How Safe Is Durban For Travel? (2022 Updated) ⋆ Travel Safe

Safety Index: 38 * Based on Research & Crime Data User Sentiment: 67 * Rated 67 / 100 based on 51 user reviews.

South Africa : Safety by City

• Bloemfontein
• Boksburg
• Cape Town
• Durban
• Johannesburg
• Pietermaritzburg
• Port Elizabeth
• Pretoria
• Randburg

South Africa - safety as a country

Durban is one of the cities in South Africa that may trick you into thinking you’re in Europe or America.

However, though it looks very modern and safe, it is not.

It’s supposed to be one of the safest cities in South Africa, but unfortunately, even so, the crime rates aren’t low.

The city of Durban is located on the east coast of South Africa in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and the municipality of eThekwini.

It’s the third-largest city in South Africa and the busiest port in Africa.

Durban has plenty of activities and sightseeing to offer, but the tourist is mostly interested in The Golden Mile, the complex of beaches near downtown that go along the Indian Ocean.

These beaches are famous for excellent surfing opportunities and wide sandy beaches.

A bonus if you visit off-season is that you’ll practically have the place to yourself.

Warnings & Dangers in Durban

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

As amazingly fun and exciting Durban might be, you should be aware of the many dangers that await the unsuspecting tourists. This city has extremely high rates of crime. You should be vigilant and take all possible precautions measures to minimize the risk of something going wrong.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Public transport in South Africa is the scene of many criminal activities. Be aware of criminals waiting around at Johannesburg and Cape Town airports and then following tourists to their accommodation to rob them. There have also been reports of luggage thefts at the airports. Rails and metro trains are also the locations where assaults and robberies have occurred.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

Pickpocketing has been on a decline during the past couple of years. Still, the riskiest locations where you may encounter petty theft are crowded places such as markets, public transport and bus, and train stations.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

South Africa is often the victim of many natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, storms, and wildfires. One of the bigger floods in South Africa occurred in 2011 killing 91 people.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

Mugging and robberies are a much bigger issue in this country than petty theft. In Durban, it is not as big of an issue as in other cities of South Africa. And though usually, the motive of these incidents is theft, rape is sadly not uncommon at all, so female tourists should be particularly cautious.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

The biggest terrorists attack in Durban was in June 1986, since then, there were a few incidents in recent years as well.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

There are a couple of popular scams, one of them involving criminals posing as "tourist police" with a goal to rob visitors. They are known to stop tourist buses, saying that they're checking identification and searching luggage. However there's no such thing as "tourist police" in South Africa, so be on the lookout. Then there are so-called "strollers", and they can be anyone from children to junkies. Their only goal is to rob you blind so keep your valuables well hidden.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

Though many female travelers went to Durban and had no problems at all, this country might not be the safest choice for female solo travelers. Be very careful at night and avoid risky situations such as winding-up in deserted and poorly lit streets or finding yourself in an unknown area with strange people.

So... How Safe Is Durban Really?

Though Durban is a very dangerous city, the areas near the beach are secured.

The beach strip is frequently visited by policemen, and there are CCTV cameras apart from it being brightly lit.

Since there are poor areas in this city, it is not at all uncommon to hear about muggings and armed robberies.

And though usually, the motive of these crimes is theft, rape also occurs from time to time, which is especially relevant for female visitors.

There have also been reports of food and drink spiking, with victims ending up being assaulted and robbed after the incident.

However, what is more, important than knowing what kind of crimes tend to occur in Durban, is knowing the areas and hotspots where they’re more likely to occur.

The promenade along the beach, for example, is safe to visit, but be sure to blend in and not go to the side and back roads of the hotels.

The usually busy central business district is empty after dark, so it’s best to avoid it.

At night, it is highly recommended to stick to the main streets and not go out on look walks after dark unless you are very familiar with the places you’re going.

How Does Durban Compare?

City	Safety Index
Durban	38
Pretoria	25
Port Elizabeth	65
Cape Town	33
Boksburg	33
Bloemfontein	33
Johannesburg	35
Playa del Carmen	68
Gothenburg	78
Clarksburg	70
Newport	80
Burning Man in Black Rock City	70
Novi Sad	82

Useful Information

Visas

While U.S. citizens visiting Durban for tourism purposes do not need a visa for any stays shorter than ninety days, along with many other countries, some nationals do need a visa to enter South Africa. Make sure your passports are valid for at least 30 days past your planned date of return from South Africa. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

Currency

South African rand is the official currency in Durban. ATMs can be found throughout the country and credit cards are widely accepted.

Weather

Durban has a subtropical climate, characterized by hot and humid summers and pleasantly warm and dry winters, which are snow- and frost-free.

Airports

King Shaka International Airport is the primary airport serving Durban, South Africa. It is located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 35 km north of the city center of Durban.

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Durban, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Durban Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan 77° F Feb 77° F Mar 77° F Apr 73° F May 68° F Jun 64° F Jul 64° F Aug 66° F Sep 68° F Oct 70° F Nov 72° F Dec 75° F Choose Temperature Unit Fahrenheit Celsius

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High°C	29	29	29	27	26	24	24	24	24	25	26	28
Low°C	21	21	20	18	14	11	11	13	15	17	18	20
High°F	84	84	84	81	79	75	75	75	75	77	79	82
Low°F	70	70	68	64	57	52	52	55	59	63	64	68

South Africa - Safety by City

City	Safety Index
Bloemfontein	33
Boksburg	33
Cape Town	33
Durban	38
Johannesburg	35
Pietermaritzburg	43
Port Elizabeth	65
Pretoria	25
Randburg	32