Travel Tips For Africa

I get asked a certain question a lot. People want to know if it is safe to travel to Africa. That question makes me smile because it shows interest in the continent and also makes me scowl because there are 57 countries. It's just not possible that the entire continent is unsafe for travel. I'm going to focus on the positive side of the question and give you some tips we have learned from traveling to the continent.

This might be obvious but make sure you have a valid passport and necessary visas. Some countries send your passport to their home country to get a visa so make sure you take care of this process right away. Certain countries also require an invitation letter for tourist. If you don’t have a hook up with the Minister of Foreign Affairs , You can ask your hotel to write you a letter confirming your travel dates and stay. Just between us, I always tell the embassy that I have to go to Europe two weeks before my trip to their country so that I get my passport back in time :-). As a New Yorker I expect things done quickly and within a short time period. I have had to learn that not everyone (including here in the states) operate like that. 

Some countries require a yellow fever card just to enter the country- DRC, Ghana and Ivory Coast are just a few of the countries that require it. I also recommend packing Malaria pills, painkillers, antibiotics, insect repellant if you are going on safari, lysol wipes and hand sanitizers. 

I always recommend getting a driver for your first trip to an unfamiliar country. You can ask your hotel for recommendations. You should keep the same driver for the duration of your trip. I have kept in touch with most of the drivers we used during our travel. During our trip they were our tour guides, translators, help us negotiate, introduced us to local scenes and after a few days they became our friends. I think hiring a driver is money well spent.

Before you travel, learn a few phrases in the local language. if the place you are visiting already speaks English than learn a salutation and how to say thank you in one of the local languages. If you are in a French-speaking or Swahili speaking country learn a few phrases. It shows respect and goodwill to the people you are meeting.

The most important thing to do during your trip to an African country is to be open-minded. People are very friendly and are happy to help in any way possible. I hope this will help motivate you to visit an African country.

Happy Travels!

Adolophine