Cape Town is a fantastically beautiful city, with epic mountains, oceans abundant with life, unique biospheres of plantlife, and a wonderful local culture of diversity and joy-despite-hardship. It’s a great city. But the question most foreigners I’ve talked to ask me is the crime and danger aspect. Isn’t Cape Town unsafe? Because of course, it is a real concern!
So, since there are genuine concerns about safety in Cape Town, I’ve put together this post on tips to avoid danger and frequently asked questions. As well as transport options and safety tips, helpful local resources, emergency numbers, and areas to avoid.
Is Cape Town safe?
The short answer is, no, not entirely. The city consistently ranks among the top 10-15 most violent cities in the world and pickpocketing is even more common than violent crime.
However, despite the bleakness of the short answer, most people find living in Cape Town comfortably safe if they follow the below advice. Almost all violent crime in the city is restricted to the densely packed impoverished communities, which, while the conditions are deplorable, form kind of a second city alongside the far safer center and coastal region.
So, despite the city being rife with crime, that crime is unlikely to be within your realm of experience, or directed at you. If that doesn’t sound very reassuring, I’ve got plenty of tips from years of walking and catching public transport around our fair city.
Cape Town safety FAQs
Well, now that we’ve covered the big one, let’s get into more detail! I’ve gathered the most common questions around safety in Cape Town, to help you understand the city’s safety sore points and plan around them.
Is Cape Town safe to walk around?
This really depends on the area and your awareness level. In areas popular with tourists, like Sea Point, Camps Bay and Hout Bay, you can walk around comfortably. Other areas are still walkable, you just need to stay vigilant – don’t keep your eyes glued to your phone, and don’t walk on empty roads.
Is Cape Town safe for tourists?
Yes! Tourists are well-liked in Cape Town and you’ll find that most locals are really friendly and helpful.
You do, however, need to keep a watch out for people looking to take advantage of a tourist’s naivety and unawareness. Scammers, petty thieves and other criminals tend to watch for ‘easy prey’. So if you look too doe-eyed and unsure, you may be targeted. Walk confidently and briskly, don’t take your phone out too often, and ask for assistance when you need it!
Is Cape Town safe at night?
Parts of Cape Town are safe at night, others aren’t. If in doubt, ask the front desk (or Airbnb owner) of your accommodation!
In general, though, it’s best not to walk solo past dark, and even in a group, to stick to well-lit and well-frequented areas. For example, people are still hiking up and down Lion’s Head well into the night. As long as others are doing it with you, it’s safe!
Parts of Cape Town aren’t safe at night even for groups, so do some research on your planned neighbourhood – there’s a lot of variation in this city!
Is Cape Town safe for solo females?
If you’ve travelled solo before, Cape Town is a great place to explore on your own. The locals are very friendly, and you’ll make friends very quickly (if you’re looking to). You’ll also adore the nature and culture! Woman to woman, I’d highly recommend the neighbourhood of Observatory – I used to live nearby it, and the charming cafes, local music haunts, and snazzy thrift stores are wonderful. It’s also my favourite place to visit solo (that is, outside of nature).
I wouldn’t necessarily recommend Cape Town for a first-time solo female traveller, though. Simply because some skills in self-awareness and vigilance are important, and these are things you naturally build up while travelling.
Is Cape Town LGBT+ friendly?
Definitely! Cape Town, in fact, is regarded as the gay capital of Africa. The city hosts multiple queer events throughout the year, and has B&Bs, bars and clubs specifically catering to the queer community. This LGBT guide to Cape Town offers more detailed info!
South Africa was the first African country to legalise gay marriage, and one of the first countries in the world to constitutionally protect people against discrimination based on their sexual orientations.
Which is the safest city in South Africa?
It’s Cape Town! My home city is the safest major city in South Africa. It’s also the most popular with tourists, thanks to our incredible natural scenery, diverse culture and other big advantages.
Is Cape Town a good place to live?
Coming from a local – Cape Town is a fantastic place to live. Quality of life is great, with so much to do and see, decent infrastructure, and so many world-class cafes, restaurants, bars, and clubs.
You can also find a good apartment with a great view for a reasonable price, which is a pretty big deal these days. If you’re considering living here, check out my guide to moving to Cape Town, with all its pros, cons, and nitty-gritty!
General tips to avoid danger
1 . Don’t walk around alone at night
Most parts of the city are less safe in the dark, and locals avoid being outside unless in a large group or in a well-lit, well-populated area.
2. Don’t walk in places you don’t know well at night, even in a group
Certain areas are dangerous even to groups – unless you’re walking with people who are confident about what they’re doing and where they’re going, rather catch an uber.
3. Don’t resist if you’re robbed
It does happen – you can be robbed at knife or gunpoint, or just through physical intimidation. Don’t resist this; losing your things is always better than risking your life.
4. Leave your valuables at home
If you don’t need your passport or your favourite jewellery on a trip about town, the surest option is to leave them at home. The same goes with any wads of cash!
