LAST UPDATED: 5/10/23 – Tips for Visiting Africa for the First Time

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It was almost midnight when we touched down at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania, so there wasn’t much we could see out of the window of the plane.  As our plane taxied up to the main airport building, the anticipation and anxiety of what this experience visiting Africa for the first time would be like started to build inside of me.  I was visiting Africa for the first time, and I couldn’t have felt more alive.

If you are planning your first trip to Africa, I am so insanely jealous of you right now.  I wish that I could go back to the stages when I was first planning my trip to Africa for the first time. 

Your First Visit to Africa will be Magical

There is so much mystery and wonder associated with the continent.  I was both thrilled and terrified to be finally visiting Africa for the first time.  I fell in love with Africa almost immediately, and will always love Africa, but there is something magical about that first visit.

Like me, you are probably wondering what first time travelers to Africa need to know.  It is for that reason that I am writing this article, to give you, the first-time visitor, some tips for visiting Africa for the first time.

When I first stepped off the plane in Tanzania, I had absolutely no idea what to expect.  That was exciting, but it was also a little bit nerve wracking.  Since then, I have been back to Africa and have visited three additional countries on the continent.

I want to help you understand what you can expect and give you some tips to make you a little less nervous about visiting Africa for the first time.  Hopefully, that way you can concentrate on being a lot more excited!  Below are my top twenty tips to making your first trip to Africa an enjoyable one.

Get Immunizations

While where you are heading to in Africa will dictate what immunizations you will need to get before traveling, there is a high likelihood that you will need to get some immunizations before you travel.  My advice is that you get the immunizations that you need, even if that means you need to spend a little bit of money out of your own pocket. 

To understand why immunizations are so important, check out my article on the importance of taking anti-malarial medications.

If you have questions on what immunizations you will need and what to look out for when you go to get them, below are some general guidelines I can pass on to you from experience.

Vaccination Resources

• Most specialized travel clinics will not accept insurance, so you will have to pay for your travel consultation and immunizations and then request reimbursement from your insurance company later.
• Insurance companies don’t cover all vaccinations. Check with your insurance provider before getting your immunizations.
• Check with your regular doctor first, as often they can do a travel consultation for you and write you the necessary prescriptions for your immunizations, even if they aren’t able to give them to you.  This way you can ensure that at least your travel consultation will be covered by your insurance up-front.
• Check with Walgreens or other drug stores that give flu shots to see if they have any of the immunization shots that you require before going to a specialized clinic that doesn’t accept insurance to get them.  Walgreens is able to give you many of the immunizations necessary for international travel, and they accept insurance up-front.
• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website can be a great resource for answering any travel immunization questions that you have.

Vaccination Recommendations

In case you are unsure of what travel vaccinations you might need, I have compiled a list below of some of what you might expect your physician to recommend (depending on where exactly you are traveling to).

• Antimalarial (Aralen, Qualaquin, Plaquenil, Mefloquine, or Doxycycline).
• Typhoid (either a shot, which is good for 2 years, or live virus pill, which is good for 4 years).
• Yellow Fever (be aware that some countries require a yellow fever vaccination if you are traveling from another country that is high risk, even if your stay in that other country was short).
• Hepetitis A & B (if you haven’t had them).
• Tetanus (if you aren’t current).
• Rabies (if you are going to be working in close contact with animals).
• Dukoral (gives you 3-month protection against travel diarrhea).
• Flu Shot

Give Yourself Plenty of Time and Be Flexible

If you are planning to take a quick trip to Africa, I would strongly suggest that you re-evaluate that idea.  Not only does it take a long time to get there, but it takes a while to see things when you get there. 

Do not expect things to move at the same pace as they do at home as it will be a source of unending frustration for you.  Besides, this is a trip of a lifetime.  You should plan to spend at least a few weeks there if you want to truly enjoy the beauty and wonderfulness of this great continent.

You are going to need to be patient when visiting Africa for the first time. Things don’t move at the same pace in Africa. When things happen, others may not share the same sense of urgency to get things resolved.

For instance, when we were in the Serengeti, we got stuck in mud while on safari.  After over four hours of waiting for help, we began to get a little frustrated, but our guide and the park rangers didn’t understand our sense of urgency.  Be prepared to roll with any delays or hang-ups that occur during your trip.

Be Patient When Things Don’t Work

You should also be prepared for things not to work, quite often, while you are in Africa.  To expect otherwise will only cause you unwanted stress on your trip.  When we were in Tanzania, it seemed like the electricity went out at least once a day, it wasn’t unusual to see faucets in bathrooms that didn’t work, and it wasn’t uncommon to see vehicles that had issues.

I would strongly suggest that you bring head lamps or flashlights with you when you travel, as well as hand sanitizer. If you need to go without electricity or use a restroom without running water, you will be prepared. Being prepared before you travel can save you a lot of stress or discomfort later.

If you are bringing your smart phone, it may also make sense to invest in a portable phone charger.  These cool devices allow you to charge your phone without an active power source.  These portable chargers have saved me on more than one occasion when I have been traveling, so I highly recommend them.

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

When I first stepped off the plane when visiting Africa for the first time, I was in culture shock.  Things were so different in Africa.  If I would have let that get to me, and stayed in a shell, I wouldn’t have had nearly as memorable of an experience as I had.  I wouldn’t have discovered how much I absolutely the culture, the landscapes, and the people.

