This travel guide provides you with plenty of tips on how to plan your perfect holidays in Africa. The sunny continent is famous for being the Cradle of Humankind but also for its natural beauty, the Congo’s tropical rainforest and the steamy Sahara Desert. The truth is that Africa is where you go on Safari, enjoy the beach, listen to local music or simply wander around the markets and bazaars.
African continent is the Cradle of Humankind, the place of the origin of humans. Countries like Ethiopia, South Africa, and Morocco are considered the birthplace of modern humans. That’s where the first homo sapiens emerged around 300,000 years ago while the Great Apes are dated to roughly 7 million years ago.
Table of Contents
What to Visit in Africa
Egypt 
Morocco
Africa is the second largest continent covering around 30,370,000 square km with the population reaching over 1,3 billion people. In fact, it measures about 8,000 km from the north to the south and about 7,400 km from the east to the west. Africa is cut almost equally in half by the Equator.
The African scenery varies from the deserts in the north (Sahara) and in the south (Namib and Kalahari), followed by the savanna plains on both sides (grassland with open canopy trees in Serengeti, Tanzania) and the dense jungle wrapping the Equator in the middle. The Congo rainforest is also the largest one in the world.
Other Things to See in Africa
Because Africa is enormous, it’s good to make the plan and choose the places you wish to visit. Generally, the most popular parts are the Norther Africa (Morocco, Egypt), the Eastern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the islands) and Southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe).
When travelling to Africa, it’s worth exploring the Sahara Desert (the world’s largest) but also the Namib and Kalahari Deserts. If you prefer to stay on the water, then the Nile River Cruise, which is the world’s longest river running for 6,650 km from Burundi to Egypt, is the place to book.
Hiking the Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (5,895 m) and seeing the Lake Assal in Djibouti which is, after the Dead Sea, the second lowest place on Earth, is so much fun. The other famous spot for water adventures in Africa is the Lake Victoria which is divided between three countries (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania). Generally, the sun seekers find their paradise on the beaches of Mauritius, Seychelles, Zanzibar or Madagascar.
When in the area, cities such as Cairo (true reflection of the Ancient Egypt), Cape Town (with Table Mountains and the Cape of Good Hope) and Marrakesh (with its medina souks and lively bazaars) are the must see attractions.
Those looking to visit the most impressive sites all over Africa should visit Axum (the ancient capital of Ethiopia), Dogon Country in Mali and its secluded cliff villages, Luxor and the Valley of Kings in Egypt, plus the archaeological site of Leptis Magna in Libya.
If you’re after some serious adventure, you must go on Safari at the Kruger National Park in South Africa or the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Driving around the most popular African savannas is such a good way of watching the Great Migration of animals. Plus, seeing the magic of the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe is one of the most impressive experience.
If trekking is your thing, you should visit the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Hiking through the Congo rainforest and being surrounded by the volcanic scenery is probably the best way to see the local gorillas. Going on the trip around the Great Rift Valley which is roughly 7,000 km long and 35 million years old, should also be high on your bucket list.
