Africa Travel Tips
The small things that experienced travelers wish they’d known on their first trip. Etiquette, communication, money, and the unwritten rules of life on the road in Africa.
Before you fly
Set yourself up while you’re still at home
Book light-aircraft seats early
Bush flights between camps in Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia have limited capacity and sell out months ahead. Confirm transfers before you book accommodation.
Tell your bank you are travelling
Card networks regularly block African transactions as suspected fraud. A two-minute call to your bank stops that. Bring two cards on different networks (Visa and Mastercard).
Download offline maps
Use Google Maps Offline or maps.me for the regions you are visiting. Mobile data is good in cities, patchy in parks and absent in deep bush.
Photograph your documents
Passport, visas, insurance, vaccination certificates. Email yourself a copy and store another in your phone’s cloud drive.
On the ground
Day-to-day habits that smooth the trip
Greet first, ask second
Across Africa it is considered rude to dive straight into a request. A short hello and a ‘how are you?’ opens almost any door.
Use your right hand
In much of East, West and North Africa, the left hand is associated with hygiene rather than eating or greeting. Use your right for handshakes and shared food.
Ask before photographing people
A smile and a gesture toward the camera is enough. Many local guides will introduce you and translate. Some people will ask for a small tip — pay it cheerfully.
Time runs differently
‘Africa time’ is a real thing, especially in rural areas. Build buffer into your day, don’t schedule back-to-back tight connections, and bring a book.
Bring small notes
Tips, market stalls, parking attendants, soft-drink stops. Change for a USD 100 note in a village is a serious ask. Break larger bills at hotels.
Drink water and eat little, often
Game drives and long transfers leave you more dehydrated than you realise. Two litres a day is a minimum at altitude or in the heat.
Staying connected
SIMs, eSIMs and WiFi
Most African cities have better mobile data than people expect. The issue is which option you pick — and how to keep working out in the bush.
Best for: Travelers passing through multiple countries
eSIM (Airalo, Holafly)
Activate before you fly. Regional plans cover several countries for one fee. Faster than a SIM but pricier per GB.
Best for: Stays of a week or more in one country
Local SIM
MTN, Vodacom, Airtel and Safaricom dominate the continent. Buy at the airport with your passport. Data is cheap (USD 5–10 for 5–10 GB).
Best for: Cities and main-camp lodges
Lodge / hotel WiFi
Usually free, sometimes slow. Remote camps may have one hotspot in reception only. Don’t expect calls.
Best for: Short stops in one country only
Roaming
Easy but expensive. Worth it for a 2-day stopover, not for a 2-week trip.
Tipping
What to tip, and to whom
Tipping in Africa is generous compared to Europe but light compared to North America. The figures below are widely accepted norms — adjust up for outstanding service.
| Scenario | Guideline | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Safari guide (private) | USD 10–15 per guest per day | Given direct to the guide at the end of your stay. |
| Safari tracker / spotter | USD 5–10 per guest per day | Where you have a separate tracker on the vehicle. |
| Lodge / camp staff (general) | USD 10 per guest per day | Place in the staff tip box at reception. It is shared among everyone you don’t see. |
| Porter at a lodge | USD 1–2 per bag | Hand it to them directly. |
| Restaurant (cities) | 10–15% | Check the bill — South Africa often adds a service charge for groups of 6+. |
| Taxi / rideshare | Round up | Tipping is not expected on metered rides but always appreciated. |
| Kilimanjaro porters | USD 10–15 per porter per day | Per the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project guidelines. |
Safari guide (private)
Given direct to the guide at the end of your stay.
Safari tracker / spotter
Where you have a separate tracker on the vehicle.
Lodge / camp staff (general)
Place in the staff tip box at reception. It is shared among everyone you don’t see.
Porter at a lodge
Hand it to them directly.
Restaurant (cities)
Check the bill — South Africa often adds a service charge for groups of 6+.
Taxi / rideshare
Tipping is not expected on metered rides but always appreciated.
Kilimanjaro porters
Per the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project guidelines.
Culture & etiquette
How to be a good guest
Dress modestly outside resorts
Especially in Muslim-majority North and East Africa. Shoulders and knees covered in towns and at religious sites keeps everyone comfortable.
Take your shoes off
When entering a home or a mosque. Watch what your hosts do and copy it.
Bargain politely
In markets across North and West Africa, the first price is a starting point. Smile, counter at 30–40%, settle at 60–70% of the original. Walk away if you’re not enjoying it.
Don’t bargain on prices that aren’t bargainable
Supermarkets, fuel, ride apps and most restaurants have fixed prices. Pushing back makes you look uninformed.
Buy local where you can
From village crafts to safari tips, putting money directly into local hands is the most useful thing a visitor does.
Heads up
Common irritations and how to handle them
None of these are dangerous. They’re just things that first-time visitors find frustrating and locals find normal.
Persistent touts in tourist cities
Marrakech, Stone Town, Livingstone, Cape Town’s Waterfront. Polite firmness works: ‘no thank you’ with eye contact, keep moving. Never accept ‘help’ that wasn’t asked for.
Curio sellers at viewpoints
Hand-carved giraffes are everywhere. Decide your price before you start, and remember you have to carry whatever you buy.
Police checkpoints
Routine in many countries. Have your IDP, passport copy and vehicle papers ready. If asked for a ‘fine’ without paperwork, politely ask for a receipt — it usually ends there.
Slow-moving queues
Visa-on-arrival, mobile money, immigration. Bring patience and an offline book. They move when they move.