While in Stellenbosch: Safety

Like many major cities, Stellenbosch has both good and bad areas. It is advisable when walking in Stellenbosch, particularly at night, that you should be aware of people around you and that ideally you should not walk alone but in a group. Highly visible displays of wealth should be avoided, and it is not advisable to look like a ‘typical tourist’ with cameras and binoculars strung around your neck. Never leave any valuables unattended.

In General

  • Do not carry a camera openly in the city. Please take care when using your camera, as this will identify you as a tourist and could draw unnecessary attention. 
  • Avoid wearing jewellery and expensive watches. 
  • If you are accosted, remain calm and be cooperative.
  • Be extra vigilant when drawing money from a bank machine (ATM) and never accept assistance when transacting at an ATM.

When on Foot

  • Carry your handbag across your body. 
  • Do not carry large amounts of cash on you.
  • Do not leave valuables exposed (e.g. on a seat or the floor or ground) while having a meal or drink.
  • Do not let strangers get too close to you, especially people in groups.

On the Road

  • Lock your car doors.
  • Never leave anything worth stealing in view when driving or when your car is unattended.
  • Preferably use the air-conditioning or cooling system in the car to avoid opening your windows.
  • Be vigilant when stopped at a traffic light or Stop street.

Emergency Contacts

  • Corné Engelbrecht +27(0)82 925 9241 
  • Melanie Pretorius   +27 (0)82 410 1202 
  • FM 24 Hour Ops Centre +27 (0)21 808 2333 
  • Ambulance 10177/999 
  • Fire and Rescue services +27 (0)21 808 8888/+27 (0)21 887 1333
  • Hospital: Medi-Clinic +27 (0)21 861 2000
  • Campus Health Services +27 (0)21 808 3494/5
  • Police 10111/021 809 5000
Safety Information
  • Avoid carrying large sums of cash, don’t carry cameras in plain sight and do not leave belongings unattended.
  • Heed the advice of your hosts, Cape Town Tourism Visitor Centre staff, or locals on where to go after dusk. Avoid walking in deserted and dark places at night. Park in a secure, well-lit area with street guards.
  • Never allow strangers to assist you in any way at ATMs or cash points.
  • Street children and beggars may approach you for a handout. If you wish to help, consider giving food, donating to a registered charity or contact Cape Town Tourism for advice.
  • Keep copies of all valuable documents in a safe place.
  • When exploring Table Mountain National Park, take a map, comfortable walking shoes, a few friends and a charged mobile phone.
  • When hiking, be prepared for weather that can change rapidly, even in summer. Bring along enough water and sunblock, as well as something warm to wear. Start heading back well before dark and don’t venture away from the demarcated paths. Tell a friend or your host where you are going and when you expect to be back.
  • Load the Table Mountain National Park emergency number +27(0)861 106 417 into your mobile phone before departing on a hike. Cape Town Tourism and Protection and Emergency Services run a Visitor Support Programme to assist you, should you be involved in any incident during your stay.

Cape Town is a major, modern cosmopolitan South African city. As such, we would advise travellers to exercise the same level of vigilance they would exercise when visiting any major city in the world.

This includes ensuring you follow basic safety tips such as keeping emergency numbers on hand, avoiding carrying large sums of cash and keeping your valuables safe at all times. For the overwhelming majority of the 1,7 million foreign visitors to the Western Cape in 2018, a visit to Cape Town and the Western Cape was a positive, memorable experience.

The destination is frequently cited as among the world’s best holiday destinations and has a high return visitor rate, proving that those who visit our destination once, fall in love with it, and want to discover it again.

The same precautions travellers would take to secure their safety in any major city in the world, apply when visiting Cape Town, a growing city of nearly four million people.

Cape Town offers a range of tourism accommodation options catering to all markets. These include luxury hotels, budget establishments, guesthouses and Airbnb accommodation. Tourism is one of the major industries of Cape Town and the Western Cape. As such, formal tourism establishments largely take the safety and comfort of their guests very seriously.

When deciding on an accommodation option, use the same vigilance you would when selecting accommodation elsewhere in the world. Should you be concerned about the property’s safety measures or the location of the property, do not hesitate to contact them for further details, check whether they are a member of a tourism association or organisation and make your enquiries there.

Cape Town and the Western Cape is a popular solo-travel destination, with a variety of activities and experiences on offer for the solo adventurer. Solo travellers are encouraged to exercise the same vigilance and safety measures to ensure they are not soft targets as they would anywhere else in the world.

Cape Town is one of the most well-connected cities in South Africa when it comes to transport options. While travellers often choose to walk around the Downtown or Central Business District area because distances are short, you have the option to use Uber, Taxify, metered taxis and the MyCiti bus system, which can also connect you to points within the central district of Cape Town and surrounding tourism must-sees like Camps Bay, Sea Point and Hout Bay. The MyCiti bus also connects you directly to Cape Town International Airport through a direct shuttle. There is also a City Sightseeing hop-on-hop-off red bus service with a variety of tourist routes on offer. Safe travels and see you in Cape Town. There is truly nowhere better!

The Western Cape has many accredited and well-trained tour guides. (A link will be shared in the near future)