Don’t leave Africa without seeing:
- Sahara, Namib Deserts
- Nile River Cruise, Luxor
- Cairo and Pyramids of Giza
- Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania
- Lake Assal, Lake Victoria
- Mauritius, Seychelles – beach paradise
- Cairo, Cape Town, Marrakesh
- Ancient Axum in Ethiopia
- Dogon Country with cliff villages
- Leptis Magna – archaeological site
- Kruger NP – safari, Great Migration
- Serengeti NP – savanna plains
- Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
- Volcanoes NP – trekking, gorrillas
- Congo rainforest – hiking the volcanoes
- Great Rift Valley – 4×4 trip
Hiking in Africa
Mountains in Africa
The highest peak in Africa Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) which is also an active volcano in Tanzania. This African mountain has three volcanic cones Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira, of which Kibo is the tallest one. There are many mountains in Africa and the major ones include:
- Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
- Mount Kenya (Kenya)
- Aberdare Range (Kenya)
- Cherangani Hills (Kenya)
- Rwenzori (DR Congo, Uganda)
- Virunga (DR Congo, Uganda)
- Mitumba (DR Congo)
- Mount Meru (Tanzania)
- Crater Highlands (Tanzania)
- Ethiopian Highlands
- Arisi (Ethiopia)
- Tigray (Ethiopia)
- Gurage (Ethiopia)
- Mount Elgon (Uganda)
- Kollo Massif (Ethiopia)
- Lasta Massif (Ethiopia)
- Mount Gugu (Ethiopia)
- Semien, Bale (Ethiopia)
- Balta Mountains (Ethiopia)
- Salale Mountains (Ethiopia)
- Choqa Mountains (Ethiopia)
- High Atlas (Morocco)
- Cameroon Line (Cameroon)
- Tenerife (Canary Islands)
- Drakensberg (Lesotho)
The Hiking Trails in Africa
The best hiking trails in Africa are the Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mount Kenya, Fish River Hiking Trail in Namibia, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Ol Doinyo Lengai in Tanzania, Danakil Depression in Ethiopia, Simien National Park in Ethiopia, Mount Olokwe and Longonot in Kenya, Mount Nyiragongo in DR Congo, Mount Elgon in Uganda, Sentinel Peak Hike and Robberg Peninsula in South Africa, Table Mountains in SA, Otter Trail in South Africa, Livingstonia and Mount Mulanje in Malawi, Ameln Valley in Morocco, Mount Toubkal & the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.
Beaches in Africa
Islands in Africa
Africa is surrounded by waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The African coastline is about 30,500 km long, which is shorter than Europe. It’s because there are many inlets, big bays and large gulfs along the African coast. The most beautiful islands in Africa are Mauritius, Seychelles, Réunion, Sal in Cape Verde, Mohéli in Comoros, Zanzibar, São Tomé and Príncipe and Madagascar which is the biggest of all.
Read more: The Most Beautiful Islands in Africa
Where to Stay in Africa
If you plan to spend your holidays in Africa, there are five main regions to choose from: the East, West, Central, South and the North Africa. The continent is home to 54 countries, 8 territories and 2 independence states.
| East Africa | Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, African Islands (Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles, Reunion, Mayotte) |
| West Africa | Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Ivory Cost, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea – Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo |
| Central Africa | Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sao Tome, Principe, South Sudan |
| North Africa | Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Western Sahara, (Ceuta, Melilla, Canary Islands and Madeira – Spanish territory) |
| South Africa | Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
Most recommended hotels in Africa:
- Riad Spice in Marrakech
- Riad Dar Awil in Essaouira
- Dar Fes Tresor in Fes
- Dar Swiar in Chefchaouen
- Marriott Mena House in Cairo
- New Grand Royal Hotel in Cairo
- Hayat Pyramids View Hotel in Giza
- Best View Pyramids Hotel in Giza
- Steigenberger Resort Achti in Luxor
- Aurora Oriental Resort in Sharm el Sheikh
- Maritim Jolie Ville Resort & Casino in Sharm el Sheikh
- Klein’s Camp in Tanzania
- Sasaab Lodge in Kenya
- Giraffe Manor in Kenya
- Green & Blue Ocean Lodge in Zanzibar
- Zuri Zanzibar
What to Eat in Africa
By all means, the African cuisine is as diverse as the continent itself. It’s certainly because the continent is deeply steeped in history and colonial influence. What they use in every day cooking is the combination of cereal grains, root vegetables, locally available fruit, milk, rice, fish and grilled meat. The truth is, Africans love biriyanis, lentils, tagines, stews and aromatic curries, all well spiced. If you ever find yourself in one of those countries, don’t leave without tasting:
- Briks in Tunisia
- Thieboudienne in Senegal
- Tajine in Morocco
- Ugali in Kenya
- Injera, Kifto, Beyenatu in Ethiopia
- Puff – Puff in Central Africa
- Matapa in Mozambique
- Maboké in The Republic Of The Congo
- Mchicha in Tanzania
- Romazava in Madagascar
- Nsima in Malawi
- Tiguadege Na in Mali
- Couscous Bil-Bosla in Lybia
- Pap-Pap in Lesotho
- Domoda in Gambia
- Dholl Puri in Mauritius
- Jollof Rice in Nigeria
- Bunny Chow, Chakalaka in South Africa
- Sadza in Zimbabwe
- Okra Soup – Cameroon
- Alloco – Cote d’Ivoire
- Chakhchoukha in Algeria
- Koshary, Ful Medames – Egypt
- Posho or Kawunga in Uganda
- Waakye in Ghana
- Bariis Ishkukaris in Somalia
- Curried Gazelle in Zambia
- Brochettes in Rwanda
- Pap in Namibia
- Seswaa in Bostwana
- Nyembwe Chicken in Gabon
- Octopus Curry in Seychelles
How to Get Around Africa
If you want to visit many places such as Northern, Southern and Eastern Africa as they are the most popular, you should book flights. If you go for the low budget airlines, those should be checked for the safety standards on the EU Commission on Air Safety website.
