Unless you're fortunate enough to arrive on a cruise ship, or are planning to cross by ferry from Spain to Morocco , the only real way to arrive in Africa is by air.
The majority of flights are from Europe, although there are links from North America, Australia , and the Far East . The African airlines tend to offer cheaper fares, although can sometimes be less reliable and with less sophisticated aircraft. It's also worth checking if your flight is direct, as its quite common for flights to route via one or more other cities to maximise profitability, and that can add several hours to your journey.
If you're travelling to one of the areas popular with tourists – Egypt, Kenya, Tunisia, Morocco, Gambia, and South Africa – its worth checking out the charter airlines. They often have seats available in excess of those used for the package holidays, and are generally less expensive than the scheduled airlines.
Visa requirements vary from country to country, and depend on your nationality, and reason for visiting. Some must be obtained in advance, and others can be purchased on arrival. Wherever you plan to travel in Africa , ensure you check the relevant embassy website well in advance, and follow the instructions for your particular circumstances.
Airports in many African countries can be fairly basic, even those that serve capital cities. Allow plenty of time for connections if you have an onward flight or travel arrangement booked.
Money
Africa is, for the most part, a cash society. Credit and debit cards can be used in some of the major cities, tourist resorts, and modern hotels, but it is never guaranteed, and you should always have other means of payment. Local circumstances can also dictate refusal of card acceptance, for example power cuts are a regular feature of many countries, and during these times they cannot process card payments.
The best use of your card is for drawing cash at ATM machines. Most airports and main cities have these, and they will generally be the way of obtaining local currency at the most favourable exchange rate.
Haggling is a way of life in Africa . Fixed prices are rare, and everything is worth only what people will pay. For most travellers coming from nations where bartering is unusual, it can be quite nerve-wracking to begin with, but you'll soon become accustomed, and even enjoy it. The trick is to decide how much you want to pay to begin with, and start with an offer much lower. The seller will laugh, and make a ludicrously high counter bid, and so it goes on. Its always done in good humour, and becomes almost like a game. But take a moment to think, as its easy to get drawn in to haggling over small amounts to get to the final agreement, only to realise afterwards that if your were to convert the amount you disagreed over to your own currency, it would represent a couple of the smallest coins in your pocket! It's also worth remembering that you are on a pricey foreign holiday, and they almost certainly need those few coins much more than you do.
Each country has its own local currency, so if your touring it can be an annoying necessity to keep changing it as you cross borders. American dollars are widely accepted, although be prepared for rip-off exchange rates in many places.
Shopping
It's hard to generalise when dealing with such a vast continent, but for the most part shopping in Africa falls into two main categories. There are the modern, western style shopping centres, which are increasingly appearing in major cities and tourist areas. And there are the endless market stalls, small shops, and roadside sellers, that range from the reasonably well stocked store, to those which are just a rickety table beside a dusty road selling a few items of home grown produce. Each country has the obligatory range of items aimed at the tourists. Some can actually represent good value for money, especially in central and western Africa . It's also worth exploring the markets and local shops, as many bargains can be had compared to western prices.
Eating and Drinking
Of course each region has its own everyday and speciality foods, but wherever you go in Africa the chances are you will come across all manner of culinary delights that you are not familiar with.
From Kenya to the Cape , maize based meals are the mainstay, often formed into a kind of dough. Fish is also widely used, both from the sea, and the many rivers and lakes. Rice is common throughout the continent, and fruit is also much used in sub-Saharan Africa .
Many tourist areas offer ‘traditional' local food at special evenings. In truth, there is often little traditional about them, but whether they are offering you ground sheep's eyes as a condiment in Tunisia, or roast crocodile in Kenya, it makes an interesting addition to the cuisine you have sampled.
Hygiene is not always a high priority in Africa , and in many cases not a priority at all. Local stomachs are hardened to the conditions, but bear in mind that yours is probably not, and eat accordingly.
Tea and coffee are commonplace wherever you go, but vary in quality. As a rule of thumb, in the old British colonies tea is better, and elsewhere the coffee has the upper hand. Fizzy drinks such as Coca-Cola are also easily obtainable in even the most remote places. Fruit juices are widely available, and local beers also feature in most areas.
South Africa has a quality wine producing industry, and in West Africa , palm wine is the local speciality.
