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Safe Trip
Updated just now · v2.3

South Africa

Southern Africa · capital Pretoria · population 60,400,000
62
/ 100
, flat
Heightened risk
Photograph by David Köhler on Unsplash

Spectacular destination with a heavier crime baseline, the dominant signal, and load-shedding affecting infrastructure.

Read the South Africa safety guide
78
Disease
84
Conflict
86
Disaster
30
Crime
72
Unrest
0
Infra
What ministries say

Government advisories

  • UK · FCDOLevel 1
    See our advice before travelling
    Updated 11 May 2026 · Read full advisory
  • US · State DeptLevel 2
    Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution
    Updated 27 May 2025 · Read full advisory
  • AU · SmartravellerLevel 2
    Exercise a high degree of caution
    Updated 3 Jun 2026 · Read full advisory
Why this score

Active drivers

  1. air qualityWAQIOfficial4 h ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 105 · Booysens, City of Tshwane, South Africa

    AQI 105 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM10 AQI 105 · dominant: pm10

    Score impact: -3
  2. air qualityWAQIOfficial2 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 104 · Booysens, City of Tshwane, South Africa

    AQI 104 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM10 AQI 104 · dominant: pm10

    Score impact: -3
  3. air qualityWAQIOfficial4 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 102 · Booysens, City of Tshwane, South Africa

    AQI 102 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM10 AQI 102 · dominant: pm10

    Score impact: -3
  4. air qualityWAQIOfficial4 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 108 · Booysens, City of Tshwane, South Africa

    AQI 108 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM10 AQI 108 · dominant: pm10

    Score impact: -3
  5. air qualityWAQIOfficial7 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 104 · Booysens, City of Tshwane, South Africa

    AQI 104 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM10 AQI 104 · dominant: pm10

    Score impact: -3
  6. air qualityWAQIOfficial9 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 108 · Booysens, City of Tshwane, South Africa

    AQI 108 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM10 AQI 108 · dominant: pm10

    Score impact: -3
  7. air qualityWAQIOfficial9 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 121 · Booysens, City of Tshwane, South Africa

    AQI 121 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM10 AQI 121 · dominant: pm10

    Score impact: -3
  8. air qualityWAQIOfficial10 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 101 · Booysens, City of Tshwane, South Africa

    AQI 101 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM10 AQI 101 · dominant: pm10

    Score impact: -3
  9. air qualityWAQIOfficial10 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 153 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 153 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 153 · PM10 AQI 62 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  10. air qualityWAQIOfficial10 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 155 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 155 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 155 · PM10 AQI 63 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  11. air qualityWAQIOfficial11 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 153 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 153 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 153 · PM10 AQI 62 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  12. air qualityWAQIOfficial11 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 174 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 174 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 174 · PM10 AQI 88 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  13. air qualityWAQIOfficial11 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 176 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 176 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 176 · PM10 AQI 90 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  14. air qualityWAQIOfficial11 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 166 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 166 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 166 · PM10 AQI 82 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  15. air qualityWAQIOfficial11 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 126 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 126 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM2.5 AQI 126 · PM10 AQI 56 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -3
  16. air qualityWAQIOfficial11 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 143 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 143 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM2.5 AQI 143 · PM10 AQI 61 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -3
  17. air qualityWAQIOfficial11 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 151 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 151 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 151 · PM10 AQI 59 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  18. air qualityWAQIOfficial11 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 144 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 144 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM2.5 AQI 144 · PM10 AQI 59 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -3
  19. air qualityWAQIOfficial12 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 117 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 117 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM2.5 AQI 117 · PM10 AQI 53 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -3
  20. air qualityWAQIOfficial12 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 145 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 145 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM2.5 AQI 145 · PM10 AQI 62 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -3
  21. air qualityWAQIOfficial12 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 158 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 158 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 158 · PM10 AQI 76 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  22. air qualityWAQIOfficial13 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 108 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 108 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM2.5 AQI 108 · PM10 AQI 49 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -3
  23. air qualityWAQIOfficial16 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 110 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 110 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM2.5 AQI 110 · PM10 AQI 55 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -3
  24. air qualityWAQIOfficial16 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 154 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 154 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 154 · PM10 AQI 62 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  25. air qualityWAQIOfficial16 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 171 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 171 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 171 · PM10 AQI 78 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  26. air qualityWAQIOfficial17 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 174 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 174 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 174 · PM10 AQI 82 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  27. air qualityWAQIOfficial17 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 175 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 175 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 175 · PM10 AQI 82 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  28. air qualityWAQIOfficial17 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 188 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 188 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 188 · PM10 AQI 106 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  29. air qualityWAQIOfficial17 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 189 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 189 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 189 · PM10 AQI 108 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  30. air qualityWAQIOfficial17 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 107 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 107 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM2.5 AQI 107 · PM10 AQI 46 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -3
  31. air qualityWAQIOfficial18 d ago
    Air quality · Hazardous · AQI 353 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 353 (Hazardous) · PM2.5 AQI 353 · PM10 AQI 266 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -8
  32. air qualityWAQIOfficial18 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 151 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 151 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 151 · PM10 AQI 59 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  33. air qualityWAQIOfficial18 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 151 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 151 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 151 · PM10 AQI 60 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  34. air qualityWAQIOfficial18 d ago
    Air quality · Hazardous · AQI 452 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 452 (Hazardous) · PM2.5 AQI 452 · PM10 AQI 388 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -8
  35. air qualityWAQIOfficial19 d ago
    Air quality · Hazardous · AQI 320 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 320 (Hazardous) · PM2.5 AQI 320 · PM10 AQI 177 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -8
  36. air qualityWAQIOfficial19 d ago
    Air quality · Hazardous · AQI 579 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 579 (Hazardous) · PM2.5 AQI 546 · PM10 AQI 579 · dominant: pm10

