The Gambia, The Smiling Coast of Africa is ranked one of the ten safest countries to visit in Africa as released and published by the Globe Aware Adventures in Service in their 20th June 2023 publication.
The very thought of traveling to Africa has a connotation of adventure & culture attached to it. The plethora of National Parks, the ecological abundance, the local culture, and of course, the wildlife.
The world’s second-largest continent has much to offer to adventure-seeking tourists worldwide. Choosing a country to visit within Africa can also be quite confusing, especially considering every place has something unique to offer.
According to Globe Aware Adventures in Service, the countries have ranked below “in terms of their global peace score (Source: Wikipedia) (a lower score indicates more safety). Purely based on the peace index, it turns out that Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Senegal are safer than South Korea.
“Each indicator’s results are then merged to create a single unified GPI value for each country. The lower the GDI score, the more peaceful—and by extension, the safer—the country is considered to be.”
These countries are ranked as follows
1. Mauritius (1.570) – Safest Country in Africa
According to the current GPI ranking, Mauritius is the safest country in Africa and the 28th safest country in the world.
Mauritius is a cosmopolitan tourist paradise with beaches and lagoons, coral diving, water activities, the “Seven Colored Earth” of Chamarel and beautiful forests full of wildlife.
The overall crime rate in Mauritius is quite low and the crimes that do occur are mostly non-violent, such as petty theft.
2. Ghana (1.759)
Ghana is pretty much located in the center of the world map. Although Ghana does not host too many of the other attractions that its African counterpart countries host – like Safaris, Wildlife, Eco-tours and more. It does have a lot in the way of cultural heritage that dates back to the 18th century. The capital city – Accra has negligible instances of crime reported and the city is always bustling with locals and tourists alike.
3. The Gambia (1.792)
Tourism in The Republic of The Gambia is booming, and it’s easy to understand why. The Gambia is known for its hospitality, sunny beaches, and diverse wildlife. Inexpensive safari tours give travelers a unique opportunity to observe leopards, monkeys, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, and rare birds in their natural habitats, and world-renowned Kotu Beach is the perfect place to unwind after a long day spent exploring Banjul, the Gambian capital city.
Fishing, boating, and horseback riding are all popular beach activities in The Gambia.
The Gambia is one of the safest travel destinations in West Africa. Violent crimes in The Gambia are rare. The biggest threats are pickpockets and Bumsters. Bumsters approach tourists and offer to be their guide or promise to introduce them to The Gambia social scene. Some Bumsters target older women, offering romance in exchange for a new life in America or Europe. These men are con artists, and they should not be trusted.
Fraud and scams are also common in The Gambia. Travelers should be wary of any unsolicited investment opportunities.
All in all, these countries are a standing testament that not all of Africa is riddled with crime. These countries remain unexplored by the international community largely due to inherent misconceptions but are a haven for adventure-seeking tourists worldwide.
4. Botswana (1.80)
Botswana was the safest country in Africa in 2021 but it has moved down to 4th position in 2022. A 1.676 Global Peace Index score makes it safer than the UK or Spain.
Crime in Botswana is at an all-time low, the popular towns Francistown, Gaborone & Maun rarely experience any instances of serious crime.
5. Sierra Leone (1.803)
This tiny coastal country (at 71,740 Sq. km) is another haven for tourists who have Safety as their topmost concern. However, unlike the other countries mentioned previously, Sierra Leone does have a bit of a crime problem.
Over 60% of the country’s population lives below Poverty Line and as the saying goes “poverty breeds crime”. Sierra Leone is known for its nightlife and parties, especially during occasions like Christmas and Easter & the urban areas is where most of the crime takes place, the rest of the country is relatively crime-free.
6. Zambia (1.841)
The US Department of State in its annual report on Travel Advisory has marked Zambia at level 1 for traveler safety. This means, travelers ought to exercise regular precautionary measures and need not go overboard with the panic.
A few areas in Zambia like the Copperbelt and Lusaka province do experience a higher rate of crime than usual but none of them are considered “unsafe” as per international standards.
7. Equatorial Guinea (1.8638)
Equatorial Guinea is the ninth safest country in Africa, ranking 62nd on the Global Peace Index for 2021. The U.S. State Department issued a Level 1 travel warning in April 2022.
These islands are known for their beautiful blue waters, sandy beaches, and densely forested interiors. They are accessible by ferries departing from the capital Conakry.
8. Liberia (1.88)
Liberia offers travelers the chance to experience West Africa’s vibrant culture firsthand. The bustling capital city of Monrovia is home to dozens of markets where artisans sell their finest handcrafted wares, and the Liberia National Museum provides insight into the history of Africa’s oldest republic.
Women travelers are especially vulnerable to crime in Liberia. Traveling to unsafe neighborhoods and walking alone at night is strongly discouraged.
