The continent with the most countries in the world 54 sovereign states, Africa is a very diverse continent, with each country, and sometimes even each part of a country having its own unique culture. From the wildlife watching safaris of Kenya to the dunes of the Sahara, Africa has a lot of experiences to offer to its adventure-seeking travellers.
But Africa is also a region of ever-lasting conflicts, high crime, natural disasters, and health hazards. Safe around has compiled information from numerous sources to offer advice to people travelling in the region, but always check the latest news coverage before travelling to Africa to get the latest safety advice.
The Dangerous Places In Africa
The Level Meaning
Level 1 is “exercise normal precautions”
Level 2 is “exercise increased caution,”
Level 3 is “reconsider travel”
Level 4 is “do not travel”
For more information about the circumstances that inspire individual travel warnings, consider checking the advisories issued by other governments, including Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Current U.S. Travel Advisories for African Countries
Below, we have listed all current African travel advisories ranked Level 2 or higher.
Disclaimer: Please note that travel warnings change all the time, and while this article is updated regularly, it’s best to check the U.S. Department of State website directly before booking your trip.
29. Algeria
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to terrorism. Terrorist attacks may take place without warning and are considered more likely in rural areas. Therefore, the notice mainly advises against travel to rural areas within 50 kilometres of the Tunisian border or within 250 kilometres of the walls with Libya, Niger, Mali, and Mauritania. Overland travel in the Sahara Desert is also not recommended.
28. Burkina Faso
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to crime and terrorism. Violent crime is widespread, particularly in urban areas, and often targets foreign nationals. In addition, terrorist attacks have taken place and could occur again at any time. In particular, the advisory warns against all travel to the Sahel region on the border with Mali and Niger, where terrorist attacks have included kidnapping Western tourists.
27. Burundi
Level 3 travel advisory issued due to crime and armed conflict. Violent crimes, including grenade attacks, are common. Sporadic violence occurs due to ongoing political tension, while police and military checkpoints can restrict freedom of movement. In particular, cross-border raids by armed groups from the DRC are common in Cibitoke and Bubanza.
26. Cameroon
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to crime. Violent crime is a problem throughout Cameroon, although some areas are worse than others. The government advises against travel to the North and Far North regions and parts of the East and Adamawa regions. In these areas, the chance of terrorist activity is also heightened, and kidnappings are a cause for concern.
25. The central African Republic
Level 4 travel advisory issued due to crime and civil unrest. Armed robberies, murders, and aggravated assaults are common, while armed groups control large country areas and often target civilians for kidnappings and killings. In addition, sudden closures of air and land borders in the event of civil unrest mean that tourists are likely to be stranded if trouble arises.
24. Chad
Level 3 travel advisory issued due to crime, terrorism, and minefields. Violent crimes have been reported in Chad, while terrorist groups move quickly in and out of the country and are especially active in the Lake Chad region. As a result, borders may close without warning, leaving tourists stranded. In addition, minefields exist along the edges of Libya and Sudan.
23. Côte d’Ivoire
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to crime and terrorism. Terrorist attacks may occur at any time and are likely to target tourist areas. In addition, violent crimes (including carjackings, home invasions, and armed robberies) are common. At the same time, U.S. government officials are prohibited from driving outside of major cities after dark and can, therefore, provide limited assistance.
22. The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to crime and civil unrest. There is a high level of violent crime, including armed robbery, sexual assault, and assault. In addition, political demonstrations are volatile and frequently elicit a heavy-handed response from law enforcement. Travel to the eastern Congo and the three Kasai provinces is not recommended due to ongoing armed conflict.
21. Egypt
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to terrorism. Terrorist groups target tourist locations, government facilities, and transportation hubs while civil aviation is at risk. Some areas are more dangerous than others. Many of the country’s main tourist areas are considered relatively safe, while travel to the Western Desert, the Sinai Peninsula, and the border is not recommended.
20. Eritrea
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to travel restrictions and limited consular assistance. If you are arrested in Eritrea, local law enforcement will likely withhold access to U.S. Embassy assistance. In addition, tourists are advised to reconsider travel to the Ethiopian border region due to political instability, ongoing unrest, and unmarked minefields.
19. Ethiopia
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to the potential for civil unrest and communications disruptions. Travel to the Somali Regional State is not advised due to the potential for civil unrest, terrorism, and landmines. Crime and civil unrest are also considered likely in the East Hararge region of Oromia state, the Danakil Depression area and the borders with Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan and Eritrea.
18. Guinea-Bissau
Level 3 travel advisory issued due to crime and civil unrest. Violent crime is a problem throughout Guinea-Bissau, especially at the Bissau airport and Bandim Market in the capital center. In addition, political turmoil and social dysfunction have been ongoing for decades, and conflict between factions can cause violence to erupt at any time. There is no U.S. Embassy in Guinea-Bissau.
17. Kenya
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to crime. Violent crime is a problem throughout Kenya, and tourists are advised to avoid the Eastleigh area of Nairobi at all times and the Old Town in Mombasa after dark. In addition, travel to the Kenya – Somalia border and some other coastal regions is not recommended due to increased terrorist activity.
