO · Verified 2026-07-06

Kruger National Park & Limpopo

Exercise normal precautions

Safe and well-managed safari destination with professional lodge operators and ranger security. Petty theft from vehicles in parking areas rare but possible; wildlife encounters follow strict safety protocols.

Source: UK FCDO · Verified 2026-07-06

Garden Route & KwaZulu-Natal Coast

Exercise normal precautions

Safe beach and tourism region. Mossel Bay, Hermanus, Durban beachfront, and the Drakensberg mountains are secure for tourists; standard travel precautions apply.

Source: UK FCDO · Verified 2026-07-06

5 zones rated separately against Government of Canada, UK FCDO. Oldest check on this page: 6 July 2026.

How we source this

Was this right when you were there?