There is a lot of thrill in an African visit, be it the first or second time, and the cleanest cities in Africa are major tourist pullers. Cleanliness enhances the continent’s wildlife spectacles, breathtaking scenery, and luxury accommodation, which are set up in cities and deep in the jungle. Rationally, you will barely visit a place where garbage and all sorts of dirt are a phenomenon. A clean environment projects an allure of comfort and responsibility. You feel safe in it, and nothing matters more than a visitor’s ultimate sense of safety.
Their smart planning is a major turn-on. Respective governments run community-led programmes to complement efforts by their environmental ministries to keep these cities clean. Kigali and Windhoek are perfect examples of how powerful such initiatives are.
Table of Contents
Which are the Cleanest Cities in Africa?
With this in mind, African governments are keen on keeping their cities immaculately clean, not just for tourists but for their people too. Therefore, you should add these top 10 cleanest cities in Africa.
1. Kigali, Rwanda

Kigali in Rwanda. Photo by YouTube
Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, is the cleanest city in Africa. The city is clean because of the contributions of the government and the citizens. The government has a huge budget allocation to ensure the city’s cleaning is done effectively. Major cleaning companies in this East African city operate for 24 hours. The city has a monthly national clean-up day known as Umuganda, during which everyone—from school-going children to government officials—actively participates. Umuganda is also a way to promote unity among the people, especially after the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.
2. Cape Town, South Africa

A section of Cape Town’s Smart city. Photo/Rabie Property Group
Cape Town is among the top 10 cleanest cities in Africa. It is one of the most scenic towns you will ever be in Africa. Cape Town has an impeccable solid waste management system. Besides, the city has maintained its cleanliness over the years due to efforts from the government and the citizens.
3. Tunis

El Jem Amphitheatre. Photo/ Kami and the Rest of the World.
Tunis is the capital city of Tunisia. It is the largest city in Tunisia and the cleanest in North Africa. The city council mainly maintains the cleanliness in the capital. There are community simulation programs for the use of electric vehicles and bicycles, which minimise greenhouse gas emissions here.
4. Port Louis

Mauritius Capital city Port Louis. Photo/Britannica
Port Louis is the largest capital city in Mauritius and has a place among the cleanest cities in Africa. Breathtaking waterfalls dot the capital. The Municipal City Council handles Port Louis’ cleanliness. The government releases significant money every year to maintain Port Louis’s cleanliness. Tropical plants around the city contribute heavily to its immaculate nature.
5. Johannesburg

Beautiful Johannesburg city. Photo/Unsplash
Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, ranks among the cleanest cities on the continent. The mayor of Johannesburg leads numerous public cleaning activities to drive awareness among the people. The city has a masterful recycling program, which contributes to its cleanliness.
6. Nairobi, Kenya

The iconic Hilton Hotel in Nairobi. Photo/Wikimedia
Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya. It is ranked as the greenest city in Africa and among the top 10 cleanest cities in Africa. Most of the people in Nairobi play a role in ensuring that the city is clean. Recycling and composting waste are some of the sound solid waste management practices they undertake.
7. Kumasi, Ghana

Kumasi in Ghana still maintains its allure of cleanliness, even in its market square,e where there are old and historical buildings. Photo/Blackpast.org
Kumasi is located in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The city has several social cleaning organisations, ensuring it keeps its prestige as a clean city. Moreover, the status quo challenge between Accra and Kumasi makes the latter work extra hard to gain a foothold.
8. Gaborone

Gaborone. Photo/Hotelscombined
Gaborone is one of the most peaceful and cleanest cities in Africa. There is real work done in Gaborone regarding garbage disposal. The municipal council ensures the city all garbage is collected in good time. There is also a recycling plant which handles waste loads.
9. Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam city in Tanzania. Photo/Safari Bokings
Dar es Salaam is the largest and cleanest city in Tanzania. The government plays a key role in ensuring the city’s environmental conditions are in order. Organisations like Water.org help in the sanitation of the city.
10. Windhoek

Windhoek in Namibia is one of the cleanest cities in Africa. Photo/Tmbuktu Travel
Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city, is among the cleanest cities in its region. The city is very innovative in seeking ways of maintaining its cleanliness.
Which Country is the Cleanest in Africa in 2022?
Rwanda is the cleanest country in Africa. The East African country has been on top of the list for several years. Research done by Yale University based on the Environmental Performance Index revealed that Rwanda was the leading African country with an EPI score of 46.7%.
What is the Nicest City in Africa?
Cape Town is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The South African city has a mix of natural beauty and a pleasant atmosphere, which excites visitors. The city has stylish hotels and restaurants, and numerous cultural attractions.
Which Country is the Neatest in Africa?
Rwanda is the neatest country in Africa due to its ambitious environmental goal of increasing forest cover to 30% of the total land area. The government has hugely invested in tree planting and reforestation.

