There are plenty of lousy, rotten places around the earth but Africa has more of them that any other place. Africa is a continent of extremes. Many consider it to be one of the most beautiful and exciting places on earth, with breathtaking beaches, sweeping savannahs, spectacular displays of wildlife, enticing cuisine, thrilling cities, and vibrant cultures. But there’s another side to the story. Some of its countries rank as the poorest in the world. Draught, famine, economic instability, and civil war can turn even the most beautiful country into a no-go zone, and that’s certainly been the case in some of Africa’s most beleaguered nations. In some of its cities and rural areas, crime and poverty are endemic. The gulf between the rich and the poor continues to grow, and terrorist attacks and armed conflict pose a constant threat. Obviously, that’s not the case everywhere. Africa is home to some truly excellent places to live. Unfortunately, it’s also home to these 20 worst places to live in Africa.
Want to be robbed? Go to say, Lagos. Your hotel clerk will rob you. The taxi drivers will rob you. Lagos ranks as the second least livable city in the world. The only worse city on the livability scale is war-torn Damascus in Syria. In addition to high crime, poor healthcare, widespread corruption, and blanket censorship, the city’s stability is under continued threat from groups like Boko Haram. The city’s street gangs (or “area boys,” as they prefer to be called) are known as some of the most violent and unlawful gangs around. Pirates regularly invade waterfront compounds by boat, and it’s not uncommon to see armed robbers scaling perimeter fences. You will have to bribe people to get your change… A bribe is needed to get service at a restaurant. The call it Dash.. You have to dash people to get your change! Everything is unreliable, .. everything… At the airport the plane may leave an hour before it’s scheduled to depart. The trains may not show up. The taxi never goes direct. The electric goes out, .. in those places that have electricity…
According to the Human Development Index, the Central African Republic is one of the most dangerous places in Africa. Things like aggravated assaults, robberies, and murder are quite common. The most dangerous country in Africa is South Sudan. It is actually one of the most dangerous destinations in the world, ranking right next to Syria and Afghanistan. Its also known that armed groups who control parts of the country target civilians for kidnapping. Closing of land and air borders is frequent, which means that tourists can be left stranded without a chance to leave the country. You cannot trust a money belt to keep your passport and money safe. Nothing in Africa is safe. Safe isn’t an idea that applies to Africa. Six cities in South Africa made the list of the world’s most dangerous places to live. Durban, South Africa has the misfortune of being one of them. Economically, it’s in a good place thanks to its status as the biggest commodity port in Sub-Saharan Africa. Port Elizabeth, South Africa is a dangerous, crime-riddled city where murders, muggings, and assaults are common occurrences. Pretoria, the capitol ranks as the third most dangerous city, not just in South Africa, not just in Africa, but in the entire world. Consider Cape Town, South Africa’s legislative center. Its turned into one of the country’s most dangerous places to live. Even the short walk from your car to your front door puts you at risk of mugging, assault, or something worse. Drug dealing, gang violence, and vandalism are all rife, while the homicide rate is no one’s idea of acceptable. Factor in extreme economic inequality and corruption, and it’s easy to see what makes Cape Town one of the worst places to live in Africa.
But there’s more to life than riches, especially when those riches are as unevenly distributed as they are here. It used to be safe here but no more. The crime rate is so high, even taking basic precautions like avoiding nighttime travel and keeping your car doors locked in slow-moving traffic isn’t enough to protect yo
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