Cape Town is beautiful and visitable but crime is high. Stick to the Atlantic seaboard and city bowl, hike Table Mountain in groups, avoid townships except on licensed tours, and manage water-shortage rules.
Save these numbers before you arrive. Calls are free from most local phones.
Read before you go — these are the situations most likely to affect your safety.
Keep windows up and doors locked at traffic lights; smash-and-grab theft is common.
Hike Table Mountain in a group, early, with water and a map; weather changes fast.
Visit townships only with a licensed guide; do not walk in informal settlements alone.
Drive at dusk with care; carjacking risk rises after dark on some highways.
Recognise the pattern, decline firmly, and walk away.
People offer to help with 'stuck' ATMs and skim cards. Use bank-lobby ATMs and refuse help.
People in tourist areas collect for non-existent charities. Donate to verified organisations instead.
Unlicensed guides demand large tips after a 'free' tour. Use registered guides and confirm the price.
Neighbourhoods and districts recommended for first-time visitors.
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Last reviewed and verified for 2026. Always check your government's latest travel advisory before departure.
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