{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/lesotho/maseru","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T00:04:50.173Z","place":{"city":"Maseru","country":"Lesotho","countryCode":"LS","lat":-29.31667,"lon":27.48333},"safety":{"score":46,"level":"CAUTION","answer":"Caution advised","saferThanPctOfCountries":35,"confidence":0.8,"caps":[{"max":46,"reason":"Homicide rate 38/100k"}],"databaseScore":42,"travellerSentiment":{"score":67,"label":"Moderately positive","summary":"Recent traveler reports indicate most visitors feel safe in central areas during daylight, though concerns linger about nighttime travel and occasional police corruption","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":68,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":26,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":67,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":64,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":70,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2025-12-10T13:12:05Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/lesotho"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution","updated":"2026-06-23T11:50:48.2285635-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/lesotho"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":38.2397413122181,"display":"38.2 / 100k","year":"2008","score":10,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":5.6,"display":"5.6%","year":"2016","score":84,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":21.6,"display":"21.6 / 100k","year":"2021","score":39,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":61.4725426,"display":"61/100","year":"2024","score":61,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":49.9670708,"display":"50/100","year":"2024","score":50,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":41.7332409,"display":"42/100","year":"2024","score":42,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":38.7584729,"display":"39/100","year":"2024","score":39,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":47.215987,"display":"47/100","year":"2024","score":47,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":54.1339418,"display":"54/100","year":"2024","score":54,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":26.58,"display":"26.6%","year":"2018","score":15,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"violence_victimization","label":"Physical assault (past year)","value":11.47,"display":"11.5%","year":"2018","score":54,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0,"display":"0.00 / 100k","year":"2022","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":14,"display":"14.0%","year":"2017","score":69,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":90,"display":"US AQI 90 · Moderate","year":null,"score":71,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":23,"display":"July: highs ~23°C · strong winds","year":null,"score":82,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · low seismicity","year":null,"score":100,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise a high degree of caution","year":null,"score":72,"source":"Government of Canada"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Maseru is generally safe for visitors who stay alert and follow basic precautions.","summary":"Maseru’s safety profile is moderate: crime rates are low to moderate, with pickpocketing being the most common visitor risk, while violent incidents against tourists are rare. Recent data shows occasional petty crime spikes but no major safety crises.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Mugging and armed robbery are uncommon but can occur in isolated areas, especially at night; avoid poorly lit streets and travel alone after dark"},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are frequent in crowded markets and transport hubs; keep bags zipped and front-facing"},"safeAreas":["Berea","Mphaki","Maseru Central (daytime, well‑lit areas)"],"avoidAreas":["Leribe (especially after dark)","Ha Mabote (vehicle break‑ins)"],"scams":["Bribery scams targeting passport or visa services","Overcharging for taxi rides or tours"],"zones":[{"name":"Maseru Central","level":"caution","note":"Petty theft and pickpocketing common; stay alert, avoid walking alone after dark"},{"name":"Berea","level":"safe","note":"Residential area with good security; low crime but limited nightlife"},{"name":"Ha Mabote","level":"caution","note":"Increasing reports of vehicle break‑ins; keep valuables out of sight"},{"name":"Leribe","level":"avoid","note":"High altitude zone with limited services and sporadic protests; risky after dark"},{"name":"Mphaki","level":"safe","note":"Quiet outskirts; few incidents but limited police presence"}]}}