{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/namibia/swakopmund","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T17:27:16.314Z","place":{"city":"Swakopmund","country":"Namibia","countryCode":"NA","lat":-22.67842,"lon":14.52663},"safety":{"score":69,"level":"SAFE","answer":"Yes — generally safe","saferThanPctOfCountries":71,"confidence":0.85,"caps":[],"databaseScore":70,"travellerSentiment":{"score":67,"label":"Cautiously positive","summary":"Travel guides consistently describe Swakopmund as 'one of Namibia's safest tourist destinations' with good infrastructure and police presence (isitsafetovisit.com, Jun 2026). However, Reddit traveler reports are mixed — some visitors felt notably unsafe at night with 'sketchy characters,' suggesting that personal experience varies based on location and time of day.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":67,"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":64,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":67,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":73,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":67,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2025-12-10T13:15:46Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/namibia"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/namibia"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":11.2077806904171,"display":"11.2 / 100k","year":"2021","score":42,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":1.7,"display":"1.7%","year":"2014","score":96,"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":22,"display":"22.0 / 100k","year":"2021","score":38,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":75.2334628,"display":"75/100","year":"2024","score":75,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":62.6073548,"display":"63/100","year":"2024","score":63,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":50.4157905,"display":"50/100","year":"2024","score":50,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":53.2721077,"display":"53/100","year":"2024","score":53,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":56.9904385,"display":"57/100","year":"2024","score":57,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":62.7395218,"display":"63/100","year":"2024","score":63,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":53009,"display":"53k residents","year":null,"score":90,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0,"display":"0.00 / 100k","year":"2024","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":11,"display":"11.0%","year":"2017","score":74,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":29,"display":"US AQI 29 · Good","year":null,"score":93,"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":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":27,"display":"27 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2009","score":80,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":37,"display":"July: highs ~37°C · high heat, damaging winds","year":null,"score":50,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":1,"display":"1 active alert · Wildfire (green)","year":null,"score":96,"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"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":67,"display":"67 / 100 (Cautiously positive)","year":null,"score":67,"source":"City Web Research"}],"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":[{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Namibia","distanceKm":253}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes, with sensible precautions — Swakopmund is safer than many Namibian cities, but petty theft and occasional armed robbery require careful vigilance.","summary":"Swakopmund is generally considered one of Namibia's safest coastal destinations with a dedicated Tourist Protection Unit and relatively low violent-crime rates compared to Windhoek. However, the composite safety index of 63/100 (MODERATE) reflects real concerns: petty theft and pickpocketing are common in tourist areas, armed robberies have targeted visitors, and solo travel at night carries elevated risk.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Armed robbery of tourists is documented (Jan 2026); risk is highest in isolated areas and at night, but considerably lower in the town center during daylight."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in busy tourist areas, markets, and beaches, especially at night; keep valuables secured and out of sight."},"safeAreas":["Town Center (Historic)","Strand (Waterfront)","Klein Windhoek"],"avoidAreas":["DRC Informal Settlement (petty crime and robbery)","Isolated Beach Areas outside town (poor infrastructure and visibility)"],"scams":["Taxi overcharging or unsafe practices — use only hotel-arranged or licensed taxis","Street and accommodation scams targeting tourists; verify bookings and contact details independently","Tour and activity scams; book through reputable operators or your hotel","Distraction theft — strangers approach asking for the time or directions while accomplices steal valuables"],"zones":[{"name":"Town Center (Historic)","level":"safe","note":"German colonial heart; museums, markets, main attractions; well-patrolled with foot traffic and lighting—safest for day and evening"},{"name":"Strand (Waterfront)","level":"safe","note":"Atlantic coastal strip in town; popular with tourists; good visibility and infrastructure during daylight hours"},{"name":"Klein Windhoek","level":"safe","note":"Upmarket residential; quiet, good security, guesthouses; low crime; safe day and evening"},{"name":"Vineta","level":"caution","note":"Mixed residential and commercial; shops, restaurants; safe by day but limited lighting at night—use standard urban caution after dark"},{"name":"Sam Nujoma Avenue","level":"caution","note":"Main commercial corridor; busy daytime foot traffic but watch for pickpockets and petty theft, especially around ATMs"},{"name":"Residential Areas (Eastern)","level":"caution","note":"Quieter residential neighborhoods; safe during daylight but poor lighting at night; avoid solo walks after dark"},{"name":"DRC Informal Settlement","level":"avoid","note":"Lower-income residential area; higher risk of petty crime and robbery; travelers should not enter, especially after dark"},{"name":"Isolated Beach Areas (Outside Town)","level":"avoid","note":"Remote stretches beyond the Strand; limited visibility, poor infrastructure, minimal help; avoid alone and especially after dark"}]}}