Smart Safety Tips for Travelling in South Africa

Your holiday begins the minute you land at the airport, and subsequently, so does your vigilance. Tourists are often targeted due to their inexperience in the country, so it is important to remain on guard. We recommend putting locks on your luggage prior to your journey to ensure your belongings aren’t tampered with before you are reunited with them. In fact, most airports offer to wrap your luggage in plastic wrap to ensure maximum safety, for a small fee.

Tourists are often distracted by their excitement, and vulnerable due to the unfamiliar cues of their destination country, so we highly recommend seeking directions and advice strictly at marked information desks, to ensure you are not led astray.

Your holiday accommodation is somewhere that you should be able to relax and feel secure after a busy day out on the town. Remember to keep your values in the safe of your room, and to lock your bags and belongings in the room before you head out for the day.

We advise keeping the room of your accommodation locked whilst you are relaxing and sleeping, to ensure your personal safety, and to check the peephole before opening the door for visitors. If you ever feel suspicious or uncomfortable, you are urged to contact reception so that they can assist you.

When you are venturing out into a new country, it is strongly advised to leave your expensive jewellery, cameras, mobile phones and other valuables in the safety of your room’s safe whenever possible, so as not to attract the attention of pick-pockets.

Some areas of the major cities of South Africa are known to be higher-risk than others. We recommend asking your accommodation staff or the local police for advice on which of the surrounding areas are less suitable for tourists to explore.

South African streets see many hawkers and beggars, and as such we implore tourists to remain vigilant and use their discretion when approached by either. If you believe the person may have ulterior motives or is acting suspiciously, do not entertain their advances.

Should you wish to travel at night, it is best to avoid dark, isolated areas, and it is always advised to travel in groups. Criminals tend to pry on those who appear lost, frightened or distracted, therefore it is best to memorise your route and carry yourself with confidence to avoid danger.

Lastly, if you would like to call a taxi, your accommodation or the South African Tourism Helpline (+27 83 123 6789) will be able to recommend a reliable service.

To round out our safety tips for travelling in South Africa, we want to talk about vehicle safety! For starters, be sure to plan your route in advance so that you feel comfortable on the roads. Keep your doors locked and the windows up particularly in congested areas, as open windows can attract criminals here.

With regards to your valuable, it is best to keep them out of sight both whilst you are in the vehicle and once you have climbed out, as this merely tempts criminals to attempt a robbery. In fact, locking your valuables in the boot of the vehicle is the most secure action you can take.

Refrain from picking up strangers or hitchhikers, particularly when you are alone, as this may be a ploy to initiate a robbery or hijacking.

We strongly advise keeping the phone number of your car rental company at hand in case you are ever stranded or stuck. Lastly, if you are ever in doubt about your safety, call 10111 on a South African mobile phone or landline to be connected to the South African Police Service call centre, who can advise you or direct help to you promptly.