TRC TRAVEL RISK CALCULATOR
Harrismith score: 60/100 (Elevated) Updated September 27, 2026

Is Harrismith safe? South Africa travel risk

Is Harrismith safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026

Harrismith scores 60/100 on our travel risk index (Elevated). The US State Department rates South Africa Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution, updated 27 May 2025); the UK has no advice against travel; Canada says: exercise a high degree of caution. No GDACS or USGS hazard events within 100 km in the last 14 days. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.

Harrismith scores 60/100 (Elevated). The score combines security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards and current alerts measured for this location and South Africa (how it is calculated). The sections below are specific to Harrismith: nearest emergency and transport facilities, 5-year natural hazard history within 100 km.

Driven by: crime and scams (92/100) and security (60/100).

A score of 60 is higher than the scores of 84% of the 241 countries we cover.

Consult the South Africa travel risk page for nationwide security advisories, entry protocols, and consular warnings.

Geographic & Regional Coordinates

Charted at coordinates 28.2833° S, 29.1333° E in Free State, Harrismith maintains a regional distance of 297.3 km NNW to Pretoria.

Region
Free State
Coordinates
28.2833° S, 29.1333° E
Elevation
1643 m
Time Zone
Africa/Johannesburg
Population
52,765
Nearest city with evaluated safety score: Durban (253.7 km SE).

Emergency & Aviation Access

Aviation Hub Harrismith Airport (HRS) 6.0 km NNW
Hospital Care Thebe District Hospital 1.4 km NNE
Police Station Harrismith Police Station 1.6 km NNW

Nearby Towns & Settlements in South Africa

Natural Hazard Calendar & History

5-Year Hazard Calendar (100 km Radius)

Hazard Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Floods — — — — — — — — — — 1 —
Wildfires — — — — — — — 6 2 — — —

Most wildfire events within 100 km of Harrismith happened in August (6 of 8 in five years).

Source: GDACS, USGS; five years to October 2026.

For consular advice on women's safety, LGBT+ travel, and local laws, see the South Africa travel advice & laws.

Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel. See the South Africa entry requirements.

Evaluated Destinations in this Region

Bethlehem 10
80.8 km W
Newcastle 32
98.6 km NE
Dundee 10
108.3 km E
Frankfort 10
126.7 km NNW
Nqutu 15
140.4 km E
Thaba-Tseka 10
148.4 km SSW

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Data compiled from SimpleMaps, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, Open-Meteo, GDACS, and USGS · Sources · Editorial Policy