The best option to travel in the North Africa is either to use the trains or rent a car (Morocco, Egypt where flying is also recommended). If you want to visit the Eastern and Southern Africa, the cheapest option is taking the public buses. But, there’s a lot of planning and doing yourself involved. If you don’t want the hassle and you’re willing to pay extra, you can book the luxury trains or the overland truck trips from the reputable tour companies. Within those areas, the public train are rare, but there’s a few worth checking if you don’t mind researching.
Basically, renting the car in Africa is not recommended, except for Morocco and South Africa where it’s cheap. It’s because it seems dangerous, plus the roads get washed out in the rainy season. If you fancy a bit more of luxury, you can rent 4×4 (ideally with the driver), but it’s going to cost extra.
If you wish visit the Africa from the water should highly consider cruising. For the best experience, try exploring the rivers of Nile, Congo, Chobe, Zambezi, Senegal, Zambezi and the lakes of Malawi, Assal, Victoria and of course, the Victoria Falls. If you’re willing to spend more money, there are many companies who specialise in that.
There are many reliable airlines you can use to travel around Africa. However, you should always consider the airline safety when flying in Africa. Although SAA, Ethiopian Airlines, & Kenya Airways, Royal Air Maroc and Egypt Air, they all meet EU & FAA safety standards, others might not and should be checked for the security standards. This can be done on the EU Commission on Air Safety website: ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/air/safety/air-ban/search_en
The airlines in Africa:
- South African Airways
- Kenya Airways
- Ethiopian Airlines
- Royal Air Maroc (Morocco)
- Egypt Air
- TAAG Angola Airlines (S/Cent Africa)
- Arik Air (Nigeria)
- Air Burkina (West Africa)
- Air Austral (Indian Ocean)
- Air Mauritius (Indian Ocean)
- Tunisair (North Africa)
- Air Algérie (North and West Africa)
- Mauritania Airlines (West Africa)
Wherever you find plenty of water in Africa, the boats are usually at your service. The ferries and boats are the main mean of transport in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where there are hardly no roads, but many rivers. Generally, if you love being on water, in Africa you can go on the river cruises, canoeing, kayaking, rafting and more.
River Travels in Africa:
- Niger River - small wooden pirogues, 2 people canoe (Mali, Niger, Benin, Nigeria)
- Congo River - large old ferries (Congo, DRC, Central African Republic)
- Congo River - boat or ferry expedition between Kisangani and Kinshasa (DRC)
- Nile River - luxury cruise (Egypt)
- Nile River - kayaking in Uganda
- Chobe River - houseboating cruise (Namibia and Botswana)
- Zambezi River - rafting the Batoka Gorge (Zambia and Zimbabwe)
- Lake Malawi - MV Ilala ship trip between Monkey Bay and Chilumba
- Senegal River - cruise to Mauritania
- Okavango Delta - Mokoro canoeing (Botswana)
- Zambezi River - Canoeing the Lower Zambezi (Zambia)
- Maroantsetra Wetlands - motorboat (Madagascar)
Buses in Africa
If you want to use the public buses in Africa, you'll get the chance to spend more time with locals. They're the most popular way of travelling, because they are cheap, easy to find, but often overloaded and slow. Depending on how far you go, they cost between £2 - £20.
Minivans in Africa
They are also quite popular option to travel around the African countries. The minivans are also cheap and you'll see many people using them. Generally, they are intended for the long distance travels (up to 6 hours) and cost between £0.50 - £15.
Coaches in Africa
If you want more comfort, book the coach. They are much safer than buses, but often harder to find as they don't go to as many places as buses.