5. Carry a R100 note within your clothing or shoes
A bag is relatively easy to steal, or steal from, if you’re not paying attention, and you don’t want to be left with nothing if your bag is snatched. So, an easy option to mitigate risk is to carry a note or two in your shoe, bra, or in a tight pocket. It also doesn’t hurt to have the number of your accommodation and the South African emergency number (112) on a slip of paper on your person.
6. If you want to give money to beggars, keep some change in your pocket
Taking your wallet out in the street and fumbling around with it is risky in many areas.
It’s also, technically, a greater kindness to buy that person some food (unless they’re specifically asking for money to access one of the Haven shelters, which cost R15 per night). Drug addiction is unfortunately something many of our homeless are struggling with, so directly buying food is the best way to ensure they’re using the charity to eat.
You will find that some beggars ask persistently for money as they follow you down the street. Really, they’re demanding not asking. Your best response here is to say ‘no’ firmly and just keep walking. It’s intimidating, but they will eventually drop away.
7. Don’t use your cellphone in the street
Of course, sometimes you have to use your phone. But when you do, stay conscious of your surroundings. It’s also best to check your map route while you’re indoors, and keep eyes-on-phone to a minimum while walking.
8. Avoid the eastern outskirts of town
Most of the crime that happens in Cape Town happens in the impoverished communities in and beyond the city’s eastern suburbs. However, tourists usually have no exposure to these areas. No guidebook will ever recommend them, and they’re far from the popular tourist neighbourhoods, so they’re easy to avoid.
9. When hiking alone or in pairs, be vigilant
Cape Town has some of the most beautiful hiking trails in the world! With our unique biosphere and spectacular views, they are so worthwhile. However, we do occasionally have safety issues on the mountain, with individuals being robbed and even stabbed.
So, hike during daylight hours, stay vigilant, leave any valuables at home, and ideally, hike in groups.
10. You can even get self-defence training
If you live in Cape Town or you’re spending a while here and you feel some concern for your safety, I highly recommend self-defence training with TrueKrav. I spent over a year training with them, and in addition to getting fitter than I’ve ever been, I learnt skills that left me a lot more confident that I could survive an attack.
11. When swimming, stay between the markers
Our currents can be super strong here, which is why the lifesavers set and regularly move clear, bright markers to show which parts of the beachfront are safe and calm. Stay within those and you’ll be all good!
If you’re swimming at a beach without lifeguards and you’re carried out on the current, don’t fight it, as this will expend your energy. Rather tread water and let the current carry you as calmly as possible – it will sweep you out no further than the back break and to the side, and you’ll be able to paddle back in a straight line beyond the current.
The only thing to worry about is panicking and wasting energy by fighting the current. If you remain calm and preserve your energy, getting caught in a rip current is no concern – in fact, surfers usually try their best to jump straight into the rip to make getting out into the waves easier!
Car safety tips in Cape Town
So, car safety first! Here are some quick tips for staying safe as a driver:
- Keep your windows up and doors locked at intersections.
- Have your keys ready before you reach your car.
- If you feel a little unsafe, check your backseat before getting in your car or Uber.
- Park your car in a garage – every shopping center has a parking garage, as do most accommodation options. These cost a little to park in, but they’re safe and secure.
- If you can’t find a garage in your area, park under a streetlamp in a well-populated area.
- Never give lifts to strangers – this is always a pity, but the only cars that can and do pick up hitchhikers are open-backed bakkies and trucks.
- Always lock your car – this is not something you’d ever have to tell a South African, but I hear you can leave it unlocked in some countries! Not this one.
Emergency numbers
- Emergencies from a mobile: 112
- Emergencies from a landline: 107
- South African Police Service: 10111
- Ambulance: 10177
- Medical & Fire Emergencies: 021 535 1100
- Table Mountain National Park Emergencies: 021 480 7700
- Sea & Mountain Rescue: 021 948 9900
- Shark Spotters: 078 174 4244
Handy resources
These are a pair of helpful resources for locals and visitors to Cape Town. Namely, a loadshedding app every local has on their phone, and a general community resource platform!
Eskom se Push
South Africa has regular power outages, called ‘loadshedding’, as our electricity infrastructure has not been effectively expanded to match population growth (along with a few other issues).
Sudden and unexpected outages can be super inconvenient and sometimes unsafe, so a handy tool is the Eskom se Push cellphone app. You can enter your neighbourhood into this app, and it’ll keep you updated on the sudden shifts of our loadshedding stages and times, allowing you to plan around these electricity-less times.
The government’s community health & safety resources
The local government website has a really handy and comprehensive resource on community health and safety. This provides contacts for if you find animals or children in need of safety services, reporting for fires or environmental risks, and just a lot of good information on a range of safety issues. It’s handy for tourists to have access to, but it’s main aim is to serve the Cape Town community, helping us stay informed and equipped.
Cape Town safety
So there you have it, all of my tips and resources for a safe trip (or life) in the mother city. Whether you’re considering moving to Cape Town, or you’ll just be here for a few days, these tips should keep you safe and sound.
I hope they put your mind at ease, rather than freaking you out! If you have any other questions regarding safety in Cape Town, leave me a comment and I’ll see if I can answer you or direct you to a helpful resource that can. You can also check out my post on the best time to visit Cape Town to continue your holiday planning!
