TIPS: Planning travels in Africa

Africa is HUGE.

My initial plan started with a rough idea that I wanted to visit the continent, and took a while to whittle down to where to go.

Never have I ever stared at a map so much.

THE WHERE

There are a few key hubs for air transport in Africa - Ethiopia, Nairobi in Kenya and Johannesburg in South Africa. Flights between countries will often route you back through these hubs, even if the countries are next to each other. This was something I initially didn’t realise, so make sure you plan your routes properly. Trips between countries are expensive, compared to what one sees in SEA and Europe. Important to consider when planning your budget! (Within Africa, I flew Airlink and liked the airline and the service onboard.)

THE WHEN

Safari trips are a big part of travel in Africa - it is important to consider the season for this. Travelling in February, I was in what was called the green season. With the rainfall, the landscape has much vegetation and is green - something that brings joy to the locals, but for tourists and safari guides makes it more difficult to spot wildlife. The peak period for safaris would thus be during winter (such as July), because the landscape would be clearer and also in line with the migration period. February however was a great period for exploring landscapes in Namibia, particularly coming from a tropical country. While the days were hot, the nights were cool and great for sleeping in tents comfortably.