Train in Africa
People in Africa are not really keen to use the public trains. So, there isn't many routes and if any, they are short and within one country. The only three countries in Africa with an advanced rail service are Egypt, Morocco and South Africa.
- ONCF - train service in Morocco (oncf.ma/en)
- Kenya Railways - Nairobi to Mombasa (krc.co.ke), booking via email: eastafricashuttles.com, price: £22.
- Kenya Railways - Tanzania (Dar es Salaam) to Zambia (Kapiri Mposhi), (krc.co.ke), price: £34.
- Zimbabwe Railways - Bulawayo to Victoria Falls, overnight train, (nrz.co.zw), (expertafrica.com), price: £11.
- Outeniqua Choo Tjoe, South Africa (outeniquachootjoe.com)
Luxury Train in Africa
There are some private companies who offer the luxury train trips around Africa. It's a comfortable way of travelling around the continent with the luxury en-suite rooms, dining area, lounge, observation car and gift shop available on board. The prices include meals, drinks and excursions, so all is taken care of.
- Rovos Rail - Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Swakopmund in Namibia, other: Cape Town and Pretoria, price: from £1,127 pp.
- Blue Train in South Africa - Cape Town to Victoria Falls, price: from £900 pp.
- Shongololo Express - South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, price: from £3,556 pp.
- Royal Livingstone, Zambia - Livingstone to the Victoria Falls Bridge, £135 pp, contact Expert Africa expertafrica.com.
- Watania - sleeping train from Cairo to Aswan (or Luxor), $120 (£90) for the the single cabin, $80 (£60) for the bed in the double cabin and $10 (£7.50) for the seat only in the train corridor.
Overland Truck in Africa (Overland Safari Tours)
If you're pressed for time and don't want to plan your holidays yourself, you should book an overland truck tour in Africa. There are companies that organise a road trip for a few days as they gather 8 to 30 people and drive them around the main spots around Africa. Because the continent is huge, the Eastern and the Southern Africa are by far the most popular destinations. The accommodation (tens or hotels), food (restaurants or self cooking) and excursion are usually all taken care of. It costs more than planning yourself, but it's without the hassle. You're most likely to pay around £700 - £100 for the 10 day adventure. The company to recommend is Intrepid Travel (intrepidtravel.com).
Renting a car in Africa is not really recommended. The roads, especially the rural ones, are hard to drive in the dry season and flooded during the rainy one. Plus, going outside the main towns, especially at night, is often dangerous as you may find animals blocking your way. It's often cheaper to take the taxi for the short sightseeing or book with the reputable tour company for the longer ones (eg. Safari).
There are some countries you may want to rent the car, as they are considered safer to do so. Those are South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia and Morocco. For all of them, except South Africa and Morocco, the best option is to rent a 4x4.
Renting a car in Africa is quite expensive and same goes for the insurance (except for SA and Morocco). You also have the option to rent the car with the driver, which seems far safer. There are time when the driver is a part of the deal and you have to hire both, the car and the man. Some people buy the car once they arrive in Africa and sell it (usually to the tourists arriving next) when they leave.
The typical charge for renting a car in Africa:
- 2WD - £55 per day
- 4WD - £110 per day
- South Africa - £20 a day
- Morocco - £20 a day
The following companies rent 4WD vehicles in Southern Africa:
- Africamper
- Avis Safari Rentals
- Britz
- Bushlore
- Drive Botswana (offers trips for Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe)
- Safari Drive
- Self Drive Adventures (guide self drive excursions)
Africa Travel Guide – Cost and Budget
How much you spend on your holidays in Africa really depends on your budget preferences and most definitely where you decide to stay. My travel guide is full of tips on how to plan your budget when going to Africa.
East Africa Budget
In East Africa you’re likely to spend around £100 a day. The hotel prices are higher if you choose to stay in Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles or Zanzibar. Those are the islands with the most beautiful beaches. If you decide to head to Tanzania and climb the Mount Kilimanjaro, the nine-day trek will cost you from £1000 to £4000. If you consider booking a safari trip in East Africa from Nairobi in Kenya, the typical prices start from £200 per day.
