Top Travel Tips for Africa

Top Travel Tips for Africa
Brought to you by Nedbank

General tips:

Attitude

• Attitude is key when traveling anywhere and is especially important when exploring what Africa has to offer. Start by forgetting all expectation, and embraces the differences, after this, you will find your trip more enjoyable.

• Get to know the locals in order to find out the do’s and don’ts, best-kept secrets and places to avoid.

Weather

• As the African sun is often present, taking season and region into consideration, you can expect temperatures ranging from 10 to 35 degrees Celsius (in desert region 40+). A hat, swimsuit, sunglasses, sunscreen, clothing made of thin material as well as lots of drinking water for hydration is an absolute necessity.

• Whilst Africa has hot summer days, the evenings can get chilly (sometimes dropping below freezing).  Be sure to pack a thick warm jacket and trousers. Despite the myths, it does rain in Africa. With rain-seasons varying greatly across countries, always research before planning your trip.

Essential Items

• A good camera or a high quality camera-phone such as the Nokia Lumina would be a “must-pack” accessory when capturing every moment of your trip including the picturesque African landscapes.

• When travelling to Africa, you are spoilt for choice with regards to the many different landscapes. Ranging from Safaris wildlife areas, mountaintops to waterfalls, the choices of accommodation are endless.

• Don’t forget to pack your hiking boots together with thick socks. With the many picturesque mountains and other irresistible hiking routes and sites, it is certainly “heaven on earth”.

• Batteries are essential when traveling in a continent with so much to photograph and so many places to navigate yourself to. No one would like to reach the top of a mountain to find a camera with a flat battery. Practicing power management with your electronic goods would be wise particularly in areas where charging points are minimal. 

• Universal power adapters come in handy when traveling to any country, and will almost certainly be required when visiting Africa as the voltage varies and usually differs from Europe or the US.

• When planning to visit the safari or nature-based areas of Africa, an LED headlamp or torch is vital.

Transport:

• In Africa, there is an endless list of activities and group excursions. Ranging from Wildlife Safari’s (The Big 5 and birding), rivers (Africa is home to the worlds largest river, the Nile), diving, volcano lava lakes, mountains (Mt. Kilimanjaro), picturesque wine farms, extreme sports (worlds highest bridge bungee jump) as well as many opportunities to stargaze whilst seeing the milky way unlike anywhere else.

• Route planning when entering, as well as traveling within, Africa is an absolute essential.

• As Janez and Jeannie make use of their knowledge of history, take this into consideration when planning your flights. Flights from colonial ruling countries can be more affordable.
  

• Smaller countries in Africa can be a difficult factor when planning flights. Many do not have frequent flights thus this could leave you waiting for quite some time for the next flight.

•  Flying is not your only option of travel. Wanting to embrace a glamorous travelling lifestyle, hop on board a cruise ship, which can visit places such as the top of Africa, and islands such as Cape Verde and Mauritius.

• Public transport in Africa is not as efficient as the rest of the world, be sure to plan your modes of transport when route planning. Trains are sparse and majority are bound to one country. A bus (or minibus taxi) is the most commonly used method; when catching a roadside taxi, always remember to be cautious. Many hotels will recommend a safe and reliable transport service.

Language:

• French, English and Arabic are Africa’s most commonly spoken languages. We advise that you learn a few helpful phrases to make dealing with the locals easier.

Current affairs:

• We advise you to be savvy and keep up-to-date with the political and social issues of the African countries that you are planning to visit, as some have a reputation for unrest and rebellion. 

Food:

• Always carry energy bars or other food alternatives when travelling. Food can generally be trusted in Africa, however if you do find yourself hesitant about the local food, an energy bar should be enough to get you through to your next comfortable dining location.

• Instead of sticking to your westernized favourites, always try the local cuisine in order to embrace their unique culture. 

Medical advice:

• As with any adventurous trip, particularly one involving a lot physical activity, a small medical kit is always advised.
  

• A major concern for many when travelling to Africa is the prevention of Malaria. Always consult your doctor before entering an area with common Malaria cases. There are also a number of alternative repellants available such as lavender oil, Vitamin B.  

  
  
  

Technology:

• When traveling in Africa, expect to use 3G more than Wifi, as mobile networks are more widespread and reliable.

• Looking buying a local cellular simcard if you are going to be staying in a particular country for an extended amount of time.

• There are many mobile apps that can help you with your journey through Africa. Our top 3 choices include: “Trip Advisor” which allows you to find last minute accommodation, “Wifi Finder” which helps to find your way around many African countries particularly their major cities and “World Nomands Language Guide” that translates sentences into the many African languages.