Know Before You Go: South Africa
The laws, local rules, safety tips, and cultural things I’d want to know before landing
Johannesburg + Cape Town
South Africa is one of those trips where I would do a little more preparation than usual before landing.
Not because I think you need to be paranoid, but because Johannesburg and Cape Town are very different cities, and understanding transportation, safety, entry requirements, LGBTQ+ context, and how to move around will make the trip a lot easier.
Complete the New Traveller Declaration
This is a newer requirement.
Since July 1, 2026, travelers entering or leaving South Africa generally need to submit an online traveller declaration through the South African Traveller Management System. It applies to foreign visitors as well as South African citizens and residents. Transit passengers who stay inside the designated transit area are exempt. South African Revenue Service
SARS recommends completing it no more than 24 hours before the final leg of your journey to South Africa. If you do not complete it beforehand, you are not automatically denied entry, but doing it ahead of time should make arrival smoother. South African Revenue Service
Check Your Passport + Visa Requirements
Visa requirements depend on your nationality.
For U.S. travelers, also pay attention to passport validity and blank-page requirements. Current U.S. State Department guidance says passports should be valid for 30 days beyond departure from South Africa and have two consecutive completely blank visa pages available. Travel.gov
That is exactly the kind of tiny detail I would rather know before getting to the airport.
Yellow Fever Depends on Where You Are Coming From
South Africa requires proof of yellow fever vaccination if you are arriving from, or in some cases transiting through, a country with yellow fever risk. South Africa Travel Guide
If your trip includes another African country before South Africa, check this before you leave home.
LGBTQ+ Travelers: Know the Legal Reality
This is important, especially because South Africa is very different from many other destinations on the continent.
South Africa’s Constitution includes protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation, and same-sex marriage is legal. South African Tourism also highlights legal rights for LGBTQ+ people including marriage, adoption, and gender-marker changes. South Africa Travel Guide
That said, legal protection does not mean every neighborhood, town, or individual will have the same attitudes.
I would treat South Africa the same way I treat any large, diverse country: understand the national law, but still pay attention to your surroundings and local context.
Cape Town Has the Stronger Visible LGBTQ+ Scene
Cape Town has a particularly visible LGBTQ+ community, nightlife scene, inclusive hotels and businesses, and major queer events. South African Tourism describes Cape Town as the heart of the country’s LGBTQ+ culture, and Cape Town Tourism named the city a major LGBTQ+ destination in 2026. South Africa Travel Guide
If queer nightlife or community spaces are something you want to experience, Cape Town will probably feel more visibly LGBTQ+ than Johannesburg.
Johannesburg Is LGBTQ+ Friendly Too
Johannesburg also has an established LGBTQ+ scene, including nightlife and Johannesburg Pride, which takes place in October. South African Tourism specifically identifies Johannesburg as a gay-friendly destination. South Africa Travel Guide
The difference is more about visibility and concentration than legality.
Cape Town’s queer scene tends to be easier for visitors to identify immediately, while Johannesburg’s is more spread across the city.
Safety: Do Not Treat Johannesburg and Cape Town the Same
The U.S. State Department currently advises travelers to exercise increased caution in South Africa due to crime, terrorism, unrest, and kidnapping risks. Travel.gov
That does not mean do not go.
It means plan how you are moving around instead of assuming every area should be explored the same way.
Johannesburg: Be More Intentional About Transportation
Johannesburg is huge and spread out.
This is not a city where I would plan to casually walk between attractions because Google Maps says something looks nearby.
I would use:
Uber or another reputable ride service
Hotel transportation when appropriate
Registered tour operators for certain experiences
Guided tours for areas where local context matters
South Africa’s Department of Tourism recommends checking with your accommodation before walking alone in unfamiliar areas and using registered guides or operators where appropriate. South African Tourism
Cape Town: Walkable Does Not Mean “Drop Your Guard”
Parts of Cape Town are much easier to explore on foot, but I still would not treat the entire city as one big walkable zone.
