OUR AFRICA TRAVEL GUIDE
If you are an adventure traveller that loves wildlife encounters, then Africa is the perfect destination for your next holiday.
There is nowhere quite like it on this planet, and we are not exaggerating by saying that it is one of the most incredible places on this earth. Africa offers everything to the intrepid traveler – an incredible diverse flora and fauna, an abundance of natural landscapes, rich traditions and cultures and extremely friendly locals. You are bound to fall in love with the continent as soon as you set foot on it. There is just something about this fascinating continent that pulls you in and keeps you wanting to return over and over again.
Africa is the second largest continent on the planet. It spans over 8,000 km (5,000 mi) from North to South and 7,500km (4,800 mi) at its widest point from East to West. And this does not include all its islands. Africa’s landmass is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the West, the Mediterranean Sea to the North, the Red Sea to the Northeast, and by the Indian Ocean to the Southeast. Which means that Africa has miles and miles of stunning coastlines. Africa is also home to the world’s longest river – the Nile which runs from Burundi to Egypt and spans over 6650km. furthermore the Congo River in the DRC has a depth of over 230m (750 ft) in some spots, which makes it the deepest river in the world. On top of that Africa features the tallest freestanding mountain – Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro. And the second lowest point on Earth – Djibouti’s Lake Assa, which also happens to be the saltiest lake and the hottest place on the planet.
Africa is actually made up of 54 countries and its population is just as diverse as that number makes it sound. Africa is home to a wide array of people, from different backgrounds, with different traditions, that practice a range of religions and have a variety of skin colours.
Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Western Sahara make up the North Africa region. The main language spoken is Arabic, and Islam is the dominant religion. It’s famous for its natural wonders like the Sahara Desert, the Nile River, the Red Sea, and the Atlas Mountains.
The Central Africa region is made up of Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, the DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome, and Principe, and South Sudan. Due to political instability, it’s one of the least visited regions in Africa, and some countries have little to none tourist infrastructure.
East Africa is home to some of Africa’s top safari destinations with incredible wildlife sightings. Travel to Kenya or Tanzania to watch the Great Migration that takes place between July and September every year or trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Madagascar, Seychelles, Reunion, and Mauritius are only a short flight from the mainland and are great options for travelers looking for a luxury honeymoon or off-the-grid adventure. Uganda is an amazing place for seeing wildlife and gorilla trekking.
Southern Africa is one of the most traveled regions in Africa for locals and international visitors. It’s made up of Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Some of the most popular destinations include Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Sossusvlei, Kruger National Park, and Chobe National Park.
The easiest country to visit in West Africa is Ghana and is often called “Africa for Beginners”. It boasts varied landscapes, beautiful beaches, excellent surfing conditions and is the best place to learn about the history of the Atlantic Slave Trade. Other popular destinations include Senegal, Gambia, Benin, and Cape Verde.
OUR SUGGESTED ITINERARY FOR AFRICA
If you would like to see more than one African country on your next family holiday, then we would suggest you combine a trip to South Africa with Botswana and the Victoria Falls. Here is how you could spend 3 weeks in Africa.
- DAY 1 to 3 – Cape Town (3 nights)
- DAY 4 to 14 – South African Coast (10 nights)
- DAY 15 to 16 – Kruger National Park (2 nights)
- DAY 17 to 20 – Okavango Delta or Chobe River National Park (4 nights)
- DAY 21 to 22 – Victoria Falls
We have written a very detailed post about the suggested two-week itinerary for Asia with lots of information and travel tips.
WHERE TO GO IN AFRICA
Are you travelling to Africa for the first time or returning for more? We hope to simplify your African trip and help you chose where to go, how long to stay there and what to do once you have arrived. We research every destination we visit in-depth and have been to Africa multiple times. We traveled to various countries in Africa and have created travel guides for all the places we visited.
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT AFRICA
Africa is a massive continent with a varied climate, landscape, and wildlife. Choosing the best time to visit depends on your interests and what you’re hoping to see during your vacation.
If you’re planning a safari trip to Africa, visit during the dry season. From May to August, the rains are infrequent, driving the wildlife to nearby waterholes and making it easy to spot elusive creatures like lions and leopards. Read more about the Best Time to Go on Safari in Africa by Month!
But if you’re a bird lover, you’ll want to visit between November and April. The weather is hot and wet, and you’ll have unparalleled birdwatching opportunities.
Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe all offer incredible safari experiences!
FAMILY TRAVEL IN AFRICA
A family road trip to Africa is not the most obvious choice and many families don’t even consider it. But yes, you can travel to Africa with your family! And yes, it could be an incredible experience!
Africa is big, and – as everywhere else in the world – there are enormous
differences between its various countries. While it’s probably not a good idea to take your kids to Congo or Nigeria, you can easily travel to Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, and many other African countries.
If you are not sure where to go, you should know that South Africa and
Namibia are probably the best and the easiest countries to visit in Africa with
kids. Namibia is not only the best African country for a family trip, but it’s also one of the nicest places you will ever travel to. South Africa is a very close second (when it comes to family travel)
WHAT TO PACK FOR YOUR TRIP TO AFRICA
Deciding what to pack for Africa or what to wear on safari, especially if you’re travelling long term, covering multiple countries with different dress codes, cultural considerations, weather conditions and temperatures, can be a bit confusing!
For example, if you’re just travelling to Zanzibar for two weeks, or going to Benin where it’s usually hot, you’re not going to need a warm jacket, however if you’re travelling to Namibia or Botswana in the colder winter months, you definitely will need a down jacket.
When you are travelling around Africa, your bags are likely to get thrown about, strapped to the roof of a car and absolutely covered in dust, so we recommend you invest in a durable rucksack as your main luggage – especially if you’re overlanding or backpacking. Having a smaller backpack/daypack as well is really useful for hiking. If you are doing any trekking or any water activities where your stuff is likely to get wet, you could invest in a dry bag.
OUR TOP ARTICLES ABOUT AFRICA
THE BEST GUIDE BOOKS FOR AFRICA
TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES FOR AFRICA
PLANNING
For all travel resources click travel planning
FLIGHTS
Find the cheapest flights with Skyscanner.
HOTEL
Find a good accommodation deal with Booking.com
ACTIVITIES
Book your activities in advance with GetYourGuide
INSURANCE
Protect your trip and your family with Fast Cover