16. Libya
Level 4 travel advisory issued due to crime, terrorism, armed conflict, and civil unrest. The chances of getting caught up in violent extremist activity are high, while terrorist groups are likely to target foreign nationals (and U.S. citizens in particular). In addition, civil aviation is at risk from terrorist attacks, and flights in and out of Libyan airports are regularly cancelled, leaving tourists stranded.
15. Mali
Level 4 travel advisory issued due to crime and terrorism. Violent crime is common throughout the country but especially in Bamako and the southern regions of Mali. Roadblocks and random police checks allow corrupt police officers to take advantage of tourists travelling on the roads, especially at night. In addition, terrorist attacks continue to target places frequented by foreigners.
14. Mauritania
Level 3 travel advisory issued due to crime and terrorism. Terrorist attacks may occur without warning and are likely to target areas frequented by Western tourists. In addition, violent crimes (including robberies, rapes, assaults, and mugging) are common. At the same time, U.S. government officials must obtain special permission to travel outside of Nouakchott and, therefore, provide limited assistance in an emergency.
13. Niger
Level 3 travel advisory issued due to crime and terrorism. Violent crimes are common, while terrorist attacks and kidnappings target foreign and local government facilities and areas frequented by tourists. In particular, avoid travel to the border regions – especially the Diffa region, the Lake Chad region and the Mali border, where extremist groups are known to operate.
12. Nigeria
Level 3 travel advisory issued due to crime, terrorism, and piracy. Violent crimes are common in Nigeria, while terrorist attacks target crowded areas in and around the Federal Capital Territory and other urban areas. In particular, the northern states (especially Borno) are prone to terrorist activity. In addition, piracy is a concern for travellers to the Gulf of Guinea, which should be avoided if possible.
11. Republic of the Congo
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to crime and civil unrest. Violent crime is a concern throughout the Congo, while political demonstrations occur frequently and often turn violent. Tourists are advised to reconsider travel to the southern and western districts of the Pool Region, where ongoing military operations result in a higher risk of civil unrest and armed conflict.
10. Sierra Leone
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to crime. Violent crimes, including assault and robbery, are common, while local police rarely respond to incidents effectively. In addition, U.S. government employees are banned from travelling outside Freetown after dark and can therefore only offer limited assistance to tourists who find themselves in trouble.
9. Somalia
Level 4 travel advisory issued due to crime, terrorism, and piracy. Violent crimes are common throughout, with frequent illegal roadblocks and a high incidence of kidnappings and murders. Terrorist attacks target Western tourists and are likely to occur without warning. Piracy is rife in the international waters off the Horn of Africa, especially near the Somali coast.
8. South Africa
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to crime. Violent crimes, including armed robbery, rape and smash-and-grab attacks on vehicles, are common in South Africa, especially in the central business districts of major cities after dark. However, most other country areas are considered relatively safe – especially the rural game parks and reserves.
7. South Sudan
Level 4 travel advisory issued due to crime and armed conflict. Armed conflict is ongoing between various political and ethnic groups, while violent crime is common. The crime rates in Juba especially are critical, with U.S. government officials only permitted to travel in armoured vehicles. Restrictions on official travel outside Juba mean that tourists cannot rely on assistance in an emergency.
6. Sudan
Level 3 travel advisory issued due to terrorism and civil unrest. Terrorist groups in Sudan have stated their intent to harm Westerners, and attacks are likely, mainly in Khartoum. Due to civil unrest, curfews are imposed with little to no warning, while arbitrary arrests are possible. All travel to the Darfur region, Blue Nile state and Southern Kordofan state are considered unsafe due to armed conflict.
5. Tanzania
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to crime, terrorism and the targeting of LGBTI travellers. Violent crime is common in Tanzania and includes sexual assault, kidnapping, mugging, and carjacking. In addition, terrorist groups continue to plan attacks on areas frequented by Western tourists. There have been reports of LGBTI travellers being harassed or arrested and charged with unrelated offences.
4. Togo
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to crime and civil unrest. Spontaneous violent crimes (like carjackings) and organized crimes (including armed robberies) are common, while criminals themselves are often the target of vigilante justice. In addition, civil unrest results in frequent public demonstrations, with both the protesters and the police prone to violent tactics.
3. Tunisia
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to terrorism. Certain areas are considered more at risk of attack than others. The government advises against travel to Sidi Bou Zid, the desert south of Ramada, areas of the Algerian border and the mountainous areas in the northwest (including Chaambi Mountain National Park). Travel within 30 kilometres of the Libyan border is also not recommended.
2. Uganda
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to crime. Although many areas of Uganda are considered relatively safe, there is a high incidence of violent crimes (including armed robberies, home invasions, and sexual assaults) in the country’s larger cities. Tourists are advised to take particular care in Kampala and Entebbe. Local police lack the resources to respond effectively in an emergency.
1. Zimbabwe
Level 2 travel advisory issued due to crime and civil unrest. Political instability, economic hardship and the effects of recent drought have led to civil unrest, which may present through violent demonstrations. Violent crime is prevalent in areas frequented by Western tourists. Visitors are advised not to display evident signs of wealth.
