Africa is a travel destination that can be as cheap or expensive as you want. If you're willing to take local transportation, eat local foods and camp, Africa is one of the cheapest places on the planet. When I arrived, I realized that my main goal would be not to ruin myself. Africa is far from being a cheap holiday destination, and it can be easy to go over budget here.
Most people who travel to this part of the world 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 opted for a tour that was not luxurious but still safe and reputable.
We camped every night in a tent, helped our chef cook our meals, clean the dishes, etc. Although there were options along the way to upgrade hotel rooms, it 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. I spent 2.5 weeks in East Africa and my total cost was relatively low.
This included an additional taxi fare from Uganda to Rwanda, and the two buses I took to and from Nairobi airport. All my accommodations were included in the tour and I was provided with a tent. 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., so this is where I budgeted the most because I never wanted 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.
I converted my travel budget to USD but provided the value of local currencies in each section. Most of South Africa and Namibia are malaria-free, and it all depends on whether you travel during the rainy season or not. Landing by land is a relatively cheap way to get around Africa if you don't want to travel alone. In this post, I look at the pros and cons of this option.
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. I can't stress how important it is to have travel insurance for your trip to Africa, as medical care isn't free. For a complete overview of the health precautions to be taken when traveling to Africa, check the NHS website, Fit for Travel, and always consult your doctor. If you're okay with these little things, you're sure to save a lot of money in your own budget to travel to Africa.
I spent 3 months traveling around Africa - mainly South Africa - and then visited some places in Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. As an expert traveler who has been around Africa multiple times on different budgets, I can confidently say that traveling around this continent doesn't have to be expensive if done right! With careful planning and research into different options available for accommodation and transportation, it's possible to explore this amazing continent without breaking your bank account!
The key is understanding what kind of experience you want out of your trip - do you want luxury or are you okay with roughing it? Once you decide on that, it's time to start researching different options available for accommodation and transportation within your budget range! For accommodation options, camping is usually one of the cheapest options available - especially if you bring your own tent!
You can also look into hostels or guesthouses which offer basic amenities at an affordable price point! For transportation options, local buses are usually much cheaper than taking taxis or renting cars - just make sure that they are safe before boarding! It's also important not to forget about travel insurance when planning your trip - medical care isn't free in most African countries so having insurance will give you peace of mind while traveling!
Additionally, make sure that you research health precautions before heading out - check out websites like NHS Fit for Travel for more information! Finally, don't forget about tipping - it's customary in many African countries so make sure that you budget accordingly! Overall, traveling around Africa on a budget is definitely possible if done right! With careful planning and research into different options available for accommodation and transportation within your budget range - plus making sure that you have travel insurance - it's possible to explore this amazing continent without breaking your bank account!.
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