    Score impact: -8
  37. air qualityWAQIOfficial19 d ago
    Air quality · Hazardous · AQI 448 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 448 (Hazardous) · PM2.5 AQI 448 · PM10 AQI 421 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -8
  38. air qualityWAQIOfficial19 d ago
    Air quality · Hazardous · AQI 825 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 825 (Hazardous) · PM2.5 AQI 653 · PM10 AQI 825 · dominant: pm10

    Score impact: -8
  39. air qualityWAQIOfficial19 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 119 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 119 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM2.5 AQI 119 · PM10 AQI 58 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -3
  40. air qualityWAQIOfficial19 d ago
    Air quality · Hazardous · AQI 360 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 360 (Hazardous) · PM2.5 AQI 360 · PM10 AQI 217 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -8
  41. air qualityWAQIOfficial19 d ago
    Air quality · Hazardous · AQI 411 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 411 (Hazardous) · PM2.5 AQI 411 · PM10 AQI 302 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -8
  42. air qualityWAQIOfficial20 d ago
    Air quality · Very unhealthy · AQI 256 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 256 (Very unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 256 · PM10 AQI 151 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -8
  43. air qualityWAQIOfficial20 d ago
    Air quality · Hazardous · AQI 426 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 426 (Hazardous) · PM2.5 AQI 426 · PM10 AQI 363 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -8
  44. air qualityWAQIOfficial20 d ago
    Air quality · Very unhealthy · AQI 221 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 221 (Very unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 221 · PM10 AQI 135 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -8
  45. air qualityWAQIOfficial20 d ago
    Air quality · Hazardous · AQI 999 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 999 (Hazardous) · PM2.5 AQI 749 · PM10 AQI 999 · dominant: pm10

    Score impact: -8
  46. air qualityWAQIOfficial21 d ago
    Air quality · Very unhealthy · AQI 248 · Mamelodi, City of Tshwane, South Africa

    AQI 248 (Very unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 248 · PM10 AQI 126 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -8
  47. air qualityWAQIOfficial21 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 178 · Mamelodi, City of Tshwane, South Africa

    AQI 178 (Unhealthy) · PM2.5 AQI 178 · PM10 AQI 51 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -5
  48. air qualityWAQIOfficial23 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy · AQI 162 · Booysens, City of Tshwane, South Africa

    AQI 162 (Unhealthy) · PM10 AQI 162 · dominant: pm10

    Score impact: -5
  49. air qualityWAQIOfficial24 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 147 · Mamelodi, City of Tshwane, South Africa

    AQI 147 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM2.5 AQI 147 · PM10 AQI 48 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -3
  50. air qualityWAQIOfficial25 d ago
    Air quality · Unhealthy for sensitive groups · AQI 120 · Olifantsfontein-NAQI, City of Ekurhuleni, South Africa

    AQI 120 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups) · PM2.5 AQI 120 · PM10 AQI 52 · dominant: pm25

    Score impact: -3
FAQ

Frequently asked

Is it safe to visit South Africa right now?

South Africa's Safe Trip Score today is 62/100, heightened risk. The score has flat over the last 7 days, and the highest active advisory across the UK FCDO, US State Department, Smartraveller (AU), travel.gc.ca, Auswärtiges Amt, and France Diplomatie is Level 2. Travel advisories are nearly always region-specific even when the headline level is national; check the per-ministry advisories on this page for any zones to avoid in your itinerary. The score recomputes daily at 06:00 UTC from 50 active drivers plus the blended advisory tier.

Is South Africa safe to travel to?

Today's headline read is heightened risk (62/100). The six sub-scores break down to: disease 78/100, conflict 84/100, natural disasters 86/100, crime 30/100, civil unrest 72/100, infrastructure 0/100. Lower numbers indicate higher risk in that category. For trip-specific planning, the country safety guide covers neighbourhood-level patterns the headline number does not.

What is the current travel advisory for South Africa?

South Africa has 3 active advisories from major foreign ministries, ranging up to Level 2 on the standard 1 to 4 scale. The advisory cards on this page link to each ministry's full text. Travel advisories carve out specific districts or border zones as "avoid all travel" while keeping the rest of the country at a lower level; clicking through to the relevant section for your itinerary is the single highest-value 90 seconds of trip planning.

Has the situation in South Africa changed recently?

The 7-day Safe Trip Score change is +0 points. Day-to-day moves under 3 points are noise; moves of 3 to 7 points usually reflect a fresh advisory or a moderate-severity event; moves above 7 points typically come from a major advisory level change or a high-severity acute event. The recent-events feed and the 7-day timeline page identify the specific drivers.

How is the Safe Trip Score for South Africa calculated?

The score is a weighted blend of six sub-scores (disease 18%, conflict 22%, natural disasters 16%, crime 16%, civil unrest 14%, infrastructure 14%) plus a 20% blend of major foreign-ministry advisories. The methodology page documents the exact algorithm and the changelog tracks every weighting change. Score range is 0 to 100; 100 means very low risk, 0 means extreme risk.

When does the South Africa Safe Trip Score update?

Daily at 06:00 UTC after the morning ingestion sweep. Live event feeds (USGS earthquakes, GDACS disasters, WAQI air quality) update hourly throughout the day. Foreign-ministry advisories are checked daily. Last computed 3 Jun 2026, 22:41 (just now). The status page shows the freshness of every individual data feed.