🇿🇦 Is South Africa safe to visit?
Daily safety index from official government advisories, plus the consular map of South Africa: 93 diplomatic missions from 84 countries, local emergency numbers and language essentials.
Updated Sep 13, 2026 · Composite index recalculated daily from official government advisories.
What official sources say
Levels are normalized to Telcomia's 1–4 scale. Always read the full official advisory at the source.
What to know before traveling to South Africa
Drawn from the linked official advisories — always check the full text at the source.
Trip essentials
- Valid passport required; must have at least 2 blank pages and expire no earlier than 30 days after departure
- Spanish tourists can stay up to 90 days without a visa, but check for updates with the South African Consulate
- No emergency or temporary passports issued at the airport; travellers not meeting requirements are sent back
- Confirm all health protocols with your airline and check official South African government travel requirements
Risk areas and situations
- Very high levels of crime, sometimes violent, reported throughout the country and increasing in recent years
- Authorities advise against travel to certain specific zones; exercise extreme caution across the country
Health
- Check airline-specific health protocols and any requirements from transit countries before travelling
Emergency numbers in South Africa
Embassies and consulates in South Africa
93 diplomatic missions from 84 countries, across 5 cities.
| Nationality | Missions | Cities |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | 4 | Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | 2 | Pretoria, Cape Town |
| 🇨🇳 China | 2 | Cape Town, Durban |
| 🇨🇿 Czechia | 2 | Pretoria |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 2 | Pretoria, Cape Town |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 2 | Pretoria, Cape Town |
| 🇷🇴 Romania | 2 | Pretoria, Cape Town |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 1 | Pretoria |
| 🇦🇴 Angola | 1 | Pretoria |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 1 | Pretoria |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 1 | Pretoria |
| 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | 1 | Pretoria |
…and 72 more nationalities with diplomatic presence.
The full directory — addresses, phone numbers and locations on the map — is available in the Telcomia app.
Local language
The main local language in South Africa is English. The Telcomia app includes 16 emergency phrases in English, with audio, ready to play when you need them.
See the 16 emergency phrases in EnglishTraveling to South Africa?
Stay connected from the moment you land: prepaid eSIM data plans for South Africa, delivered instantly, with the Telcomia safety layer included.
Frequently asked questions
Is South Africa safe to visit right now?
The Telcomia Safety Index for South Africa is 1.5/4 (Increased caution, level 2 of 4) as of Sep 13, 2026. It is a composite of official advisories from Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, recalculated daily.
What is the emergency number in South Africa?
The general emergency number in South Africa is 10111. Save it before you travel — with a Telcomia eSIM you can call for help without hunting for Wi-Fi.
How many embassies are there in South Africa?
Telcomia tracks 93 diplomatic missions from 84 countries in South Africa, across 5 cities. The full directory with addresses and phone numbers is in the Telcomia app.
Informational only
This page is general information, not a substitute for official government travel advice. Conditions can change quickly — always check your own government's latest advisory before and during your trip.
Advisory levels summarize official sources: Spain's MAEC, the UK FCDO (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0) and the U.S. Department of State (public domain). Follow the links above for the full official text.