Visiting Liberia can be a safe and memorable experience, but only if travelers take the proper precautions. There are always risks associated with foreign travel, and African countries like Liberia are working to improve upon safe travel policies.
9. Malawi (1.895)
Malawi, the eighth safest country in Africa in 2021, has a GPI rank of 59, placing it between France (55) and Greece (66). Malawi was included in Lonely Planet’s list of top ten countries for 2022 for its “lakes, scenery, wildlife and culture.”
Crime is generally minimal in Malawi. The biggest risks are handbag snatching and petty theft.
The country is known for its friendly, smiling inhabitants. It boasts an exceptional freshwater lake that dominates this landlocked country. The pristine waves and peaceful islands make for an ideal beach vacation.
9. Namibia (1.908)
Namibia’s rugged landscapes contribute greatly to the country’s uniqueness. Namibia is home to some of Africa’s most amazing natural sites, including the world’s highest dunes and the stunning Fish River Canyon.
Namibia offers space, tranquility and the opportunity to get away from it all: It is the second least densely populated country in the world, with only two people per square kilometer.
Namibia is a relatively safe country to visit. However, it does have a high crime rate. Crime is a serious problem in Namibia’s capital Windhoek and in other parts of the country. Muggings and pickpocketing are common, especially in places frequented by foreigners.
10. Madagascar (1.912)
Apart from the recent uptick in crime in the urban areas due to rising unemployment and political instability, Madagascar is considered one of the safer countries in Africa. The island nation has many friendly residents and the nation’s rich, natural bounty makes it a very lucrative destination for vacationers.
The Avenue of the Baobabs – a huge trail of Baobab trees is a strong candidate for becoming one of the 7 natural wonders of Africa. Tsingy de Bemaraha national park & the Ranomafananational park are among the few destinations in Madagascar that one can visit without worrying too much about safety.
Senegal (1.916)
Senegal does experience some petty crime and few instances of violent crime – most commonly mugging and robbery at gunpoint. But these instances are quite uncommon and at 1.883, the country fares better than France when it comes to country-wide safety.
Speaking of France, safety will most likely be the last of your concern since some of the biggest issues the tourists face has to do with language – which is almost exclusively French, few locals do speak broken English but it would be a great idea to hire a tour guide who is fairly adept at English.
Additionally, Senegal has a ton of attractions that tourists can fearlessly indulge in since these tourist attractions are not riddled with crime. The pink lake of Senegal is a tourist hotspot so is the town of Casamance where tourists can unwind and relax.
Rwanda (1.94)
Rwanda, known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” offers unique experiences in one of the most amazing countries in Africa, thanks to its breathtaking surroundings and warm, hospitable people. It has remarkable biodiversity with incredible wildlife native to the mountains, highland forests, and vast plains.
Rwanda is committed to preserving the lives of several iconic species in its four national parks.
Morocco (1.96)
Morocco‘s delights include vibrant marketplaces, desert hikes, climbing to distant waterfalls, and beach days. Surfing on the seaside, sipping mint tea in the medina, and exploring the ruins dispersed throughout its numerous cities are all options.
Morocco is very diverse in terms of landscape, so the climate varies depending on the destination. There is no bad time of year to visit this beautiful country, but spring and fall attract the most visitors, with temperatures ranging from 18 to 23°C.
Gabon (1.97)
Gabon, located in west central Africa and on the equator, has the potential to become one of the best ecotourism destinations in the world.
Currently, Gabon is one of the richest nations in Africa, thanks to its oil and mineral deposits as well as its small population. However, the late President Bongo recognized that Gabon’s reliance on oil had become too great and in 2002 set aside more than 10% of the country for national parks, recognizing that Gabon’s other natural resources would be critical to the country’s economic future.
Amazing wildlife such as lowland gorillas and chimpanzees can be found here, while the pristine Atlantic coast is home to endangered turtles and whales. Although there is still a lot of infrastructure work to be done, it is a promising place for ecotourism and adventure travel.
Angola (1.98)
The breathtaking beauty of nature is one of the main reasons to visit Angola. It could be noted that the country is lucky to have such a magnificent environment. There are many different types of landscapes there, including white sand beaches, green hills, tropical jungles, sandy deserts, magnificent waterfalls and much more.
Tanzania (2.00)
Tanzania is the hotspot for an African Safari at the moment. The country offers the most diverse experiences in Africa. From Safaris in the Serengeti to Treks in the Kilimanjaro Mountains. From Wildlife and bird watching in Ngorongoroto relaxing beach vacations in the Zanzibar Archipelago, Tanzania has it all, and travel to the country has been made simple due to policy initiatives by the Government.
When it comes to safety, Tanzania is generally considered safe. The country has had close to 1.8 million tourists visiting the country during 2019 and very few of the tourists have reported any crime.