West Africa Budget
In western African countries you’re likely to spend around £120 per day. Your budget will increase if you decide to stay on the islands of Cape Verde, São Tomé & Príncipe or Ivory Coast. Additionally, climbing the Mount Cameroon will cost around £110 and visiting Mole National Park in Ghana or spending the time on the beaches of Gambia will certainly turn out more expensive.
Central Africa Budget
Traveling to Central Africa is strongly NOT recommended. This part of Africa is politically unstable and there is an ongoing civil war. Despite having plenty of natural resources (uranium, oil, gold, diamonds, cobalt and hydro-power), Central Africa remains the poorest part of the continent.
There is a high level of crime, robbery plus the kidnapping and killing are common. If you, however, decide to travel to Central Africa, your daily budget would be around £230. The rainforest in Congo is worth exploring as it’s known for its gorillas, chimpanzees and elephants.
North Africa Budget
North Africa seems the cheapest to travel and in countries like Morocco, Tunisia or Egypt you shouldn’t spend more than £75 per day. Visiting Sahara Desert or taking a Nile River cruise to see Luxor and the Valley of the Kings are definitely worth it but it will definitely increase your daily budget.
South Africa Budget
The South Africa is where your average daily budget should be around £100. Going on the Safari in SA (from Johannesburg or Cape Town) costs around £225 a day. The Namib Desert is also well worth trekking through. The trip to Victoria Falls at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe is around £120 – £150 on the top of your daily budget.
| Hostel | Hotel | Food | Transport | Attractions | Avg Daily Cost | |
| East Africa | £6-£10 | £40-£60 | £4-£20 | £10 | £25+Safari | £97+Safari |
| West Africa | £10-£15 | £40-£80 | £10-£20 | £15-£20 | £30 | £120 |
| Central Africa | – | £150-£200 | £20 | £4-£10 | £30 | £232 |
| North Africa | £6-£10 | £15-£20 | £20-£25 | £8-£16 | £20-£30 | £75 |
| South Africa | £10 | £25 | £25 | £20 | £5+Safari | £78+Safari |
Africa Travel Guide – Best Time to Visit
Africa lies in all four hemispheres which are the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western one. Some parts of Africa have typical four seasons in a year, others experience the dry and wet seasons.
When to go to East Africa?
Best time to travel to East Africa is during dry winter season between June and September. Those months bring a lot of sunshine and the temperatures between 23°C and 26°C. That’s when you should to go on Safari, watch the Great Migration in Kenya or stay on the beach in Madagascar, Mauritius or Seychelles.
When to go to West Africa?
West Africa should be visited between November and March during dry winter season. Those months bring a nice sunny weather and temperatures between 26°C and 29°C. That’s also when you should visit the Senegal Atlantic coastline, go to the beach and trek to see the Congo wildlife. The shoulder months in West Africa are April to May bringing hot weather in Sahara and humid rain at the seaside.
When to go to Central Africa?
Best time to go Central Africa is during dry season between November and March. Those months bring the temperatures between 33°C and 37°C. Although, the temperatures in Bangui are the highest, there is very little rain what makes exploring the national parks pleasant.
When to go to North Africa?
Best time to travel to North Africa is from September to May. Those months bring a sunny weather and temperatures between 17°C and 28°C. In North Africa the autumn runs from September to October and the spring is from April to May. Those shoulder months are sunny with mild temperatures which are ideal to visit Marrakesh or Fes in Morocco or Canary Islands.
When to go to South Africa?
Best time to go to South Africa is during dry summer season from November to March. During those months you will experience the temperatures between 23°C and 28°C. The summer in South Africa is from December to March and it’s perfect to hit the beach in Cape Town. The autumn in South Africa is from March to May during the wine harvest time. The spring in South Africa runs from September to November and that’s when you enjoy Table Mountain in full bloom.
High Season
- East Africa: Jun to Sep
- West Africa: Nov – Mar
- Central Africa: Jun – Sep
- North Africa: Nov – Mar
- South Africa: Nov – Mar (rain until Dec)
Shoulders Season
- East Africa: Mar-May, Oct
- West Africa: Oct and Mar
- Central Africa: Oct and May
- North A: Apr-May, Sep-Oct
- South Africa: Oct and May
Low Season
- East Africa: Nov-Feb
- West Africa: Jun-Oct
- Central Africa: Nov-Apr
- North Africa: Jun-Aug
- South Africa: Apr-Oct
Africa Travel Guide – Average Monthly Temperatures
The truth is, Africa is the hottest continent on the planet. That’s where you find the Sahara Desert, the largest desert on the Earth, which together with the dry lands, covers around 60% of the land in Africa. The thing to remember is, the daily temperatures in Sahara may be high above 40°C during summer and the same goes for the rest of the continent.
