The US Department of State has recently begun assigning every country a travel advisory level (1-4) to help label the safest countries in the world. We've taken these level 1, "exercise normal precautions," countries and combined them with the Global Peace Index from 2017 to create a list of the best and safest countries to visit this year.

The Global Peace Index is a comprehensive evaluation of each country's level of militarisation, domestic/international conflict levels, and societal safety and security. The "State of Peace" for these countries all ranked as "Very High" or "High" on the Global Peace Index for 2017 .

Andrew,

I'll buy that. I always have felt comfortable in Zambia.

Mark

I can wholeheartedly agree Andrew. We drove up to Lukuklu during October entering at Wenela border post and felt safe every second of our fishing trip. The Zambians are truly some of the most friendly people in all off Africa!

Canada not in the top ten safe countries to visit?
joe

quote:

Originally posted by Joe-S:
Canada not in the top ten safe countries to visit?
joe

Too many Canadians. They get hopped up on Maple Syrup and Eh you to death.

Frank,

Your last really gave me a chuckle. THX!

Mark

That’s right eh
Joe

My last two safaris have been in Zambia as well, with Andrew.

My next one? In Zambia with Andrew!

Been to Zimbabwe twice. That's enough for me.

Somehow, I don't feel the 'new' government is going to change much in Zim, but for their sake, and hunters the world over, I hope I'm wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by Joe-S:
Canada not in the top ten safe countries to visit?
joe

How the hell can you expect to a place with -31 degrees to be safe??

I am in Smithers and I feel I might freeze to death any minute!

Granted, Costa Rica isnt nearly as bad as its other Central American neighbors..

But I think its a stretch to consider it one of the top 10 safest places on the planet to visit..

Perhaps if you go STRAIGHT to one of the tourist resort areas, and never touch down in San Jose.. Or go there only to vacation, and not on business, etc..

The US State Departments Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) certainly didnt give Costa Rica great marks in the area of security.. and even assessed San Jose as a HIGH THREAT area for crime..

The murder and drug crime rates are well above what most would consider "average" or acceptable as well..

https://www.osac.gov/pages/Con...tails.aspx?cid=21696

I spend a good bit of time in Central America, and have been traveling the region consistently since the early 90's.. I was surprised to see Costa Rica on the list..

The other countries listed seem pretty reasonable and believable..


All that said.. the worst streets in San Jose are still preferable to some neighborhoods in Detroit, Chicago, Memphis, and DC that I have been in..

quote:

I'll buy that. I always have felt comfortable in Zambia.

Times have certainly changed,

I wonder if houses are still being built with customary "safe rooms" with shooting ports.

I also wonder if the "compound" in Lusaka still in operation - if I recall curfew kicked in at 9 or 10pm for the local populace and a fair amount of shooting could be heard later on.

Yeh, and TZ should have been on the list too, right fulvio?

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
Yeh, and TZ should have been on the list too, right fulvio?

Jerry,

What I stated about Zambia is a fact, not fiction and maybe some of the old hands who lived in Zambia in the 80's may chime in.

Zambia today is apparently a very enticing place.

TZ must have given you a bad trip - I wonder why.

Zambia.....where's that? I hope to go there someday????

I too have thought Zambia very safe, well, except when driving to Tondwa. That road was a hazard in itself... but supposedly it’s better now, so Zambia moved up!

That makes sense to me, because ne'er-do-wells know that Andrew protects his turf. He's the Chuck Norris of Zambia :-)

When Mugabe heard Andrew was going to visit Zim, he simply resigned and retired

quote:

Originally posted by boarkiller:
When Mugabe heard Andrew was going to visit Zim, he simply resigned and retired

.....................................................................

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

I'll buy that. I always have felt comfortable in Zambia.

Times have certainly changed,

I wonder if houses are still being built with customary "safe rooms" with shooting ports.

I also wonder if the "compound" in Lusaka still in operation - if I recall curfew kicked in at 9 or 10pm for the local populace and a fair amount of shooting could be heard later on.

any days in 80s and 90s in lusaka was a paradise day if you compared with bangui in those days ... i do not know for today but i will rely on the local guys ...

"Safe" is largely a combination of situational awareness and common sense. Zambia is great. So is Zimbabwe. Even during the coup. It's been my experience that US embassies tend to over-react.

Zambia....hunted there many times, even with the infamous Baldry. Its a wonderful place for a safari!!!

I very much enjoyed my time in Zambia, in the bush and also in Lusaka. Hope to go back soon.