First of all let me clarify that by Africa, I mean the sub-Saharan continent. It’s quite different from travel in North Africa which has a different set of “rules” to play by.
“I’d love to go to Africa some day, but I’m afraid it’s unsafe, too expensive and too difficult to get around. Can you really travel around as a backpacker?” That’s a question I’m often asked.
My answer is YES YOU CAN! -and it’s fantastic!
There seems to be general apprehensiveness amongst travellers when it comes to traveling in Africa. It’s a shame because ‘the dark continent’ is most definitely accessible. True, it’s not the easiest area to travel in -especially if you compare it with South East Asia- but it’s still very doable even for the unexperienced traveller. Budget-wise, you can make your trip very affordable if you don’t mind the occasional bucket shower and can handle a few rough edges.
There are however, a couple of things to keep in mind before you start planning:
1. Realise that Africa is huge. Depending on how much time you have, pick one or two neighbouring countries to explore.
2. It’s essential that you choose the “right country” for you. Intrepid travellers could try places like Sudan, Mozambique, Malawi, Djibouti or any country that’s more or less politically stable. I would recommend beginners to start off with ‘easier’ countries that offer a minimum of tourist infrastructure. Places where you will meet plenty of other travellers and expats to exchange travel tips and ideas with.
Ghana, Senegal or Gambia are good options for West Africa. So are Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia or Kenya in Eastern Africa. In Southern Africa consider Zimbabwe or Botswana. All of these countries allow you to travel around effortlessly by public transportation, lodge in hostels or homestays and they offer Western food options which come in handy when you’re tired of the African staples.
Though South Africa is a possibility as well, I wouldn’t classify it as a typical African country in terms of tourism as it has an endless array of travel possibilities for the visitor and is so modernly developed you could think you’re in Europe of the States.
3. Take into account that you’re looking at slow travel here. It’s quite common for buses, trains and boats to run late. When I say late, I’m not talking about the “crazy” 20 minutes we complain about in the West, but rather 5+ hours. Your vehicle may break down in the middle of nowhere or it may get stuck in a pothole at some point… This means your arrival time can ( and probably will ) get delayed -at least once during your trip. In other words, having a tight schedule is simply not an option.
4. The larger the region you want to explore, the more time you will spend on the road. Expect long hours in buses, boats, trains and minivans. Most of which won’t be the most comfortable rides you’ll have in your life. In your average African country, a 5 seat sedan fits 14. Easily. Sometimes you feel like you’re playing human Tetris.
5. Africa is not a place where you visit one attraction after the other as you probably would in Europe or Asia. It’s a place you experience by interacting with locals and taking your time to be somewhere without too much of an agenda. Spend several days in the same town to really get the vibe.
6. The food won’t always be all that. There are non-African dining alternatives especially in big towns and cities, but in most smaller towns you’ll be served the local staples. For truly delicious African food, make sure you score yourself an invitation to a wedding, birthday party, christening or any kind of celebration. That’s when all the mama’s show off their cooking skills.
7. The accommodation can get quite shabby at times. Unless you’re in a city or large town, there’s not always a midrange option. Often it’s either cheap and crummy or high-end luxury. Go for the cheap places and treat yourself every now and then with a more upscale stay, if your budget allows it.
8. Whether you’re backpacking or not, safari’s are always an expensive affair. If that is something you want to do, keep a separate budget just for your safari. To give you an idea, at the time of writing the cost for a 2D/1N camping safari in Serengeti NP, Tanzania was $300 per person. And this was a decent deal with a local agent. There are cheaper safari’s available if you stay away from the most renowned parks.
9. There are relatively few solo travellers in Africa so I would suggest you find yourself an awesome travel partner before leaving. Even though you could smoothly journey solo, you will have a better time traveling in pairs. Especially for women. You’ll feel more comfortable, it will dramatically cut the costs and it’s usually more fun when you have someone to talk to while you wait around for *insert anything*.
Traveling in Africa is very rewarding; it lifts your spirits and opens your eyes to some important issues the media hardly ever talk about. There are so many unspoilt spots that simply take your breath away. People are generally welcoming and excited to have a conversation with you. Let yourself get swooped off your feet by the laughter and rhythm in the air. If you’re still doubting whether or not you should backpack in Africa, all I can say, is DO IT! The adventure awaits!
Have you ever backpacked in Africa? Would you give it a try?
The post “Backpacking in Africa? Yes you can!‘ first appeared on Travel Cake.
Comments
72 responses to “Backpacking in Africa? Yes you can!”
These are excellent tips! We were going to visit Tanzania this December but had to postpone the trip. I’m looking forward to applying these tips soon – hopefully next November!
