Some of the Safest Cities in Africa for Travelers to Visit

By Mariana Zapata

Africa is known for its incredible nature preserves, where wild animals rule. But the continent’scitiesarejustasexcitingasthey are underrated.

Like anywhere else, you can expect noise and traffic but also that unique urban energy that pulsates with life and possibility — plus, many of them are near national parks or preserves, offering the best of both worlds.

Wondering where to go? Start with some of the safest cities in Africa. Besides low crime rates, these compelling cities offer millenary history, great music, excellent food and must-see landmarks.

Rankings are based on Statista’s “Africa: Cities With the Highest Safety Index 2022” report.

Algiers, Algeria

Population: 2.9 million - Safety index: 45.18

While Algeria has been victim to attacks by religious extremists, these are rare (probably just asrareastheyareintheU.S.orpopularEuropean destinations).LikeinEurope,pickpocketsfrequent crowdedplacesliketheKashbah,andsolofemale travelers need to take extra precautions. But it’s quite safe to wander the streets since muggings are uncommon.

Visitors will want to enjoy Algeria’s wonderful capital by visiting Djamaa el Djazaïr, or the Great Mosque of Algiers, and the Catholic Basilica of Notre-Dame d’Afrique, built during the time of French colonialism. Plus, you’ll want to visit the city’s cultural institutions, like the National Museum ofAntiquities and IslamicArt.

Gaborone, Botswana

Population: 289,221 - Safety index: 45.68

Despite its diverse nature and political stability, BotswanaisstillanoverlookedAfricandestination — perhaps because people make the wrong assumptionsaboutit.Butthosewhopayattention tothefactsfindan amazingcountrywhereviolent crime rates are relatively low. As in most cities around the world, you should avoid dark, isolated places while visiting Gaborone, the capital. But if youapplycommonsenseandgeneralprecautions, you won’t have safety issues.

Visitors can enjoy the National Museum andArt Galleryand buy traditional craftsat local markets. However,mostpeoplecomeforthenearbynature preserves, which include the Mokolodi Nature Reserve and Gaborone Game Reserve. Here, you’ll have the chance to see species like rhinos, giraffes, impalas, zebras and more.

Cairo, Egypt

Population:22.2million (forthemetropolitanarea)

- Safety index: 50.22

We don’t need to introduce Cairo, nor convince anyone to visit. Yes, it is chaotic and overly touristy. And yes, you will get harassed by street vendors. But these are minor inconveniences and don’t actually pose a threat to your safety. In return, you’ll get to seeoneof the most incredible places on Earth.

ThemainreasontovisittheEgyptiancapitalare, ofcourse,thePyramidsofGiza.Onceyou’vedone that, escape the heat at the Egyptian Museum, wander the 12th-century Citadel of Salah El-Din and shop at the gigantic Khan el-Khalili market.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Population: 5.5 million - Safety index: 51.59

Another capital city on this list, Addis Ababa quickly breaks erroneous ideas people may have of Ethiopia. The city is modern, clean and safe. Yes, the country has suffered from extreme poverty,butthat’snot everything thereistoit.Get cultured at the National Museum of Ethiopia, the Ethnological Museum and the Ethiopian National Theatre.

You should also hike up Mount Entoto for sweeping views over the capital and try a cup of Ethiopian coffee at Tomoca Coffee. This is, after all, the birthplace of the plant and one of the best coffee destinations in the world.

Casablanca, Morocco

Population: 3.9 million - Safety index:44.41

While many people know this city because of the iconic movie starring Humphrey Bogart and IngridBergman,thecityisevenmoreexcitingthan to page 34

African Cities - from page 33 the movie. You can see the remnants of French colonial rule in the city’s Mauresque architecture, which blends art deco and Moorish elements, or youcangetlostinthelabyrinthsoftheoldmedina. Other exciting things include going on a coastal strollalongtheCorniche,visitingtheRoyalPalace and touring the Hassan II Mosque — the largest mosque in Morocco. https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/ safest-cities-in-africa-for-travelers-to-visit/ar-AA1 b0OZX?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=W069&cvid=649a3 99fbd6b45af9cc6dd5b18f3f19b&ei=116

And you can do all this without worrying about your safety. While people might try to haggle or overcharge you, violent crime is rare. That said, solo female travelers should be careful, as street harassment is a huge problem.

Google’s new AI-powered search experience, released in May, might have gotten a mixed reception. But the search giant isn’t letting that slow its feature roadmap.

Google today announced new capabilities, some of which it previously previewed at its I/O conference, heading to Search Generative Experience (SGE) — the moniker for its experimental search experience — focused on travel and shopping.

Now, when a user asks questions about a place or destination in Google Search (e.g. “Is this restaurant good for large groups?”), they’ll see a snapshot that brings together information from across the web as well as reviews, photos and business profile details submitted by business owners. And when they’re shopping for a product — Bluetooth speakers, say — SGE will show factors to consider along with product descriptions, reviews, ratings, prices, images and recommendations.

TheexperiencesevokeAI-poweredsearchrivals like You.com and PerplexityAI. But Rany Ng, VP of Search, argues that they uniquely benefit from Google’s proprietary data, including details on