But, it hardly ever gets freezing in Africa, with the exception of the Great Rift Valley, Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria, as well as a few spots in South Africa and Lesotho. For the average temperatures in different parts of Africa, take a look at the table below.
| Avg °C | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| East Africa | 28 | 29 | 30 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 28 |
| West Africa | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 28 | 28 | 29 |
| Central Africa | 33 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 37 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 33 |
| North Africa | 17 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 28 | 31 | 37 | 36 | 31 | 27 | 22 | 18 |
| South Africa (Cape Town Kruger National Park) | 27 30 | 28 30 | 26 30 | 25 27 | 21 25 | 19 24 | 18 23 | 19 26 | 20 29 | 22 29 | 23 32 | 26 30 |
Africa Travel Guide – Average Monthly Precipitation
The fact is that it doesn’t rain a lot in Africa but it’s good to know when it does to avoid being disappointed during your travels.
Wet Season in East Africa
The wet season in East Africa is summer and it lasts from November to May. The wettest month is April when it tends to rain for sixteen days a month. The wet cyclone season on the islands (Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles or Zanzibar) is from January to March so it’s best to be avoided.
Wet Season in West Africa
The rainy season in West Africa is from June to October. That’s when the summer is in full swing bringing high humid temperatures that are unbearable to withstand. The wettest month in West Africa is August with an average 11 days of rainfall a month.
Wet Season in Central Africa
The wet season in Central Africa runs from April to October. The temperatures are hot and constant rain causes a high level of humidity. The wettest month in Central Africa is August when it rains for 17 days a month.
Winter in North Africa
Winter in North Africa is from November to March and that’s when it gets cloudy and wet except for Egypt. The temperatures are still pleasant to be around but it gets cold in places like the High Atlas Mountains with snow sticking until the end of July. The summer in North Africa is from June to August bringing an extremely hot weather.
Wet Season in South Africa
The rainy winter season in South Africa is from June to August. You can expect around 9 days of rainfall a month but the temperatures are still enjoyable. The best time to go on Safari at the Kruger National Park in is between April to October (dry winter months in a different location).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| East Africa | 4 days | 5 days | 9 days | 16 days | 13 days | 5 days | 3 days | 4 days | 4 days | 7 days | 11 days | 5 days |
| West Africa | 0 days | 0 days | 0 days | 0 days | 0 days | 2 days | 6 days | 11 days | 9 days | 4 days | 0 days | 0 days |
| Central Africa | 0 days | 0 days | 1 day | 3 days | 7 days | 10 days | 14 days | 17 days | 12 days | 5 days | 1 day | 0 days |
| North Africa | 5 days | 7 days | 7 days | 5 days | 2 days | 2 days | 1 day | 1 day | 2 days | 6 days | 6 days | 6 days |
| South Africa (Cape Town Kruger National Park) | 3 days 9 days | 2 days 8 days | 3 days 7 days | 4 days 5 days | 7 days 3 days | 9 days 2 days | 9 days 2 days | 9 days 2 days | 7 days 3 days | 6 days 6 days | 5 days 8 days | 4 days 9 days |
Africa Travel Guide – Practical Information
There are some useful tips in travel guide that will certainly come in handy during your travels around Africa. For more information on language and local time, religion, electricity plug, internet, currency, visa, safety and health matters in Africa, just follow my comments below.
Population and Language – Around 1,321 billion people live in Africa. There are between 1,250 and 3,000 languages spoken (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese and thousands of native African languages).
Religion – 40% Muslim, 40% Christians, 20% Other Traditional Religions.
Local Time – There are 6 time zones in Africa from UTC-1 hour to UTC+4 hours.
Electricity – Voltage in most countries in Africa is 220/240V but some still mix 110V and 240V. There is a variety of plugs used in African countries: the euro-plug with two round pins, the English three-pins square plug and others. Researching before the travels and getting an adapter is recommended. The power cuts and surges are common in Africa.
