The Top 11 Most Dangerous African Cities

There are several dangerous cities throughout the world and most major cities have more crime than rural areas due to larger populations. Although the country as a whole isn’t perilous, we’ve found the most dangerous cities in Africa to help keep our readers aware and inform them about possible hazards when traveling. 

You will see crime ratings that give each city a number rating out of 100. The higher the rating is, the more danger the city poses to locals and visitors.

1. Mogadishu, Somalia 

A town called Mogadishu in Somalia is on this list due to the exorbitant amount of human trafficking that takes place here. Men, women, and children are all victims of this crime. Human smuggling takes place across borders, making Mogadishu a hub for a variety of dangerous crimes. 

It’s best for tourists to avoid this area altogether, as these crimes seem to be rising. 

2. Benghazi, Libya

The second place on our list of the most dangerous African cities is Benghazi. Located in Libya, the entire country has seen plenty of radical Islamic terrorism over the last decade. 

Crimes continue to rise in Benghazi, including:

• Robbery
• Carjacking
• Burglaries
• Looting
• Street crimes

There has also been an increase in gun crimes and women are even told to dress conservatively to protect themselves from invading militias. 

3. Luanda, Angola

Next is Luanda, which is the capital city of Angola. It is not recommended for locals or tourists to travel alone at night throughout the city, as this is when most crimes take place. The most common dangers in Luanda are:

• Carjackings
• Homicide
• Mugging
• Assault
• Rape
• Armed robbery

The Rua Nehru portion of Angola is a popular hub for human trafficking. 

4. Nairobi, Kenya

Another one of the most dangerous African cities is Nairobi. Located in Kenya, there are a lot of investments that occur in this major city. This can quickly lead to a lot of credit card and cybercrime. Overall, the region’s most common crimes are: 

• Kidnapping
• Pick-pocketing 
• Burglaries
• Jackackings
• Muggings

All of these crimes are typically committed with weapons in hand. Other common dangers in Nairobi are grenade attacks and terrorism. 

5. Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Bringing us to South Africa is the city of Port Elizabeth. This coastal area is a popular hub for tourists and is generally a beautiful place to live. The main downfall is the exceeding amount of crime. 

Muggings, general street crimes, and xenophobic assaults are the most common dangers here.

6. Lagos, Nigeria 

There are over 20 million people who call Lagos home. With a population that high, there’s no wonder why this city in Nigeria makes it on the list of the most dangerous African cities. Violent crimes here include:

• Rape
• Carjacking
• Armed robbery
• Burglaries
• Carjacking

It’s not uncommon for criminals to carjack someone while they’re stuck in traffic. Banks, grocery stores, and any roads near the airport are hotspots for potential dangers. 

7. Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town may be a beautiful location in South Africa, but there is plenty of crime here as well. In fact, Cape Town is known to have some of the most violent crimes in the world. There are specific safety measures put in place for travelers. 

The dangerous crimes that occur in Cape Town are as follows.

• Drug dealing
• Vandalism
• Theft
• Assault
• Armed robbery
• Mugging
• Murder 

8. Rustenburg, South Africa

Another South African city to make the list is Rustenburg City. The crime levels are exceedingly high here. Street crimes and theft are becoming more common, along with dangerous crimes such as:

• Kidnapping
• Hijacking
• Robbery
• Political unrest 

Locals also experience robbery and carjacking while in traffic, especially in the evening hours. 

9. Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Kwa-Zulu-Natal is home to Pietermaritzburg. This large city has a very high crime rate and a wider variety of crimes compared to other cities on this list. 

• Armed robbery
• Rape
• Sexual assault
• Drug crimes
• Burglaries
• Carjackings
• Arson

Pietermaritzburg unfortunately is a hub for xenophobic attacks as well.

10. Durban, South Africa

Yet another one of the most dangerous African cities is in Kwa-Zulu-Natal. Durban may be a beautiful coastal location that attracts tourists from all over the world, but this brings in plenty of crime. 

When visiting here, it’s best to avoid being outdoors at night alone. Homicide is one of the most common crimes here and Durban is recognized as one of the highest-rated cities for crime in the world. 

11. Johannesburg, South Africa

Last, but certainly not least is Johannesburg. With a population of over four million people, crime continues to rise in this South African town. Because violent sexual crimes are the most common here, Johannesburg has earned the title of the “World’s Rape Capital.”

The city has seen an increase in homicide, xenophobic attacks, and more in the low-income neighborhoods. 

Summary of the Most Dangerous African Cities