One tip, which, depending on your point of view, may or may not be useful. Alcohol apparently kills bugs, so alcoholic drinks are probably the safest in Africa !
Africa health
Africa is home to just about every disease known to man. If that weren't enough, there are countless reptiles, insects, spiders and mammals, that would like a piece of you. That's the bad news. The good news is that as long as you are sensible, and take adequate precautions both before and during your stay, you can minimise these risks to an acceptable level.
Most areas advise vaccination against several diseases before you travel. Your local health centre will have the up to date information on the particular destinations you are planning.
Never drink local water straight from the tap. Either use bottled water, or as a last resort boil the tap water first.
Use a good quality insect repellent, and a mosquito net when you sleep. Age-old tips such as banging your shoes upside down before putting your foot in them in the morning are probably of little value, but you never know what might have crept in during the night. If nothing else it keeps you alert to the possible dangers around you.
Keep an eye on where you're walking, especially away from the towns and cities, and if you are in an area of wildlife follow the game ranger's instructions exactly.
Finally, ensure you are well covered by a medical travel insurance, so that you can call for help should the worst happen.
Other Dangers:
The majority of Africa is no more dangerous than anywhere else on our planet. Areas of the big cities can be unsavoury after dark, as they can anywhere, and many have regions where it's probably not advisable for outsiders to venture. But in most of your everyday travels you should encounter little to worry about.
Keep your money and valuables safe. Cash should not be kept all together on your person, and money belts are a good idea.
Getting around Africa
Depending on how you look at it, getting around in Africa is either a nightmare, or an adventure to be cherished. But every journey should be seen as a chance to experience even more of this diverse, fascinating, and scenic continent.
There are so many ways to travel in Africa , that it would be impossible to list them all. Riverboats, camels, bicycles, minibuses, canoes, and horses, all have their place alongside the more common means of reaching your destination. You can grab a hot air balloon ride across the Massai Mara, hitch a lift with a truck driver across Uganda , or simply buy an old car for peanuts, and blend in as you drive yourself about.
Greater distances, without doubt, are quicker by air. In most countries there are many smaller airlines that will fly you to remote airstrips, almost like an air taxi. These can be quite exciting, as they are often in small aircraft that fly much lower than the commercial airlines, and allow you to see a good deal of the landscape from a few thousand feet.
Perhaps the best experience is by train, especially if you are not too concerned about the time. It can be a somewhat limited service, particularly in central and western Africa , and timetables are rarely adhered to. In the north, and in South Africa , trains are of a reasonably modern design, and fairly reliable. Anywhere else it can be something of a lottery, and you could well find yourself on carriages left over from the days of the old empires. Breakdowns are not uncommon, but you don't need to worry, as help or another train will usually be along in a day or two.
Travelling by road is much the same price as train, far more convenient, but infinitely more dangerous and uncomfortable. There seems to be an unwritten rule that to drive a taxi, minibus, or coach, almost anywhere in Africa , you need to have lead filled boots and ambitions of becoming a racing driver. Everything is frantic, the roads can be full of pot holes, and you are likely to be thrown around as the driver dodges chickens, bicycles, and all manner of other moving targets. If you're not into this kind of adventure, the best option is to take a taxi, and make it clear to the driver before you set off that you want to travel slowly, to take in the scenery, or take photos.
Another option, which is quite common, is to hitch a ride with one of the many long distance trucks that ply the main highways. This can be a great way to understand more about the local peoples, and experience Africa the way the Africans do, especially if the journey will take you more than a day.
Car hire is available in most countries, and can be very expensive, but it is the best way by far to explore any area you wish in your own time. Be aware that fuel, or rather the lack of it, can be an issue, as shortages can be sudden and widespread.
There are a limited number of tours from the main centres, which can be very useful ways to visit a particular place or tour an area. They are usually a little on the high side for price, but do take a lot of the stress out of planning alternative means.
Of course sometimes the means of travel is the highlight of your trip. Cruising down the Nile through Egypt , or taking a trip on South Africa 's Blue Train, can both be greatly enjoyed. For the truly adventurous there are overland expeditions using old army trucks that will bounce you from Morocco to South Africa , taking several weeks to complete the journey. They will not be the most comfortable, but are a great way to witness the ever changing scenery, and you really will be able to say you've seen Africa .