Glad you liked it! It’s a shame you had to postpone you trip though! Next November is too far away though 🙂
Thank you for the travel tipps!!
@Dana: Hey Dana! I will be going to Madagascar in November, later to Kenya and Tanzania! Contact me, if you are still up for East Africa!
I forgot to invite you to link up on my blog every Wednesday for Wanderlust Wednesdays. See this link for details: http://www.timetravelplans.net/far-away-from-home-tahiti-airport/
I’ll check it out! Thanks for the invite!
Great post, Sarah. Thanks for the tips! The pics make me so excited about a trip… Africa is at the top of my To-Do-Go List!
Thanks! If Africa is on the top of your list: go for it! 😀
With the family I know we wont be backpacking Africa but we do have plans of visiting and visiting often. My wifey is from Ethiopia and we really want to get there and visit the other surrounding areas. What we have found is traveling is what you make of it and the expectations you have. If you go to Africa looking for fast travel and great food all the time you are doing to be very disappointed. I really like your take on how to traveling and making the best of situations.
Thanks Thomas! I agree, it’s all about expectations! And backpacking with a family in Africa is quite the challenge. Maybe too much so 🙂 Ethiopia will hopefully be my next African destination!
Gave post! Als Afrikafanaat word ik hier zooo blij van. Ik heb er niet gebackpacked, maar heb wel door Tanzania, Kenia, Swaziland en Zuid-Afrika gereisd. Met de bus, auto, vliegtuig en boot en heb me nooit onveilig gevoeld. Afrika is zo mooi in allerlei opzichten!
Ik ben het volledig met je eens Nathalie! Toch gek eigenlijk dat veel reizigers bang zijn om in Afrika te reizen? Hopelijk veranderd dat de komende jaren!:)
How about Congo?
I would not recommend Congo for backpacking (yet)… Who knows, maybe in a few years…
[…] whom I’ve known for a couple of years now. Read the post on backpacking in Africa here, and maybe you too will starting planning a trip around Africa if you aren’t […]
Amazing tips!!! I’m planning on staying in Africa for about 10-12 weeks starting mid December. I have a million questions but I guess my main restriction at the moment is my budget. In your experience, how much money do you think is a reasonable budget for 10-12 weeks? I always travel as cheap as possible with the occasional splurge 🙂
Sounds like you’re about to undertake an amazing trip! It’s difficult to say what the budget will be, it depends on you activities and most importantly on WHERE you’re going in Africa. Not all the countries have the same cost of living. As I mentioned in the article it, the budget can be anything from very cheap to very expensive. Where are you going?
Great post Sarah! Do you remember the name of the hotel with the swimming pool and view?? I am planning my trip to Africa for June, and it is important to give yourself something like that… from time to time 🙂
Thanks
Thanks Augusta! The hotel is called “kingfisher- kichwamba lodge. Defnitely a splurge, but well worth it! 🙂 Have a great trip!
I’m halfway planning to do a backpacking trip starting in January. How long will it last? Until my backpacking piggy bank is dry. How’d you get started?
Hi Shannon. I’m sending you an e-mail about this!
I may have missed your email, but I’m still interested in knowing how you got started. Please resend it and I promise to comb through my emails. 🙂
I’m halfway planning to do a backpacking trip starting in January. How long will it last? Until my backpacking piggy bank is dry. How’d you get started?
Hi Shannon. I’m sending you an e-mail about this!
What a great post! Makes me so excited to begin planning my trip to Africa this coming year. It has been a dream of mine to get out there. Are there any places you suggest I just can not miss?!
Hi Veronica! There are so many Places not to miss, depends which region you’re taking on. I’m going to Africa this month and when I return I’ll make sure to publish some posts on things not to miss! Stay tuned! 🙂
Hiya…I’m Jay and will be backpacking Africa Solo female this September (2014). I’m also happy to see that your site is back online 🙂
It will be my first time backpacking and I have been going arund asking advice without much luck on replys. Ive had a few though not many…
As you said about starting in the easier places to backpack…I was initially thinking of starting in west Africa then heading south then south east. Then I decided as a 1st time backpacker it may be better starting with the easier parts 1st so I was thinking of starting in either Uganda or Kenya..Either way I’d like to visit both places. I have about 6months of time at my disposal and hope to explore as much of Africa as I can other then the eastern part though.
Any advice…Is it ok finding accommodation as i go and not have to book in advance?
I’d literally die of gratitude for any useful advice. Thanks Sarah.
Jay
Hi Jay, I will answer your questions in an email when I return from Africa next week. Grtz!
I like the valuable info you provide in your articles.
I will bookmark your blog and check again here regularly.
