If you want to visit multiple countries in Africa, it will take a bit more planning than say, planning a trip to America or even Europe. In a large part because the transportation systems in Africa are not as developed, and getting between destinations in-country can sometimes be a challenge (but one that will be well worth it). The next big decision you’ll have to make is what countries you want to hit on your trip. Just be aware that Africa is a vast continent, and you could spend months travelling the fantastic cities, countries and national parks that make up this amazing part of the world.
The best approach to visiting multiple countries in Africa is to plan your trip by region. Since it will be difficult (and time-consuming) to get from country to country by train or bus, you will mainly be travelling by air. Once you’re in-country, getting around varies, depending on the country. A word to the wise—you’ll be travelling on “Africa time”. Not all modes of transportation use a schedule or timetable. Sometimes, the bus will leave when it’s full. If you adopt this mindset, you’ll save yourself many moments of frustration. Just sit back and enjoy the ride!
In this article, you’ll find suggestions of places to visit in Africa that would be good to add to your multi-destination itinerary. Including places to stay and the best way to get to and from each destination. We also suggest highlights for each destination, but you can modify your plans based on your budget and timeline. So, sit back and enjoy the ride as we show you how to plan a multi-destination trip to see Africa!
Where to start
Picking a good starting point is essential because it sets the tone for the rest of your trip. If you visit the destinations below, we’d start in the West African country of Senegal and then head north and then east across North Africa through Morocco and Ethiopia before we head south along the Swahili coast to Tanzania. We’ll end our trip in the magnificent country of South Africa.
Senegal is a great starting point because Dakar is a global business hub, and flights into the capital are pretty reasonable from the US and Europe. If you follow this route you should be able to get direct flights between each of the mentioned countries.
When to go
When planning your African trip, you’ll need to time your visit with the wet and dry seasons and when the animal migration happens. This is key because an African safari is something you don’t want to miss! You won’t be able to hit the best weather in all the places you will be visiting, but if you take your trip between September and January, you’ll be guaranteed to see some of the wildebeest migration in Tanzania.
Again, Africa is such a massive continent with so many places to see, it is not practical to pinpoint the best time to visit all of the countries listed on our multi-destination/multi-regional trip.
Africa tour packages and pre-planned itineraries
If you’re not comfortable planning a trip around Africa yourself then another option is to book a tour package that will include a guide and a pre-planned itinerary. These also often come with accommodation, transport whilst at the destination, entry to attractions and heaps more making it a great way to travel. We would recommend having a look on G Adventures or bookmundi for tour packages as they have some great options and provide lots of detail on what you’d be seeing during your trip. As well as this for some tours you can see customer ratings which can help you decide based on customer feedback.
Getting between destinations in Africa
It’s really not practical to drive, take a bus, or a train between destinations in Africa. Good news! There are some great global and regional airlines that operate on the continent, and you’ll be able to find and book them online using sites such as KIWI or Google Flights. If you’re coming from the US, you may do better to book your flights going through Europe instead of flying non-stop. It will save you some money and allow for more flexibility.
Getting around in-country
Once you’re in-country, there are a variety of options for getting around. The best way to get recent and first-hand information about how to get to the places on your bucket list is to work with your hotel/backpackers lodge, or go online and sign up for tours yourself. You can do a lot of pre-planning before you arrive. Believe it or not, many countries in Africa have great tourism companies and do most of their business online. For example, sites such as G Adventures or Intrepid Travel offers top-notch tours for most African countries. Intrepid have tons of experience and have been in business since the 1980s. Kensington Tours is another company that is great to work with. They are even a National Geographic Award-winning tour company.
Ideas for your Africa multi-destination itinerary
Country 1: Senegal
To start our multi-country African trip, we land in the capital city of Senegal, Dakar. You’ll feel the West African vibe as soon as you drive from the airport, as you pass the bustling streets and see the colourful markets in Dakar. These offer vibrant African fabrics, traditional wood carvings, masks, and fantastic street food. From wild beaches to wildlife-rich forested parks, Senegal provides plenty of places for you to begin your African adventure.
Some highlights of Senegal
- Visit Goree Island – Learn the history of the West African slave trade at this moving monument to Africa’s scarred past
- See the IFAN Museum of African Arts – See the history of the region through the arts and crafts that make up the West African culture.
- Shop for souvenirs at Marché Sandanga – Visit Dakar’s oldest and largest market to pick up interesting crafts that represent the culture of the West African people
- Take a trip to Lac Rose – Watch salt collectors work along the shores of the “Pink Lake”.
- Cruise the Gambia River – Take a luxury boat excursion down the scenic Gambia River and see some fascinating wildlife.