Health Safety
When visiting any major city, visitors should take certain health and safety precautions. Ours is no different. To make your visit as enjoyable as possible, here are some basic tips:
Health tips
High-quality tap (faucet) water is available across the city and it is both palatable and safe to drink straight from the tap.
The quality of the food is excellent, and Cape Town has some of the top resaurants in the world.
Medical facilities in Cape Town are world-class. There is an excellent network of both state and private hospitals.
We have a warm sunny climate and you should wear sunscreen and a hat whenever you are out of doors during the day, particularly between 10am and 4pm.
If you're an adult, you won't need any inoculations unless you're travelling from a yellow-fever endemic area (the yellow fever belt of Africa or South America), in which case you will need certification to prove your inoculation status when you arrive in the country.
Hepatitis B inoculations are recommended for children up to the age of 12 who have not completed the series of injections as infants.
Cape Town is not a malaria area.
Security tips
Avoid carrying large sums of cash, carrying cameras or video cameras in plain sight and leaving belongings unattended.
Heed the advice of your hosts, Cape Town Tourism Visitor Centre staff or locals on where to go after dark. Try not to walk alone.
Do not allow strangers to assist you in any way at ATMs.
Street children and beggars may approach you for a handout. Many social workers counsel against giving money to the children as it usually gets handed over to an older person or is used to purchase drugs.
At night, park in a secure, well-lit area.
To report any safety incident, phone the following numbers:
All emergencies from your cell phone – 112
All emergencies from a landline – 107
South African Police Services (SAPS) – 10111
Cape Town Tourism in partnership with Protection and Emergency Services run a successful Visitor Support Programme to assist you further, should you be involved in an incident. For more information, contact Sonya Hector by phoning +27 21 487 6800 or sending an email to sonya@capetown.travel
Safety Table Mountain National Park
Cape Town Tourism recommends the use of a qualified mountain guide should you wish to explore Table Mountain National Park on foot. Alternatively, make sure you take a Table Mountain map, comfortable walking shoes, a few friends and a charged cell phone (mobile).
Make sure you are also prepared for weather that can change rapidly; bring sunblock and something warm to wear.
Start heading back well before dark and keep to demarcated paths.
Save the following emergency number on your cell phone before you begin your hike: +27 861 106 417.
To book a guide, phone the Contact Centre on 0861 322 223.
