Is It Safe to Travel to South Africa?Advisories checked 9 November 2026. Check the official advisory on the day you travel: governments change them often, sometimes weekly.
The US rates South Africa Level 2 (Exercise increased caution). The UK does not advise against travel to South Africa. Canada advises a high degree of caution.
The governments disagree: the strictest advice comes from the US and Canada (level 2), the mildest from the UK (level 1).
The three advisories side by side
US Department of State
2Level 2“Exercise increased caution”
“Exercise increased caution in South Africa due to crime, terrorism, unrest, and kidnapping. Violent crime is common and includes robbery, rape, carjacking and mugging.”
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
1Level 1“No FCDO advice against travel”
“Local government elections are scheduled in South Africa on 4 November 2026. There may be an increase in political activity, including rallies and demonstrations, around the election period.”
Government of Canada
2Level 2“Exercise a high degree of caution”
“Safety and security section – updated information on taxis and ridesharing applications”
Why the advice differs
Each government uses its own scale. The US and Canada each have four levels for the whole country. The UK only states whether it advises against travel to the whole country or to parts of it. We place all three on a common 1 to 4 scale (see below); the scales are not identical, so the same level can mean slightly different things.
The advisories were last updated on different dates: US 26 May 2025, UK 5 November 2026, Canada 6 November 2026. An older advisory may not reflect recent events.
What the levels mean
TravelDecl places each government’s advice on a common 1 to 4 scale so the three can be compared. The wording in each column is the government’s own.
| Level | Meaning | US | UK | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Level 1 | Normal precautions | Level 1: Exercise normal precautions | No advice against travel | Exercise normal security precautions |
| 2Level 2 | Increased caution | Level 2: Exercise increased caution | Advises against travel to parts of the country | Exercise a high degree of caution |
| 3Level 3 | Reconsider or avoid non-essential travel | Level 3: Reconsider travel | Advises against all but essential travel to the whole country | Avoid non-essential travel |
| 4Level 4 | Do not travel | Level 4: Do not travel | Advises against all travel to the whole country | Avoid all travel |
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Questions
What level is the South Africa travel advisory?
The US rates South Africa Level 2 (Exercise increased caution). US advisory updated 26 May 2025. The UK does not advise against travel to South Africa. UK advisory updated 5 November 2026. Canada advises a high degree of caution. Canadian advisory updated 6 November 2026.
Does the UK advise against travel to South Africa?
No. The UK does not advise against travel to South Africa. UK advisory updated 5 November 2026.
Is South Africa safe for tourists?
TravelDecl does not give its own verdict. Here is what the governments say: The US rates South Africa Level 2 (Exercise increased caution). The UK does not advise against travel to South Africa. Canada advises a high degree of caution. Advisories checked 9 November 2026. Check the official advisory on the day you travel.
Check the official advisory on the day you travel. Each card above links to it.
Sources and methodology
- US Department of State: travel advice for South Africa, updated 26 May 2025. US Department of State: public domain (US Government work).
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for South Africa, updated 5 November 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Government of Canada: travel advice for South Africa, updated 6 November 2026. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Levels on the common 1 to 4 scale are mapped from each government’s own rating: US levels 1 to 4 as published; UK: no advice against travel = 1, against travel to parts = 2, against all but essential travel to the whole country = 3, against all travel to the whole country = 4; Canada: its four risk levels in order. We do not combine them into a single score.
Advisories checked 9 November 2026. This page has not yet been checked by hand.