Overview of Risks and Other Dangers

Africa

North Africa

In the midst of socio-political change, North Africa presents security challenges. While not always alarmist, the current situation in Egypt and locally in Algeria requires some attention (Libya remains best avoided). Only Morocco is relatively calm, along with Tunisia, which is gradually regaining its "tranquility."

Sub-Saharan Africa

This may be the most problematic region for travelers. Numerous diseases of all kinds are already widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa. Added to this, many countries face an insecure climate, linked to both crime and socio-political issues, which means many regions are strongly discouraged or even off-limits to visitors. In short, more than anywhere else, caution is essential at all levels...

Southern Africa

Overall, while basic precautions are necessary, this part of the continent presents far fewer health risks than the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa. In terms of nature, it’s the presence of desert areas (the Namib Desert and others) that can pose problems if you venture into them without proper preparation.

However, crime and delinquency remain the major issues in the region, and no country is truly spared—South Africa in particular. So, it’s more than useful to be cautious and follow basic safety practices to minimize risks.

Indian Ocean

While Mauritius, Réunion, the Seychelles, and to some extent Mayotte pose no difficulties, the situation in Madagascar and the Comoros is entirely different. There, precautions are necessary regarding health (dengue, malaria, etc.) and security due to crime (Madagascar) or latent internal conflicts (Madagascar and, to a lesser extent, the Comoros).

Americas

North America

The situation in North America is quite similar to that in Europe. The only difference is that natural risks or those linked to crime may be slightly more significant (and violent) than on the other side of the Atlantic...

Central America

While Central America isn’t exactly a high-risk zone, it does require some precautions.

In terms of health, dengue, malaria, and hepatitis are present, but the risk of contamination is low if you take the usual precautions. In another category, hurricanes (east coast), floods, earthquakes, and active volcanoes are also part of the "landscape."

But of all these issues, crime and delinquency remain the (major) problem in countries like Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, or El Salvador. As a result, this is what you’ll need to watch out for during your trip—without falling into paranoia, though.

Caribbean

The Caribbean region (except for Haiti, which is in a particular situation) doesn’t present many dangers for travelers.

With a minimum of precautions and common sense, you can easily avoid the few health or crime issues that affect some islands. At most, the frequent hurricanes during the season can be the most annoying (just follow the authorities’ recommendations), especially if you’re traveling by boat.

South America

There’s a clear divide: on one side, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, which have situations broadly similar to Europe, and on the other, countries that are far less peaceful and require some precautions.

In terms of health, malaria and dengue are widespread in the Amazon regions, while at high altitudes in the Andes, altitude sickness can be an issue. In terms of nature, the entire Andean range is a seismic zone, and flood risks are present across much of the continent.

But beyond that, crime and, locally, socio-political conflicts can make life difficult for travelers. Theft, muggings, assaults, and various scams are fairly common in Andean countries or cities like Rio or Caracas. Add to that recurring internal political tensions (Bolivia, Venezuela), neighborhood conflicts (Colombia and its neighbors), or even the presence of various movements (Colombia, Peru), and it’s clear that some caution is needed in your travels and behavior...

Asia

Far East

Traveling in the Far East doesn’t involve many risks. The only potential issues are natural hazards in Japan (typhoons and especially earthquakes), as well as the recurring tensions between the two Koreas.

China

Beyond cultural differences, travelers may face some health risks if venturing off the beaten path, as well as natural hazards in various parts of the country (floods, earthquakes, etc.). Additionally, visiting Tibet may come with constraints depending on the current situation.

Southeast Asia

If there’s one region where risks vary widely, it’s Southeast Asia. Depending on the location, health issues, natural hazards, or security concerns can differ drastically—from one extreme to the other or everything in between!

It’s therefore wise to always gather information, no matter where you’re visiting or what journey you’re planning, and once there, to take basic precautions for both health and safety.

India and Neighbors

Beyond the cultural shock, this isn’t always the easiest region to travel in, especially for beginners. So, here too, it’s best to gather information and take all necessary health and safety precautions.

Central Asia

While Central Asia doesn’t pose many health risks, venturing off the beaten path in sparsely populated areas requires some preparation. Moreover, beyond Afghanistan, where the situation is well-known, parts of Central Asia also regularly face violent socio-political unrest and deadly attacks. In short, some prior research and precautions will always be useful for a trip in the region.

Europe

Logically, Europe is the region with the fewest problems for travelers: no particular health risks, crime that is very real but rarely affects visitors, natural hazards (earthquakes, floods, storms, etc.) that exist but on a smaller scale than in many other places, and political (outside parts of Ukraine) or terrorist risks that Europe may face but are also less significant.

Middle East

While the region doesn’t pose many problems in terms of natural or health risks (basic precautions are sufficient), the same can’t be said for security.

Crime in the Middle East isn’t high (quite the opposite). However, political issues and terrorism, along with possible spillovers from the war in Syria, remain the main concerns for authorities in several countries in the region. It’s therefore wise to avoid certain areas when traveling in this part of the world and, above all, to always stay informed about the current situation, no matter where you plan to go.

Pacific

Except for Papua New Guinea, which requires some health and safety precautions, the Pacific region is relatively peaceful for travelers. At most, you’ll need to watch out for natural hazards if you venture off the beaten path: desert regions (and unfriendly creatures) in Australia, seismic zones in New Zealand, active volcanoes on some islands, and cyclones in part of the region from September to December.