Cape Town Tourism advises visitors to keep valuables secure, stay aware of their surroundings, and plan routes carefully. Cape Town Travel
I would be especially mindful when:
Walking at night
Using your phone openly on the street
Hiking
Carrying expensive camera equipment
Moving between neighborhoods you do not know
Do Not Hike Alone
This matters especially in Cape Town because hiking is such a big part of the experience.
South Africa’s Department of Tourism explicitly recommends hiking with other people rather than alone. South African Tourism
For Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, and other trails, I would go with friends, a group, or a guide.
Keep Your Phone Out of Sight When You Do Not Need It
Navigation is obviously going to require your phone sometimes.
But I would not walk around unfamiliar areas distracted with an expensive phone constantly out in my hand.
Check your route.
Know where you are going.
Then move.
Use Registered Guides and Operators
For things like:
Township tours
Hiking
Safari excursions
Day trips
Certain cultural experiences
I would book through reputable, registered operators.
South Africa’s Department of Tourism specifically recommends certified guides and notes that registered guides carry identification. South African Tourism
Keep Some Cash, But Cards Are Widely Used
Cards are common in both Johannesburg and Cape Town.
I would still keep a little South African rand for:
Small purchases
Tips
Markets
Situations where card machines are down
But I would not walk around with large amounts of cash.
Do Not Flash Valuables
This one is simple.
I would be discreet with:
Jewelry
Camera gear
Cash
Expensive watches
Phones
Especially when moving between locations.
You can still dress well and enjoy yourself. Just do not make yourself unnecessarily noticeable.
Ask Your Hotel About the Neighborhood
This is something I would actually use the hotel for.
Before walking somewhere, ask:
“Is this somewhere you would walk from here, especially at this time of day?”
Local staff will usually give you a much more useful answer than looking at the distance on a map.
Emergency Numbers to Save
For Cape Town, official tourism guidance lists:
112 for emergencies from a mobile phone
10111 for South African Police Service
10177 for ambulance services
Cape Town Tourism also publishes additional local mountain, sea, and emergency contacts. Cape Town Travel
I would save these before the trip rather than trying to Google them during an emergency.
Save the U.S. Embassy + Consulate Information
If you are a U.S. traveler, save the U.S. mission information before you go.
There is a U.S. Consulate General in Cape Town, and U.S. government travel guidance provides its current emergency contact details. Travel.gov
I would also save the relevant Johannesburg/Pretoria U.S. mission contact information before your trip.
Download Offline Maps
I would download Johannesburg and Cape Town for offline use before leaving.
That gives you a backup if:
Data stops working
Your eSIM acts up
You lose signal
You need to quickly show a driver an address
Johannesburg and Cape Town Feel Completely Different
This is probably one of the biggest things I would tell someone doing both.
Johannesburg feels larger, more spread out, more urban, and more history-driven.
Cape Town feels more scenic, coastal, outdoorsy, and visitor-friendly in terms of how easily you can move between major tourist areas.
I would not plan them like they are interchangeable cities.
💡 SHANE’S TIP
For South Africa, my biggest rule would be:
Know how you are getting somewhere before you leave where you are.
Especially in Johannesburg.
Do not arrive somewhere and then figure out your ride home later.
Know the neighborhood, know your transportation plan, share your location with your group, and have your safety phrase set up before the trip.
Preparation does not mean being scared.
It means giving yourself fewer things to figure out in the moment.
The Bottom Line
South Africa has a lot going for it, and Johannesburg and Cape Town give you two completely different sides of the country.
The biggest things I would know before going are:
Complete the new traveller declaration
Check passport and visa requirements
Check yellow fever requirements if you are coming through another country
Understand South Africa’s LGBTQ+ protections while still reading the local environment
Use intentional transportation in Johannesburg
Stay aware in Cape Town even in tourist-heavy areas
Do not hike alone
Use registered operators
Save emergency and consular contacts
Share your location and have a safety plan
And if you are LGBTQ+, I would absolutely still include South Africa in the conversation rather than treating it like the laws and culture are the same as every other African destination.
Go somewhere. Make it worth it.