Internet – The internet in Africa might be a bit of a problem. There are many places you can access the internet such as cybercafes (big cities) but the wi-fi tends to be spreading all over the country. Some hotels in Africa will additionally charge you for using the internet which in general is very slow for uploading or streaming. It’s recommended to buy a cheap local sim card and mobile internet on arrival. Most European and Australian phones can use the African sim cards, others will need to switch to roaming.
Money and Currency in Africa
Money – ATMs are widely available in the big cities but outside the cash might be needed. Visa Debit and Credit Cards are accepted and you can use them to pay in supermarkets and big stores. Small vendors will only accept cash so make sure you have enough. You can exchange money in the local bank but be careful of black market illegally offering better rates.
Currency – There are more than 25 local currencies in Africa. The US dollar ($) is widely accepted and in some African countries you can also use the UK pound (£) and Euro (€).
Visa Requirements for Africa
Visa – the UK and EU citizens need to apply for a visa when entering some African countries. The visa fee varies and depends where exactly you want to travel. The British and Polish citizens DON’T need a visa for the following countries in Africa:
- Angola (eVisa for 30 days)
- Benin (eVisa for 30 days)
- Botswana (90 days)
- Burkina Faso (Visa on arrival for 1 month)
- Cape Verde (30 days)
- Comoros (visa on arrival)
- Côte d’Ivoire (eVisa for 3 months)
- Djibouti (eVisa for 31 days)
- Egypt (eVisa for 30 days)
- Eswatini (30 days)
- Ethiopia (eVisa for 90 days)
- Gabon (eVisa for 90 days)
- Gambia (90 days)
- Guinea (eVisa for 90 days),
- Guinea-Bissau (eVisa for 90 days)
- Kenya (eVisa for 3 months)
- Lesotho (14 days)
- Madagascar (eVisa for 90 days)
- Maliwi (eVisa for 90 days)
- Mauritania (visa on arrival)
- Mauritius (90 days)
- Morocco (90 days)
- Mozambique (visa on arrival for 30 days)
- Namibia (3 months)
- Rwanda (eVisa for 30 days)
- São Tomé and Príncipe (15 days)
- Senegal (90 days)
- Seychelles (3 months)
- Sierra Leone (visa on arrival for 30 days)
- Somalia (visa on arrival)
- South Africa (the UK-90 days, PL-30 days)
- Tanzania (eVisa for 3 months)
- Togo (visa on arrival for 7 days)
- Uganda (eVisa)
- Zambia (eVisa for 90 days)
- Zimbabwe (eVisa for 3 months).
Safety and Emergency in Africa
Safety Travelling in Africa is generally safe except for the Central parts where crime, robbery, kidnapping and killing are common. Additionally you should avoid travelling to Somalia (warlords fighting for its control since the government collapsed in 1993), South Sudan (civil wars), east and northeast of DR Congo and parts of Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Chad (rebels still in those regions), Central Sahara (Al Qaeda in Southern Algeria, Northern Mali, Mauritania), Nigeria, Niger (Tuareg uprising), Sahel area (Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan), Eritrea & Guinea (hostile to the West), some regions of North Africa (some parts of Libya, Tunisia, Egypt). The jihadists and radical Islamists still operate in some countries. Otherwise, there’s a political stability, but the poverty and different scams may happen all over the African continent. Pickpockets, thieves and others trying to take advantage of the tourists in different parts of Africa are not dangerous but can be an issue.
Emergency Numbers – Emergency services in Africa are way different from what you are used to in Europe. In case something happens to you (robbery or attack), the police is not too fast to respond. Same goes for the medical staff. For the insurance purpose you need to report everything.
Health and Travel Vaccinations in Africa
Health – The World Health Organization recommends that all travelers are covered for diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and polio, hepatitis B, hepatitis A regardless of their destination.
African continent has the highest rate of HIV and AIDS infections. Avoid having sex and eating the monkey meat which can spread the infection. Other diseases to be aware about are Ebola, anthrax, yellow fever, malaria and dengue.
Additional Recommended vaccinations for Africa – meningococcal meningitis, rabies and typhoid, malaria and yellow fewer (not required but the certificate may be needed to enter some countries in Africa).