TRC TRAVEL RISK CALCULATOR
Welkom score: 62/100 (Elevated) Updated September 27, 2026

Is Welkom safe? South Africa travel risk

Is Welkom safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026

Welkom scores 62/100 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.

Welkom scores 62/100 (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 Welkom: nearest emergency and transport facilities, 5-year natural hazard history within 100 km, frequently asked questions.

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

A score of 62 is higher than the scores of 86% of the 241 countries we cover.

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

Local Geographic Profile

Positioned at 27.9831° S, 26.7208° E in Free State, Welkom features an altitude of 1376 m. The settlement is located 288.2 km NNE from Pretoria.

Region
Free State
Coordinates
27.9831° S, 26.7208° E
Elevation
1376 m
Time Zone
Africa/Johannesburg
Population
64,130
Nearest city with evaluated safety score: Johannesburg (237.4 km NNE).

Emergency & Transport Infrastructure

Aviation Hub P C Pelser Airport (KXE) 123.6 km N
Hospital Care Old Welkom Provincial ( Not in Use) 0.9 km E
Police Station Welkom Police Station HQ 1.9 km NE

Surrounding Localities in South Africa

Natural Hazard Calendar & History

No GDACS or USGS events recorded within 100 km in the past five years.

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.

Nearby Destinations with Scored Guides

Odendaalsrus 10
13.5 km NNW
Virginia 10
19.5 km SE
Kroonstad 15
62.5 km NE
Bultfontein 10
65.3 km WSW
Klerksdorp 15
124.3 km N
Bloemfontein 22
135.3 km SSW

Questions travellers ask about Welkom

Is Welkom safe?

Welkom currently scores 62/100 on our composite travel risk index (elevated risk; lower is safer). It already includes the current US State Department advisory for South Africa (Level 2 of 4). Official advice can change quickly, so check it again shortly before you travel.

Sources: Travel Risk Calculator — Welkom · Methodology

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Sources: SimpleMaps, GeoNames, OSM contributors, OurAirports, Open-Meteo, GDACS, USGS · Data desk · Sources · Editorial Policy