Most people who travel to Africa opt for a tour or safari that can take them to all the places they want to see. This can come at a high price, but as with any destination, you can always make it cheaper or more expensive, depending on your budget and the level of comfort you're looking for. In Africa, there are plenty of luxury safaris or private tours that you can book, which will naturally be more expensive. I recently traveled to the east of Africa as cost-effectively as possible while still ensuring safety and a reputable company.
We camped out every night in a tent, helped our chef cook our meals, and cleaned the dishes. Although there were options along the way to upgrade to hotel rooms, this wasn't a luxury safari by any means. We made stopovers in Europe, as there are no direct flights that can take you from Toronto directly to Nairobi. This probably seems low for 2.5 weeks in any country, however, since I did a tour, most of my transportation was on our bus that was included in the tour. The above price only includes an additional taxi fare that I had to go from Uganda to Rwanda, and the two buses I took to and from Nairobi airport. Once again, since I was on tour while in East Africa, all my accommodations were included and I was provided with a tent.
However, at the end of our trip, we had an extra day in Nairobi and had to pay for an extra night at the hotel where our tour ended. It's important to note that accommodations, or anything else, in these countries aren't as cheap as you think they would be. This is definitely where you'll probably spend most of your budget when taking a tour. Most travel companies do not include all optional activities in the cost of the tour. Naturally, when you're traveling, you'll want to do some excursions, etc.
That's why it's always wise to budget more because I never want to have to say “no”. It's also important to budget tips for all the tour guides you have along the way. DON'T be stingy and make sure you give an acceptable tip. Here's a good guide to tipping in Africa. If you consider the high price of flights and safaris, it is more expensive to travel around Africa than to visit Latin America, Southeast Asia or even much of Europe.
I'm Lucy, I've been traveling for more than 25 years and I share guides, itineraries and tips on my blog On the Luce to help you create elegant, affordable and sustainable travel experiences around the world. Most of South Africa and Namibia are malaria-free; however it all depends on whether you travel during the rainy season or not. As you can see, this expense is significant enough that you should consider it when you're traveling in Africa on a budget. This way, I was able to enjoy the benefits of bus trips for long-distance trips and bicycle trips for local transportation. On the other hand, if you want to go on safaris, go on excursions and stay in decent hotels, Africa is one of the most expensive continents to travel to. You can significantly reduce your budget to travel around Africa and live unforgettable experiences while camping in the forest. Before you travel to Africa, you'll most likely need to get some vaccines and medications to stay healthy during your trip.
For a continent full of developing countries, one would think that the cost of traveling around Africa would be relatively cheap. Also known as the travel cost index or the backpacker index, the countries below are ordered from most to least expensive according to the average daily travel price per person and day.
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