{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/zambia/ndola","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T17:25:25.461Z","place":{"city":"Ndola","country":"Zambia","countryCode":"ZM","lat":-12.95867,"lon":28.63659},"safety":{"score":64,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":63,"confidence":0.85,"caps":[],"databaseScore":64,"travellerSentiment":{"score":66,"label":"Cautiously positive with strong nighttime concerns","summary":"Travelers report Ndola is workable for daytime business and tourism, but express concern about nighttime safety and limited amenities compared to larger cities. Solo female travelers are specifically cautioned against after-dark solo activities. Some regional backpackers have found Zambia 'super safe,' but many Ndola residents aspire to relocate to Lusaka for better services.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":65,"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":62,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":66,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":97,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":64,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":63,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-06-01T13:58:33Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/zambia"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":1,"label":"Exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/zambia"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":5.20150860823759,"display":"5.2 / 100k","year":"2015","score":65,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":0.6,"display":"0.6%","year":"2019","score":100,"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":17.1,"display":"17.1 / 100k","year":"2021","score":48,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":64.1728259,"display":"64/100","year":"2024","score":64,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":47.3064578,"display":"47/100","year":"2024","score":47,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":38.6078994,"display":"39/100","year":"2024","score":39,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":40.9757367,"display":"41/100","year":"2024","score":41,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":48.2283671,"display":"48/100","year":"2024","score":48,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":49.7157692,"display":"50/100","year":"2024","score":50,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":627503,"display":"628k residents","year":null,"score":77,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.78,"display":"0.78 / 100k","year":"2023","score":81,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":18,"display":"18.0%","year":"2017","score":62,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":58,"display":"US AQI 58 · Moderate","year":null,"score":86,"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":20,"display":"20 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2010","score":65,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":29,"display":"July: highs ~29°C · no weather extremes","year":null,"score":100,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":16,"display":"16 active alerts · Wildfire (green)","year":null,"score":29,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":1,"display":"Level 1 — Exercise normal security precautions (with regional advisories)","year":null,"score":97,"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":65,"display":"65 / 100 (Cautiously positive with strong nighttime concerns)","year":null,"score":65,"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 Zambia","distanceKm":131},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in The Democratic Republic of Congo","distanceKm":139},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":141},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":180},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":183},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":189},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":193},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":193},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":325},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":329},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":341},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":366},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":379},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":391},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":409},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Zambia","distanceKm":429}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Moderately safe for daytime visitors with strict nighttime caution — Ndola requires careful planning around darkness but is manageable for business and tourism.","summary":"Ndola's composite safety score of 64/100 (moderate risk) reflects world-average violent crime but weak institutions (rule of law 47/100, corruption 39/100). Terrorism is not a concern. The real hazard is nighttime: carjacking, mugging, and robbery spike after dark. Daytime travel in populated areas is generally safe; all evening activity must be pre-arranged and completed before sunset.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Carjacking and mugging documented after dark, especially on isolated routes. Armed street crime exists. Daytime robbery in busy areas is lower-probability, but cash exposure and isolation increase risk sharply."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Bag-snatching and pickpocketing in crowded markets, public transport, and tourist sites are real risks; no Ndola-specific theft statistics, but regional patterns and travel warnings suggest moderate threat."},"safeAreas":["Ndola City Centre","Dola Hills","Airport Corridor"],"avoidAreas":["Isolated locations after dark (few streetlights, robbery and carjacking risk)","Street money-changers, especially groups of men (organized scams; use banks instead)","Traveling alone at night citywide (high robbery and assault risk)"],"scams":["Street money-changer scams — avoid groups of men offering exchange rates; use banks only","Taxi overcharging — agree on fares upfront or use hotel-arranged transport; never hail taxis at night","Bar/hospitality disputes — confirm prices and terms before consuming drinks or meals"],"zones":[{"name":"Ndola City Centre","level":"safe","note":"Commercial district with shops, offices, restaurants; regular daytime foot traffic; most tourist facilities"},{"name":"Dola Hills","level":"safe","note":"Upscale residential; gated properties with security; preferred for visitor lodging"},{"name":"Mindolo","level":"caution","note":"Residential area; safe in daylight but avoid walking alone after dark (poor streetlighting)"},{"name":"Kwacha","level":"caution","note":"Residential neighborhood; moderate theft and robbery risk; stay alert by day, avoid at night"},{"name":"Lubwa","level":"caution","note":"Outlying residential; few streetlights; carjacking risk for night driving; daytime travel with awareness acceptable"},{"name":"Airport Corridor","level":"safe","note":"Well-traveled transport route with regular traffic; established taxi services; major hub"}]}}