Alexandra, South Africa

It's a hard reality in Alexandra, one of the poorest urban areas in South Africa with an estimated 20,000 informal dwellings or "shacks" alongside its original houses. The township's population has grown from 30,000 in 1916 to an unspecified but surely much larger number today, creating a persistent bureaucratic headache around infrastructure and services. Violent protests and uprisings over the decades, including the deadly "Alex Six Days" in 1986, have also left a legacy of unrest. Unless you're prepared to navigate these challenges, Alexandra may not be the best fit.