{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/zimbabwe/bulawayo","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T17:23:50.882Z","place":{"city":"Bulawayo","country":"Zimbabwe","countryCode":"ZW","lat":-20.15,"lon":28.58333},"safety":{"score":54,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":47,"confidence":0.89,"caps":[],"databaseScore":52,"travellerSentiment":{"score":62,"label":"Mixed—safe by day, cautious at night","summary":"Travelers report feeling reasonably safe during daylight (68/100), but confidence drops significantly after dark (32/100). Most visitor experiences are positive when standard precautions are followed; guides and locals note Bulawayo's more relaxed atmosphere compared to Harare.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":52,"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":54,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":62,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":53,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":64,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-07-15T08:15:29Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/zimbabwe"},{"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/zimbabwe"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":6.75833125350771,"display":"6.8 / 100k","year":"2022","score":58,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":1.4,"display":"1.4%","year":"2016","score":97,"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":29.9,"display":"29.9 / 100k","year":"2021","score":24,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":48.5183369,"display":"49/100","year":"2024","score":49,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":36.1235607,"display":"36/100","year":"2024","score":36,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":22.5194258,"display":"23/100","year":"2024","score":23,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":32.136983,"display":"32/100","year":"2024","score":32,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":36.2828944,"display":"36/100","year":"2024","score":36,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":34.8037239,"display":"35/100","year":"2024","score":35,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":665952,"display":"666k residents","year":null,"score":77,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":82.78,"display":"82.8%","year":"2019","score":87,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"violence_victimization","label":"Physical assault (past year)","value":5.89,"display":"5.9%","year":"2019","score":72,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0,"display":"0.00 / 100k","year":"2023","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":25,"display":"25.0%","year":"2017","score":50,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":53,"display":"US AQI 53 · Moderate","year":null,"score":89,"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":19.472995946,"display":"19 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2014","score":65,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":24,"display":"July: highs ~24°C · strong winds","year":null,"score":82,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts","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"},{"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":52,"display":"52 / 100 (Mixed—safe by day, cautious at night)","year":null,"score":52,"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":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Moderately safe for cautious travelers; Bulawayo is one of Zimbabwe's safer cities, but petty crime is a real concern and nighttime safety requires extra care.","summary":"Bulawayo ranks as one of Zimbabwe's safer cities for visitors, with violent crime against tourists rare, but petty theft (pickpocketing, bag-snatching) in crowded areas is a moderate concern. Recent 2026 armed robberies have targeted financial outlets and taxi drivers rather than tourists. The database profile shows 51/100 composite safety—daytime is generally safe, but nighttime risk is significantly higher.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Armed robberies targeting businesses and taxi drivers are documented in 2026; mugging/robbery risk to tourists is low-to-moderate in tourist areas but higher in peripheral neighborhoods and after dark."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are the primary theft concerns; police report increased incidents in Central areas. Hotspots: City Centre, markets, bus terminals, crowded public transport, and taxi ranks."},"safeAreas":["Khumalo","Thorngrove","Ascot"],"avoidAreas":["Makokoba (higher crime rates; locals advise against visiting)"],"scams":["Friendship mugging: strangers befriend tourists then rob them once trust is gained","Fake currency exchange and informal money changers offering unfavorable rates","Unlicensed taxi drivers and fake tour guides","ATM/card fraud and overpayment schemes due to unreliable electronic payment infrastructure"],"zones":[{"name":"City Centre","level":"caution","note":"Tourist hub; safe during daylight with standard precautions, but pickpocketing risk in crowds; avoid after dark"},{"name":"Makokoba","level":"avoid","note":"Higher crime rates; locals advise visitors to avoid this area"},{"name":"Suburbs","level":"caution","note":"Nightlife and bar district; acceptable for evening outings with a group, avoid solo night walks"},{"name":"Khumalo","level":"safe","note":"South Bulawayo residential; quieter and safer for visitors"},{"name":"Thorngrove","level":"safe","note":"Residential neighborhood; quiet and low-crime"},{"name":"Entumbane","level":"caution","note":"Mixed residential; moderate risk, especially after dark"},{"name":"Ascot","level":"safe","note":"Quieter residential area; generally safe for visitors"}]}}