I am quite sure I’ll learn many new stuff right here!
Best of luck for the next!
Just found this ad my wife and i are planning the east Africa stage of our budget RTW trip. Great post, I appreciate the encouragement!
Great! Always a pleasure to hear people incorporating Africa into their RTW trips! It doesn’t happen enough! Bon voyage!
[…] Backpacking Africa? Yes you can! – I wrote about the misconception many travellers have, that you can only travel Africa on a tour or a package holiday. […]
heh, was about to say woww that african in the car is cute as hell, but turned out to be you, you are pretty as hell =o.
Im glad you wrote about Africa, i plan on doing a massive rtw trip and have started to consider going to Africa before going to SE Asia and saying farewell to my still functioning liver.
Please do write some more bout Africa.
TY
Thanks for the compliment Miguel. I’m planning on writing more about Africa for sure. Just wish I could go more often! 🙂 I recently wrote a post on where to go during your first Africa trip. It’s definitely a great idea to hit Africa first and then go on to SEA. The opposite order would be less of a inning combo. Bon voyage!
If you are planned to travel in east Africa its no doubt that Ethiopia is your choice because Ethiopia is the first ranked country for independent travelers as the report of” travel independent info” compared with the rest east African country. BON VOYAGE
LOVE this! I can’t wait to travel to Africa one day!
I do hope you go! 🙂 Thanks for dropping by the blog!
Hi, I admire your tenacity, you’re a far more advanced adventurer than I ever fathomed I was. I am planning a south west Africa trek from Cameroon downwards and probably end in Zimbabwe. I am a postgraduate student and I am Keen to find young educated Africans who might consider joining me on a trek from community to community and learn and help wherever we are able. Ultimately we want to learn about and link African societies right from the grassroots level. I am interested in sustainable development models for Africans by Africans. I just want to see for myself why Africa is not reaching its potential.
I’m sorry for the long speech but basically I would just like to get ANY advice on where to even begin etc. Hopefully you or anyone who sees this post can email me.
Regards
Taka
Hey Taka! Wow, sounds like a very ambitious and interesting project! I kinda wish I could join you on your journey! The only thing I can tell you, is to really talk to people in the communities, let them tell you where to look for the local organisations dealing with development, it shouldn’t be too hard to find. Easier then online, I think. Will you be keeping a blog or website about your findings? I’d be interested in following your journey!
Hi Sarah,
Sorry I hadn’t even seen that you replied (I thought I had it all figured out with the notifications 🙁 , but guess not).
As for the planned journey, makes sense hey – what you said about the it probably being easier than online to get knowledge. I was just a bit concerned about testing the depths with both feet as it were.
Anyway the plans are still in their infancy but I am itching to get going around October time. In terms of a blog, I actually do have one that I should perhaps start taking more seriously lol (https://tsmadzi.wordpress.com/).
I hope to stay in contact somehow for advice
Hey! Loved reading this, and getting very excited about my next trip 🙂 was thinking of doing gambia, senegal, mali, cote d’ivoire, over two months. I’m a girl travelling on my own. Have you travelled these countries, and if you did, was it easy enough to find accomodation? Cheers!
Wow, that’s a very ambitious plan! 😀 I haven’t traveled to any of the countries you’re headed to but I’m 100% sure you will not have a hard time finding accommodation or company for that matter! 🙂 Enjoy your trip!
Great article, i’ve always wondered how easy it would be to backpack Africa. Now I know!
You are amazing. I loved the article and being in Australia for the moment, I miss Africa.
Thanks a lot for sharing.
Thanks Emmanuel, that’s really sweet! I hope you’re enjoying Australia despite missing Africa! 🙂
[…] -Travel Cake […]
yea right! you are quite right. One more thing to bear in mind is that when visiting any part of Africa, open up your mind to eat varieties but at the same time you have to eat courteously. If not the sweet dishes might make you eat yourself into problem. hahahaha just kidding. Nice post
Loved reading your blog, some great insights into backpacking in Africa. We have just been in Swaziland, where Safaris can be done for as little as 40usd per day in Hlane natural reserve for example. How beautiful it was sleeping to the sounds of Rhino’s mating haha! For more info on Swaziland safaris for backpackers please read our blog. http://oldsolestories.com/2015/11/15/safaris-for-budget-backpackers-swaziland/
Wow, that’s a great deal for a safari! I’d love to go to Swaziland! Not just for the Safari but for the landscape and the culture… So different than the Africa I’ve seen so far!
Hey Sarah, I do hope u are fine.I am a teenager from South Africa, I love travelling and my parents have allowed me to go backpacking I wanna backpack to Italy please help me out.I dont know what I need to do.Is there like a website you have register in or agencies that help u with the trip?.Please help me out
Hey Sam! I’m writing you an e-mail!
