Travel and Expatriation in Africa

Going on safari in Kenya or on vacation in the Seychelles? Are you an expatriate in South Africa or retiring in Morocco? In Africa, medical costs can quickly become quite high in private medical centers. So, whether you’re going abroad for a few days or a long time, and to protect yourself in the event of accident, hospitalization or repatriation, it’s important to think carefully about taking out international health insurance before you leave. Our country advice pages will help you in your quest for information about your destination country.

Find practical information and health insurance by country

When to go to Africa?

The climate in Africa varies enormously depending on the geographical area in which you are located. Here is a table showing the different climates and seasons in each African country:

• In green : the climate is favorable for visiting the country, with mild temperatures ;
• Yellow : the climate may deteriorate, but remains generally correct ;
• Orange : the climate is likely to be very unfavorable for travel
• Red : travel is not recommended during these months, as temperatures tend towards extremes and so does the weather (heavy rain, full sun).

25 must-see places in Africa

Here are 25 must-see places to visit during your stay in Africa, based on the continent’s different geographical zones:

North Africa:

The Sphinx of Giza (Egypt)

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo (Egypt)

Jardin Majorelle (Morocco)

Carthage (Tunisia)

The souk of Marrakech (Morocco)

Southern Africa:

Cape Point (South Africa)

Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Okavango Delta (Botswana)

Namib Desert (Namibia)

Swaziland (Swaziland)

West Africa:

Notre Dame de la Paix Basilica (Ivory Coast)

 

Cape Verde

 

Gorée Island (Senegal)

Osun-Oshogbo sacred forest (Nigeria)

Lac Rose (Senegal)

East Africa:

Victoria Falls (Zambia-Zimbabwe border)

Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)

Kendwa beaches (Zanzibar)

Omo Valley (Kenya)

Lake Nakuru (Kenya)

Central Africa:

Nyiragongo (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Ekom Falls (Cameroon)

Boali (Central African Republic)

Korup National Park (Cameroon)

Which vaccines for Africa?

For a stay in Africa, it is highly recommended that you have your vaccination schedule up to date:

• Diphtheria
• Poliomyelitis
• Tetanus
• Rubella, mumps, measles

It’s also advisable to get vaccinated against meningitis, hepatitis A and B, rabies and yellow fever. Take precautions against mosquito bites, which can transmit Chikungunya and dengue fever. Maintain impeccable hygiene at all times, and eat well-cooked food to avoid cholera contamination.
Finally, there’s very little chance that you’ll catch any of these diseases, so if you take every precaution there’s nothing to worry about.

What are the best itineraries for discovering Africa?

To discover Africa, we recommend that you visit the continent by dividing it into three parts:

• North Africa
• Central and West Africa
• East and Southern Africa

You should also choose your itinerary according to what you want to discover. All three geographical zones have their own cultural riches. For example, for a first trip to Africa, we recommend that you visit North Africa or Southern and East Africa. Central and West Africa is the least touristy of the three. To minimize local risks, it’s a good idea to know exactly what to do in the event of an emergency, and to have already traveled to a number of foreign countries. In Southern Africa, you can visit numerous natural parks where you can go on safari. You’ll also find yourself visiting some of the world’s most beautiful natural spots, such as Cape Point in South Africa. If you choose to travel to North Africa, you’ll also be able to visit breathtaking natural sites. But above all, you can visit numerous religious, cultural and historical monuments created by man, such as the Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia.
Below is a map showing three circuits that you can use as inspiration for your own:

Cost of living in Africa’s major cities

In Africa, the cost of living is lower than in Europe. Here’s an idea of the average cost of living in major cities in African countries with the highest expatriate populations:

Can we drink tap water in Africa?

In Africa, it’s advisable not to drink tap water, especially if you’re visiting for a tour, a short stay or a road-trip. Poorly filtered water could put an end to your trip, or even require you to be medically repatriated. However, it is possible that in some cities, tap water is drinkable. Our advice is: don’t take any unnecessary risks, filter it, or buy corked bottles of mineral water.

