{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/south-africa/durban","updatedAt":"2026-09-24T11:35:44.805Z","place":{"city":"Durban","country":"South Africa","countryCode":"ZA","lat":-29.8579,"lon":31.0292},"safety":{"score":56,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":50,"confidence":0.87,"caps":[],"databaseScore":55,"travellerSentiment":{"score":59,"label":"Mixed but cautiously positive","summary":"Many visitors report feeling safe in secured tourist areas like Umhlanga and the beachfront during the day, but express caution after dark or when venturing into less familiar neighborhoods, based on recent traveler forums and safety assessments.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":55,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":58,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":48,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":59,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":62,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":65,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":2,"label":"Exercise Increased Caution","updated":"Tue, 27 May 2025","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/south-africa-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-07-21T14:07:51Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution","updated":"2026-09-09T09:13:44.3504122-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/south-africa"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":43.7202551331462,"display":"43.7 / 100k","year":"2022","score":7,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":40.4,"display":"40.4%","year":"2007","score":26,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0.1235572394897154,"display":"0.12 / million","year":"2021","score":91,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":24.5,"display":"24.5 / 100k","year":"2021","score":33,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":55.3527432,"display":"55/100","year":"2024","score":55,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":57.2693915,"display":"57/100","year":"2024","score":57,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":43.9726469,"display":"44/100","year":"2024","score":44,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":46.9478119,"display":"47/100","year":"2024","score":47,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":53.9146724,"display":"54/100","year":"2024","score":54,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":67.4781439,"display":"67/100","year":"2024","score":67,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":3338026,"display":"3.3M residents","year":null,"score":53,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":37,"display":"37.0%","year":"2022","score":30,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.03,"display":"0.03 / 100k","year":"2022","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":18,"display":"18.0%","year":"2019","score":62,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":87,"display":"US AQI 87 · Moderate","year":null,"score":72,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":22.512779725,"display":"23 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2010","score":65,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":26,"display":"September: highs ~26°C · strong winds","year":null,"score":82,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · low seismicity","year":null,"score":100,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution · 2 govts","year":null,"score":50,"source":"CA / US"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":62,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":2,"display":"High risk","year":null,"score":58,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":55,"display":"55 / 100 (Mixed but cautiously positive)","year":null,"score":55,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Durban is moderately safe for visitors who exercise a high degree of caution, with risks concentrated in specific areas and times.","summary":"Durban's safety profile shows elevated crime risks, particularly robbery and pickpocketing in tourist zones after dark, though daytime beachfront and upscale suburbs like Umhlanga remain relatively secure. Visitor sentiment is mixed but generally positive when precautions are taken, supported by visible security in tourist corridors. Recent mass shootings in September 2026 occurred in townships, not tourist areas, underscoring the importance of avoiding unfamiliar neighborhoods.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Mugging and armed robbery are uncommon in tourist districts but can occur in isolated areas, particularly at night in the CBD and surrounding townships"},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"High","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are frequent on the beachfront, markets and public transport; keep belongings secured and avoid walking alone after dark"},"safeAreas":["Umhlanga","Morningside","Westville"],"avoidAreas":["Durban CBD (after dark)","Point Road / Mahatma Gandhi Road area"],"scams":["Beachfront distraction pickpocketing","ATM card skimming and helper scams","Taxi meter fraud","Online scams targeting KZN tourists","Fake tour guides and accommodation scams"],"zones":[{"name":"Umhlanga","level":"safe","note":"Upscale northern suburb with gated hotels, private security, and visible patrols; lowest crime risk for tourists."},{"name":"Golden Mile (beachfront promenade)","level":"caution","note":"Generally safe daylight hours with lifeguards and CCTV, but pickpocketing and bag snatching increase after dark, especially alone."},{"name":"Durban CBD","level":"avoid","note":"Business district becomes risky after business hours; armed robberies and carjackings reported, avoid walking alone at night."},{"name":"Point Road / Mahatma Gandhi Road area","level":"avoid","note":"Known for prostitution, cheap hotels, and higher crime; avoid at all times per Wikivoyage and recent scam reports."},{"name":"Berea","level":"caution","note":"Mixed residential/commercial; safe by day but avoid walking alone at night due to opportunistic theft."},{"name":"Addington Beach area","level":"caution","note":"South of the pier; beachfront robbery and bag snatching increase after dark and during large events."},{"name":"Morningside","level":"safe","note":"Affluent suburb with strong residential security; low visitor incident reports and recommended for stays."},{"name":"Westville","level":"safe","note":"Well-policed, upper-middle-class area with shopping malls and low violent crime against tourists."}]}}