Africa Travel Guide: All Four Africas (2026)

Africa is fifty-four countries. The continent’s tourism brochures act as though there are five (Morocco, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania). The other forty-nine are dramatically under-visited by Western travel relative to what they offer, and that’s mostly an accident of marketing rather than reality.

Our coverage starts at the well-trodden end and works outward. This page tracks what we’ve published, alongside the trips we’d send a friend on across the continent.

North Africa

Morocco is the standard first-trip and rightly so. Marrakech-Fez-Chefchaouen plus a Sahara overnight is a clean two-week loop. The mountain regions (the Atlas, the Rif) and the Atlantic coast (Essaouira, Sidi Ifni) are the underrated parts. Egypt is the other anchor: Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, the Red Sea coast. Tunisia and Algeria are quietly excellent for travellers who want Roman ruins without crowds (Tunisia) or 1960s-frozen-in-time medinas and Sahara depth (Algeria, more bureaucracy to enter).

East Africa

The safari heartland. Kenya and Tanzania share the Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystem and the wildebeest migration; Kenya is the more developed tourism market, Tanzania the larger and wilder. Rwanda has positioned itself as the gorilla trek destination of choice (cheaper than Uganda, easier permits to secure). Ethiopia is the deeply weird, deeply rewarding cultural trip — the rock-hewn churches at Lalibela, the Danakil Depression, the Omo Valley tribes. Madagascar belongs in its own category: endemic wildlife, lemurs, baobabs, prices and logistics that demand patience.

Southern Africa

South Africa is the highest-infrastructure travel country on the continent: Cape Town, the Garden Route, the wine country, the Kruger and surrounding private reserves. Namibia is the empty-and-spectacular country — Sossusvlei, Etosha, Skeleton Coast, Damaraland. Botswana’s Okavango Delta is the premium safari destination; high prices keep crowds out. Mozambique’s Bazaruto and Quirimbas archipelagos are some of the cleanest Indian Ocean beach experiences left.

West Africa

The least-touristed region of the continent, which is part of its appeal. Ghana, Senegal, and Cape Verde are the entry points. Festival travel is strong here — the Festival au Désert (when conditions allow), Senegal’s music scene, Ghana’s coastal forts and Year of Return cultural infrastructure. Logistics are real; budget extra time and accept that things take longer than they should.

Every Africa destination we’ve published

Practical things worth knowing

Visas. Morocco, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda offer visa-on-arrival or e-visas for most Western passports. Ethiopia, Egypt, and Madagascar have e-visa systems that work well. Tanzania’s East African Tourist Visa includes Kenya and Uganda for $100. Plan visas 2-4 weeks ahead.

Yellow fever. Required for most of sub-Saharan Africa, and increasingly required when arriving from those countries elsewhere. Get the certificate well before travel. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for the lowland tropical regions; not necessary for high-altitude areas (Addis Ababa, Asmara) or most of Southern Africa’s urban zones.

Safari logistics. The genuine question for first-time safari travellers is "private reserve vs national park." Private reserves (Sabi Sands, Madikwe in South Africa; Mara North in Kenya) have higher costs but smaller vehicle numbers per sighting and off-road tracking. National parks are cheaper but you’re likely to share a sighting with 20 other vehicles. For the "trip of a lifetime" experience, splurge for 2-3 nights in a private reserve.

Connectivity. SafariCom in Kenya, MTN across many countries, plus regional Airalo eSIM packages all work. Wi-Fi quality varies dramatically — budget for mobile data.

Frequently Asked Questions about Africa Travel