Kenya is a feast for those looking to sample this continent for the first time, with hiking mountains, discovering amazing national parks, spotting insane wildlife and strolling along beautiful beaches all easy to experience.
This is now one of the affordable countries to safari in and with choices as fabulous as Amboseli National Park, Nakuru National Park and the world-famous Masai Mara – found out why it’s favourite safari destination.
If you’re not camping in Kenya, because you’re basing yourself in cities or towns, then dorm beds in this country cost around £8 / $10 USD a night, which is a bargain, especially at the coast, given you’ll be nestled among some posh resorts at some beautiful beach spots like Diani.
Don’t forget budget flights can also be snapped up in Kenya – as an example, you can get flights between Nairobi and Mombasa for around £35/$45 USD – and tuk – tuks or motorbike taxis will take you everywhere within small cities or towns for just a few Kenyan shillings.
Uganda is also one of the affordable countries to travel in Africa if you want to enjoy the amazing wildlife and landscapes. With similar pricing to Kenya in terms of accommodation, food and transport, it’s once again the case that your budget will massively be determined by how many other activities, tours and adventures you undertake in this country.
The cheapest way to bag Uganda safaris to the most famous national parks in Uganda, such as Queen Elizabeth and Murchison River, is to head to the capital Kampala and arrange them from there although you need to be flexible on dates for this.
The other place to organize activities and tours from in this country is Jinja. This town is set on the River Nile (in fact it marks the start of half of it) and offers a host of activities including rafting, horseback riding and quad-biking that can definitely hike up the price of travel in Uganda, costing from £35/$40 USD an hour up to £110/$140 USD for a full day.
While here, you cannot miss out for mountain gorillas unless you didn’t book in advance. Uganda is the cheapest place (within the limits of safety) to see these amazing creatures and while it is still a huge ticket item, you can’t do it for less anywhere else in the world.
South Africa is one of the affordable countries to travel in Africa because of its popularity, ease and brilliance as a backpacking/independent budget travel destination.
Greyhound buses and budget airlines can shuffle you around this vast country for very little and if you stick to buying food in supermarkets and cooking yourself, you can get by on a food budget of around £15/$20 USD per day.
When it comes to tours and activities (especially safari ones, which are wildly popular here) the ability to rent a car and self-drive in many of these destinations keeps them much cheaper.
Rwanda’s tragic past, rich culture, and incredible wildlife make it one of the most intriguing places to travel to in Africa.
Kigali is the pulse of the country’s cultural attractions. With its genocide memorials and thriving art scene, it’s a must-visit for history buffs and those who love immersing themselves in different cultures. Kigali is also one of the cheapest African cities to visit. While the backpacking scene is still growing, there are a few hostels to choose from that won’t break your budget.
Those that want to experience the country’s natural beauty; you can use public transport to visit further away destinations like Volcanoes National Park.
Egypt might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of this northern African country. But it’s one of the affordable African countries for travelers. You can book a bed in a dorm room for as little as R114.00 ($7) per night, a first-class ticket on a train costs R200.00 ($13) and you can feast on local food for less than R50.00 ($3).
You can visit the ancient pyramids for R100.00 ($6) and tours start at R235.00 ($15). Cruising down the Nile won’t bankrupt you either and scuba diving in the Red Sea starts at R360.00 ($23) per dive.
Tanzania. If you’re looking for a cheap holiday destination that has gorgeous beaches, look no further than Zanzibar, Tanzania! Spend your days exploring this island’s past, rich culture, and some of the best beaches in the world.
Zanzibar’s Stone Town and Prison Island are not to be missed if you want to learn more about the island’s dark history in the slave trade and how that created its unique culture.
Namibia is the ultimate road trip destination in Africa! Not only are return flights from South Africa super affordable, but it’s possible to camp your way through the country and see its highlights on a budget.
Due to the country’s vastness, you can’t base yourself in one area and go on day trips to attractions. For example, the capital city Windhoek is three to five hours from attractions like Etosha National Park, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Sossusvlei. But what you’ll spend on car rental and petrol, you’ll make up with cheap accommodation.
