Safety

Everyday precautions

Keep phones, jewellery and bags discreet, and leave nothing visible in a parked car. Use a bank or shopping-centre ATM, shield the keypad and refuse help from strangers. Keep your card in sight when paying. Ask your accommodation which routes and parking areas suit the day’s plans; use an arranged ride for unfamiliar journeys after dark.

Mountains and hiking

South African National Parks (SANParks), the national park authority, advises hiking in groups of four or more. Pick a route suited to the least confident person, start early and tell someone your route and expected return. Carry water, food, a charged phone, warm layers and waterproofs. Stay on marked routes and check current park notices and weather. A cable-car ticket is not a guarantee that the Cableway will operate in wind or poor weather.

Beaches and the sea

Choose a beach with lifeguards on duty and swim between their designated flags. Keep young children within arm’s reach. Rip currents can carry swimmers away from shore: do not fight the current directly. Float, signal for help and, if able, swim parallel to the beach to get clear. Call for help rather than entering the water to rescue someone without training.

The Atlantic side is cold; False Bay is generally warmer, particularly in summer, but neither is reliably warm. Use short dips and warm dry clothes afterwards. At Muizenberg and Fish Hoek, follow Shark Spotters, the shark-warning programme, and the local flags and siren. Poor visibility can limit spotting; a flag is not a guarantee that no sharks are present. Follow instructions to leave the water and check local conditions on arrival.

Emergency help

Call 112 from a mobile for emergency assistance, or 10111 for a police emergency. Give your location, the nature of the emergency and a nearby landmark. Save these before travelling and ask your accommodation for the nearest emergency department. In a mountain or beach emergency, alert park staff or lifeguards as well if they are nearby.