The most dangerous cities in Africa

The beautiful continent of Africa: incredible beaches, amazing wildlife, and unbelievable history. Africa is on many travelers' bucket lists, however, the continent does struggle with the growing issue of crime. From the constant threat of terrorism to the presence of thieves and gangs, there is a lot to be cautious of.

This gallery ranks the 15 most dangerous cities in Africa according to their Crime Index score. The score is determined by giving different types of crimes numerical values, considering how serious they are, and then adding up these scores to give an overall measure of how safe or risky an area is in terms of crime.

Intrigued? Swipe through to discover the most dangerous cities in Africa.

15. Tunis, Tunisia

These frequent protests and demonstrations have contributed to its reputation as a dangerous city, as they often turn violent. Tunis has also had a problem with the trafficking of both arms and drugs.

14. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Petty theft, pickpocketing, and burglary are common, especially in crowded areas and on public transport. Walking alone at night can be risky.

13. Cairo, Egypt

Cairo has experienced sporadic incidents of violence and even terrorism, with tourist destinations like the Pyramids of Giza being targeted.

12. Algiers, Algeria

Although counterterrorism efforts have been intensified by the Algerian government, terrorists still operate, targeting security forces, local government institutions, and Western interests.

11. Casablanca, Morocco

Muggings, violent crime, and petty theft have transformed this once great city into one of Africa's most dangerous. Economic hardships have pushed many citizens of Casablanca to resort to criminality to survive.

10. Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi faces not only street crimes like theft and scams, but also the persistent threat of terrorism. Extremist groups maintain a keen interest in targeting foreigners and major population centers. These attacks can occur suddenly and without warning.

9. Harare, Zimbabwe

Petty crime plagues the city, with "smash and grabs" being the most common crime (i.e. breaking car or property windows and grabbing what one can, quickly). Gangs and thieves roam the streets at night, making it incredibly unsafe for residents, especially if they are alone.

8. Windhoek, Namibia

Armed robbery, particularly targeting tourists, stands out as the most significant violent crime in Windhoek. The city also struggles with various other offenses, including theft, carjacking, pickpocketing, and purse snatching.

7. Lagos, Nigeria

Acts of politically motivated violence, such as terrorist bombings and armed assaults on security personnel and civilians, have the potential to unfold across Nigeria.

6. Cape Town, South Africa

Extremely high levels of gang- and drug-related violence have previously seen Cape Town rank number one when it comes to number of homicides per year in Africa. High levels of street crime, including theft and scams, also haunt this beautiful city.

5. Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Corruption, vandalism, theft, carjackings, kidnappings, drug-related violence, gang conflict, and violent crime run rife in this coastal city.

4. Durban, South Africa

Riots, looting, rape, murder, theft, house break-ins, kidnappings, and drug-related violence take center stage in Durban. While some parts are relatively safe for tourists, the majority of Durban should be avoided.

3. Johannesburg, South Africa

Johannesburg is overrun by criminality. House break-ins, petty crime, carjackings, and rape are all common crimes in what was once South Africa's most prominent city. The center of Johannesburg, Hillbrow, has become a haven for criminals, who go as far as hijacking entire buildings.

2. Pretoria, South Africa

The city has seen an 86% increase in crime rates over the past five years. In Pretoria, residents worry about home break-ins and theft of their belongings. Common crimes include murder, muggings, car theft, assaults, and vandalism. Corruption is also a concern: in May 2025, three Pretoria High Court officials were suspended amid fraud and corruption investigations.