Top 6 diseases not to catch in Africa

These diseases are still present on the African continent, but even if they are becoming rare, don’t neglect the risks and take every precaution, especially against mosquito bites.

• HIV
• Tuberculosis
• Ebola
• Cholera
• Malaria
• Yellow fever

Top 5 most dangerous cities in Africa, where crime is highest

Here’s a ranking of the 5 most dangerous cities in Africa.

1. Cape Town (South Africa)
2. Benghazi (Libya)
3. Durban (South Africa)
4. Nairobi (Kenya)
5. Lagos (Nigeria)

It’s important to distinguish between cities where tourists are not advised at all, due to the risk of being mugged all over the city, and cities where crime is concentrated in certain areas.
For example, the current economic, political and social situation in Caracas, combined with the poverty of its inhabitants, make this the most dangerous city in the world. The homicide rate is one of the highest, if not the highest, in the world. Some police forces are corrupt, and mugging and theft rates are extremely high. Wars between cartels and between cartels and police can break out in any part of the city. The kidnapping rate is highest in the upscale neighborhoods.
On the other hand, some cities have extremely high crime and danger rates. However, crime and danger are concentrated almost exclusively in certain neighborhoods, while other parts of these cities are very touristy and quite safe. It’s essential to find out all you can about certain cities before you go.

What are the main low-cost airlines in Africa?

The main low-cost airlines in Africa are :

• Fly 540 (Kenya) 
• Jambojet (Kenya)
• FlySafair (Afrique du Sud)
• Kulula (Afrique du Sud)
• Mango (Afrique du Sud)

How do you get around Africa?

The main means of transport in Africa, between countries, is by air. There are very few international train lines, partly due to colonization and territorial wars between European countries. As a result, the main railway lines were 100% dedicated to mining and exporting. For example, if you want to travel by train to Djibouti from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), it will take you 15 hours and 25 minutes for a distance of 1120km. By way of comparison, it takes 7 hours to reach Perpignan from Lille, for a distance of 1020km. What’s more, there’s only one train leaving every two days, so if you miss it, you’ll have to wait 2 days to hope to catch it again.
For international travel in Africa, we recommend air travel. The African continent is much larger than Europe in terms of surface area. This means that the distances you have to cover to get from one country to another are much greater. Travelling by air is the quickest way to cover the continent, and flight availability is far greater than by train.
For travel within a country, you can take rail lines of varying speeds, linking the country’s major cities. For example, in 2018, Morocco inaugurated its first high-speed train lines in partnership with SNCF. The journey between Casablanca and Tangier by TGV now takes 2 hours and 10 minutes, compared with 4 hours and 45 minutes previously.
To get around Africa within a major city, you can easily take minibuses or cabs. Cabs are much more affordable than in Europe or North America. But beware: in some African countries where crime is rife, such as South Africa, the DRC, Nigeria and Kenya, you are strongly advised not to take unsafe or touted cabs. They are unreliable and may be in league with criminals. Choose secure platforms such as Uber or G7 cabs.

Time difference in Africa

UTC or Universal Time Coordinated, is the time in Reykjavik, Iceland UTC 0 all year round.
For example, in France we’ll be at UTC + 2, in London at UTC +1.

What are the best student cities in Africa?

The ranking of the best student cities in Africa is based on the ranking of universities within cities, combined with the infrastructure provided for students:

1. Cape Town
2. Johannesburg
3. Cairo
4. Nairobi
5. Dakar

What are the most popular cities for expatriates in Africa?

Here is a selection of cities with strong expatriate communities:

•  Le Cap (South Africa) 
• Johannesburg (South Africa)
• Nairobi (Kenya)
• Lagos (Nigeria)
• Tanger (Morocco)
• Praia (Cape Verde)
• Tunis (Tunisia)
• Alger (Algeria)
• Port Louis (Mauritus)
• Victoria (Seychelles)