Hi there. We are a couple from India who wish to do a very budget trip backpacking in August. Is it too late to start?! We are planning to spend 2 months in botswana, zimbabwe and possibly namibia (if there is time). How feasible is it to stay in your own tents? If lodging, what are average prices? Or if you could tell me average cost per day and some safari prices? Is there a cheaper alternative to doing expensive safaris?
Many thanks for inspiring us!
Hi Kant! It’s definitely not too late to start. Spontaneity is an important part of backpacking! 😀 As I mentioned in the post, it’s hard to give general indications of prices as every country is different in terms of prices. Same goes for the safari prices, it all depends on the park you are visiting and the agencies. I’m just a traveller like you, so I wouldn’t be able to tell you the prices of different safaris in this huge continent. I’ve never been to Botswana so I’m not sure about the details there as for Zimbabwe, during my visit, some places would let you pitch a tent. So you can definitely count on that option every now and then. Seems like a great adventure you’re about to have! Bon voyage!
Hi
Just a quick question, which of these countries are the cheaper destination: Senegal, Togo or Cameroon? Is there a massive difference in price?
Hi Tor! I couldn’t tell you, to be honest. Senegal has the most tourist infrastructure but I couldn’t tell you which is cheaper. There is a site called “numbeo.com” that lets you compare costs of living in different countries or cities. You should check that out. Good luck!
Hi everyone, what an interesting article and comments! Africa is a beautiful place! I live in Zimbabwe and will be back packing through the country in July/August this year, any interested to join please feel free. I will be going seeing incredible places like the mighty Victoria Falls,Matopo Hills, Inyanga mountains, seeing loads of animals, rock paintings etc and loads of rural accommodation 🙂
After that I intend to head to Mozambique then branch out from there. If there are any enthusiastic and fun nature loving backpackers out there who want to join in, please feel free to contact me!
Great job Sarah and friends! thanks for the useful information.
Sounds like an awesome backpacking trip! Wish I could join! 🙂
Sarah, thank god I found your article, giving some positive lights. I was beginning to think that backpacking in Africa is something unreal. See, I want to go to East Africa, covering Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and from what I see on the web, the transportation in between countries is quite tough. Would you recommend buses for that? or renting own car?
Hi Lena! Sounds like great trip! 🙂 Well as far as I know, it’s pretty straight forward and safe to cross the Tanzania/Uganda border. The Tz/Kenya border on the other hand… You should check the official travel advice because there’s often “stuff” going on in that region. Safety-wise it might not be the best idea to cross by land. Same goes for the Kenya/Ethiopia border. That being sad, there are many busses connecting Arusha (Tz) or Kampala (Uganda) to Nairobi (Kenya) but please inform yourself on the current safety guidelines, things are pretty heated in Kenya at the moment. These are very long bus rides, so if you do decided to take them, be prepared for some pain in the derrière 🙂 There may also be a boat from Mwanza (Tanzania) to Kisumu (Kenya), but you’ll have to check if it’s still running. So basically there are many ways to get in and out of Kenya (to/from Uganda and Tanzania), but you need to research the current political situation. Same goes for Ethiopia; last time I was around, it was too dangerous to cross the border by land. The situation can change rapidly so make sure you look at your government’s travel advice. Another thing to consider is time. I don’t know how long you’re planning to go but that’s a big chunck of land you’re looking to cover. Think carefully if you want to spend so much of your time there sitting in busses and waiting for them! Good luck and Bon voyage!
[…] Backpacking in Africa? Yes you can! […]
It’s hard to find good information about backpacking in Africa.
Thank you for sharing it with us and congratulations for the blog!
Thanks Renan! 😀
hi sarah, how are you?
great blog
just wanted to know if its possible to travel all the 10-12 southern and east african countries at one go in a span of 1 month
thanks
Hi Muffaddal. Unless you have a private jet, it’s absolutely not possible. If you only have 1 month, I suggest you chose 1-3 countries. You’ll have a better experience than if you are trying to rush through the continent. Good luck!
So much info there on backpacking Africa, thanks for putting it together and the pics are great!
Fantastic! Glad to hear you enjoyed that!
Nice blog! I would love to backpack across Africa, but I don’t know much about each individual country… Gotta learn! 😀
i love africa proud to be an african woman,cool blog tho
Lovey read, I look forward to keeping up to date with your travels. I am very interested in back packing Africa and I hope this is the start of something.
What can I say? Traveling in Africa is just so beautiful. Nice article and very beautiful pictures too. This article makes one want to just pack and go. http://easytravelgear.com/hiking-in-africa/