If you’ve never visited Africa, now is the perfect time to plan a trip! And if you’re currently planning a trip to Africa, use this blog to draw up a “travelling to Africa checklist.”

This post will provide a list of required items, things to be done, or points to be considered and answer your most frequently asked questions, such as “how much is a trip to Africa?” and “Is travelling to Africa safe?” 

Consider it your travelling to Africa checklist!

Planning a Trip to Africa – Key Takeaways

• Africa is endowed with beautiful structures and has a fast internet connection.
• booking/lodging prices may fall noticeably off-season and rise during the busiest times of the year, such as August and Christmas
• Travelling to Africa is safer than most people believe
• You don’t have to break the bank to travel to Africa

Travelling To Africa Checklist

Everyone needs a guide when they’re travelling, so to make your trip preparation smooth, we made a short checklist to guide you: 

• Pick Where To Travel To
• Decide When To Travel
• Start Booking – Tours, Flights, And Lodging
• Buy Travel Insurance
• Get updated vaccine information.
• Go Travel Shopping
• Read About Your Destination(s)

1. Pick Where To Travel To

Deciding on a destination for your trip to Africa can be somewhat daunting. Picking a destination solely depends on what kind of experience you want – it could range from Safari experiences in Kenya and Tanzania to visiting ancient cultures found in Egypt and Nigeria. To figure out where to go, define the type of experience you want to explore on your trip.

2. Decide When To Travel

African regions have optimum seasons that influence your travel experience. So it’s crucial to pick specific times of the year that are travel friendly. For instance, the best time of the year to visit the Safari is during the dry season, as the water supply is limited; hence wildlife comes out more often to find water and provide a fantastic viewing experience to visitors.

3. Start Booking – Tours, Flights, And Lodging

The next thing to do is to decide if your trip will be solo or with the help of a tour guide/travel agency. Book your flights and accommodation earlier to enjoy discounted rates so you don’t end up stranded or left to settle for less appealing accommodation due to overbooking. 

4. Buy Travel Insurance

At this point of your preparation, you must have spent a sizable sum of money on your flights, tours, and lodging. Make sure your insurance covers medical evaluation if you travel to a distant location. 

5. Get Updated Vaccine Information

You must go to a travel clinic before your trip to Africa to learn what immunizations are advised for the specific countries. Hepatitis A, typhoid, and rabies are generally considered good vaccinations, while advice varies significantly between nations. This might be the most important part of your traveling to Africa checklist.

6. Go Travel Shopping

Your shopping list may include anything from lightweight mosquito netting to a decent pair of binoculars or sturdy hiking shoes. Even in the desert, nights may get very chilly, so be prepared for any weather.

Consider ways to keep your memories safe, such as purchasing a high-quality camera, scrapbook, and extra pencils. A first aid kit that includes all the supplies you’ll need to treat minor injuries, and any personal medications is a necessary buy.

7. Read About Your Destination(s)

When planning a trip to Africa, you should research your destination before travelling. It’s a great way to increase your excitement and local knowledge. 

We have posts on the best places to visit in Kenya, South Africa and Equatorial Guinea. You should check them out. 

An excellent travel guide can advise you on lesser-known sights to see and things to do while providing insightful information on the history and culture of the destination. 

Additionally, phrasebooks are a fantastic option because learning even a few sentences of the native tongue will significantly increase your chances of making friends.

How Much Is A Trip To Africa?

A night in Africa costs between $150 to $2,000. This depends on your accommodation, food and activities for the day, while flight tickets and visa arrangements may vary. 

However, you don’t have to spend $2000 just visiting Africa. We will provide some budget-friendly tips to maximize your trip to Africa. 

• Flight tickets & Accommodation 

Your flight ticket and accommodation will be your first significant expense for the vacation.

You can anticipate paying USD 1800-2500 per person from North America and USD 600-1000 per person from Europe, Australia, and the Far East for economy seats when travelling to Africa.

Prices may fall noticeably off-season and rise during the busiest times, such as August and Christmas.

You may also pay three to five times as much if you want to fly in business or first class or stay in a 5-star hotel.

After covering your flight tickets and accommodation, your transportation around the city comes next. 

A sizable portion of the overall expense must go into the logistics required to connect these locations. 

The most effective approach to reducing these logistics costs is to go to fewer, more conveniently spaced-apart locations or consider cost-friendly transportation. For example, consider the train or bus instead of a rental car. 

• Time of year

Due to shifting safari conditions and visitor demand, prices in many safari sites vary greatly year-round. It makes sense to profit from times when experience is still positive, but prices are falling due to less demand. So you might want to consider this when planning a trip to Africa.

An excellent illustration of this is the Okavango Delta in Botswana, where many camps cost less than half as much in April as they do in the busiest months of June through October. Yet, the basic safari experience is only reduced by about 10% to 20%.

Being as flexible as possible with your locations and scheduling gives you the best chance to take advantage of offers and use various strategies, which is another essential to obtaining excellent value.

A lot of us are forced to travel throughout the holidays and summer breaks and the most cost-effective ways to travel during these high seasons include: 

• Booking far in advance to try to avoid future price increases
• Making a late reservation to take advantage of special deals

Is travelling to Africa Safe?

Yes. Africa remains a safe destination for travellers.

According to the 2021 Global Peace Index, compared with countries like the USA and Canada, African nations like Tanzania and Kenya are more peaceful. 

Moreover, safari trips keep you from crowded places, where you are most likely to contract COVID-19 and other infectious diseases/viruses. Africa also urges visitors to experience healthy lifestyles away from the toxicity of big cities.

Despite the initial dire predictions, Africa has managed the COVID-19 pandemic well. The number of daily new COVID-19 cases in Africa has remained significantly lower than in most other countries worldwide. 

General Safety Measures  

Travellers concerned about travelling to Africa have nothing to worry about. When planning a trip to Africa, we advise travellers to prepare for the trip the same way they would for any other trip. 

While on a safari or touring a township, keep your money hidden, avoid walking alone at night, stay alert for pickpockets, and pay attention to your tour guide. Use caution, as you would in any place, and you shouldn’t run into any problems.

If you’re planning a trip to Africa for your next vacation, you’ve made the right choice. Leave a comment below and tell us what country you’ll visit and why. 

Contact us at info@ivoiceafrica.com for more information on anything Africa-related. We’re more than willing to help!