When you visit, I would suggest having an open mind when you encounter different opportunities.  They might come in the form of new foods to eat, new experiences to have, or ways to interact with and learn from the people who live there.  Travel can be an amazing tool for personal growth, but only if you have an open mind and open heart.

Be Aware of How You Dress

This is more of a recommendation than a guideline.  Before visiting Africa for the first time, you should be cognizant of the fact that the culture and traditions. They are likely very different from those back home.  For instance, in Africa women tend to dress much more conservatively than in the other parts of the world.

For this reason, you may want to keep that in mind when packing so that you are respectful to their culture. It is not necessary to dress like the locals, but you should ensure that your clothing isn’t perceived as disrespectful.

Not to mention, there are practical reasons for carefully planning what you pack.  If you plan on going on safari, or even plan on being outside quite a bit, you are going to want to have ample protection against mosquito bites. 

Many regions of Africa are in prime Malaria hotbeds, and you are going to want to protect yourself.  In case you are unsure on what to pack, I have included some general guidelines for you to review below.

General Guidelines for Dress in Africa

• No shorts or skirts shorter than knee length.
• No bare shoulders (unless you are on the beach).
• You might want to consider leaving your two-piece swimsuit at home.
• No graphic T-shirts that are disrespectful.
• Smart, casual dress is recommended when eating out. Collared shirts are recommended for men.
• Avoid bringing name brand running shoes or clothing, which will make you easily stick out as a tourist.
• Long pants made of breathable material are ideal, especially if you are going on safari.  They will also help protect you from mosquito bites.
• I would suggest bringing comfortable hiking shoes or boots, and preferably ones that cover your feet entirely.  Again, you want to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
• Wide brim hats that protect you from the sun.
• Good sunglasses and SPF sunscreen. 

Bring the Right Forms of Payment

You need to pay extra close attention to the forms of payment you bring with you.  First off, forget about bringing travelers cheques with you, they are nearly impossible to use in much of Africa.  Besides, getting them is a waste of money anyways. Here are some tips on what to do for money when visiting Africa for the first time.

Bringing Cash to Africa

I would also avoid carrying large amounts of cash with you.  Most likely, you will find that exchange rates from your home currency to the local currency in most of Africa will be very high, so even exchanging a small amount of money will leave you with a large number of bills.  Unless you want to have several gangster rolls in your pockets or purse, I would suggest only exchanging moderate amounts of money at a time.

When bringing cash to Africa, make sure you bring larger bills. The bills should be less than 10 years old.  Many places in Africa will not accept older bills and many places won’t accept $10, $5, and $1 bills.  I would recommend going to the bank and requesting new $20 and $50 bills.

ATM and Credit Card Advice

ATM machines are the best way to get cash in Africa because they tend to be easier to find.  However, be aware that some countries like Zimbabwe have had currency issues. In these situations, cash is in short supply and ATM machines may not be in service.

To avoid having issues with a machine that doesn’t work, I would suggest looking for a local bank with an ATM machine to use.  Your personal bank will give you the best exchange rate, so withdrawing money from an ATM will save you money as well.

Typically, only hotels, large restaurants, and large stores accept credit cards in Africa. Not to mention, the ones that do accept credit cards will primarily only accept VISA cards.  There are places where VISA cards are not accepted. However, if you want to avoid exchanging as much cash, a VISA card with no foreign transaction fees is a good option.

If You Have a Chance, Go on Safari

If you have the opportunity to go on safari when you are in Africa, I cannot recommend that you take that opportunity strongly enough.  Being on safari was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.  It is an experience that I will absolutely never forget.  Seeing wild animals in their natural habitat, for me at least, will never get old.

However, before you go, you should be aware of some of the unknown aspects of being on safari so that you can plan accordingly.  I have listed some of these aspects below so that you can prepare yourself for what to expect.

What to Expect on Safari

• There is a lot of driving involved.  Obviously, this differs from location-to-location within Africa, but you don’t typically step off the plane and into a safari vehicle.  The scenery is typically very beautiful. However, there is a lot of time spent driving too-and-from parks and looking for wildlife. 
• You aren’t at a zoo where there is always wildlife to look at.  This is why it is so important to research the best times of year to visit for wildlife viewing before making your travel plans.
• Space is limited in safari vehicles. Don’t plan on bringing a lot of gear with you when you are out on safari.  Your gear should include a camera, binoculars, bug spray, sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, a light jacket or rain jacket (depending on the weather), and toilet paper.
• Your sleeping conditions will vary greatly depending on the country and park you are visiting and the accommodations you pay for.  You may be given the option to sleep in a nice lodge or spend the night in a tent within the park. All accommodations are safe, but you should understand where you are staying before you go.

Safari Safety

• Being on safari is generally pretty safe, but there are some guidelines you will want to follow.  Your safari guide will fill you in on more details prior to your departure.  You should wear neutral or natural toned colors and avoid wearing any bright whites.
• When you are out on safari, animals typically aren’t aware that you are a separate entity from the vehicle, unless you stand up or make wild movements.  So, when on safari, try and remain seated and don’t make any extravagant movements that will get their attention.

READ MORE:

The Essential Safari Packing List

READ MORE:

Tips for Photography on African Safaris