Is it safe for tourists in Johannesburg?

Johannesburg is a really fun city to visit, with plenty to entertain tourists. But it does have a particularly high crime rate. There are areas to avoid, like everywhere, and it's best to ask a local guide or hotel staff about specifics and not to go a-wandering.



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Immerse yourself in Joburg's vibrant nightlife. Yes, Johannesburg is relatively safe for tourists. Like any other major city, Joburg has its dangerous areas. But overall, the metropolitan is safe for travellers, as long as you keep your wits about you.

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Johannesburg is a really fun city to visit, with plenty to entertain tourists, but it does have a particularly high crime rate. There are areas to avoid and it's best to ask a local guide or hotel staff about specifics and not to wander.

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Exercise increased caution in South Africa due to crime and civil unrest. Country Summary: Violent crime, such as armed robbery, rape, carjacking, mugging, and smash-and-grab attacks on vehicles, is common. There is a higher risk of violent crime in the central business districts of major cities after dark.

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There are safe and unsafe places in the CBD. Johannesburg is a large city. There are many whites people living in Selby and surrounding areas and they appear to be quite safe. And like all cities in the world, you have drunks, drug pushers and prostitutes and gangs loitering in the CBD areas at night.

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Is South Africa safe for tourists? Yes, South Africa is generally safe for tourists. The areas in which visitors typically stay — Cape Town's city centre and inner suburbs, the Cape Winelands, the Garden Route and safari destinations — are among the safest in the country.

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Jo'burg's public transit and shuttles – especially those that carry tourists, excluding sightseeing tour buses – are notoriously prone to robberies, while taxis and minibus taxis are known for their confusing hand signals and unlicensed, irresponsible drivers.

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Although Cape Town was largely regarded as safe, one can never be entirely sure in South Africa. (It is statistically one of the most violently criminal countries in the world with a homicide rate of 33.5 per 100,000 population compared with, say, the UK's 1.1).

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Cape Town is not a malaria area. You don't need to worry about malaria tablets unless you are travelling from Cape Town to high-risk parts of the country. There is also a standard list of vaccinations that many countries recommend before travelling abroad that includes rabies, typhoid, and tetanus.

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The 2023 South African National Shutdown was a protest held by the political party Economic Freedom Fighters on 20 March 2023, the day before Human Rights Day. The EFF called for the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa and an end to load-shedding.

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