It’s 2020 and if you haven’t visited the African continent yet, the time is now! After last year’s epic Year of Return festivities in Ghana, I don’t know what else can convince you that Africa is the place to be!

Now you might be thinking, “Yes, I would love to go. But Africa is a huge continent. Where do I even begin to plan a trip!”

If this is your first time planning a trip to Africa, your anxieties aren’t too off base. With over 50 culturally rich countries to pick from, this is not a trip you want to take lightly. From what clothes to pack to which airline to fly, the number of details in planning a trip to Africa can feel overwhelming.

But did you know that planning a trip to the Motherland doesn’t have to be incredibly stressful? It’s all about taking each stage of your trip planning step by step until, bam! You’re going to the Motherland! Plus, with this handy guide, you’ll know exactly what to do to get yourself on African soil in no time. So let’s go through how to plan your 2020 visit to Africa!

But first. Our top three reasons to visit the Motherland in 2020!

1. #FortheCulture. The African continent is rife with thousands of different languages and ethnic groups just waiting to be explored. From the Shona of Zimbabwe to the Fulani of Senegal, there is a stunning amount of culture to comb through. So if you’re ready to be enlightened by the vast cultural diversity it’s time for a trip to Africa.

2. To connect with your roots. Is there anything really better than walking the land of your ancestors? If you’re someone of African descent, this is a trip owed to you! After centuries of separation from your history, you can finally have the opportunity to reconnect with what was lost. On a trip to Africa, you’ll get to retrace the footsteps of your forefathers and foremothers. And if you go deep into the villages, you’ll get a taste of how they may have lived. Whatever you do, you’ll return home with a deeper understanding of your African roots and walk with your head held that much higher.

3. Because Africa is the future. Have you noticed all the talk lately about Africa being the final frontier? There’s an immense amount of development happening all across the continent and fast. Simply put, Africa is where it’s at. Things are changing quickly. Why wouldn’t you want to witness all the excitement?

So you now that you’re sure you want to visit the African continent, it’s time to plan your visit. Here’s how to start.

How to plan your 2020 visit to Africa

Step 1: Choose a Country

Which part of Africa is calling your name the loudest? And how do you narrow down your top favorite choices?

Here’s a helpful article I wrote on how to pick what African country to visit. To sum it up, the first thing you should do is some basic research. Google images of east, west, central, southern, and northern Africa and see which region you’re most attracted to. Once you’ve figured that out, go a level further and start reading about individual countries. Then, think about what kind of trip you want. Do you want beaches or safari? Do you want hot or moderate weather? Do you want to experience eco or cultural tourism? If you’re into history, read up on the types of museums that countries in your region have. Make a list of what type of vacation interests you most. And then pick the countries that match your interests best. You can use this free downloadable worksheet to help you make your list. Before you know it you’ll have narrowed things down to your top one or two countries. From there, pick one country and continue on with your planning!

Step 2: Get your passport & research visas…now!

If you don’t have a passport already now is the time to order one. If you do have one, make sure it has enough blank stamp pages in it as required by whatever country/ies you’ve decided to visit. If you do it early enough, you can request to have additional pages added into your passport. Don’t wait too long to do anything relating to your passport as it can take weeks to complete.

You can find out the visa requirements for various countries on websites like visahunter.com. Or you can contact an embassy or consulate in your home country for more specifics. Their websites are also good sources for visa information.

Step 3: Select your travel dates

The time of year that you visit an African country can have a big impact on your travel plans. Remember, many countries have rainy and dry seasons and winters and summers. If you want to visit Victoria Falls, it may not be as visually exciting during the dry season than in the wet one. And a beach day in South Africa will be pretty chilly if you visit during their winter! So as you choose your African travel dates, be sure to research the weather for that time of the year to avoid any unwanted surprises!

A rundown of things to consider as you choose your travel dates:

The season that time of year (can impact availability of certain activities).
National holidays (think about attending some festivities!).
High season versus low season (traveling during the off peak tourism season tends to be cheaper).
The weather that time of year (if you hate extreme heat avoid summer seasons).

Step 4: Book your tickets

Once you know when you’re going it’s time to reserve your flight/s. You can use travel sites like Expedia or Vayama to compare airline prices or use Google flights to track ticket costs over time. Generally, the fewer stops on a flight the more expensive. So skip over those direct flights if you’re looking for a steal fare. Before you book, don’t forget to sign up for sky miles that you’ll accumulate on your trip. A few more trips to the continent and you’ll have earned a free flight!

Step 5: Design your itinerary

It’s time to pull out your planner or calendar app and plan the day to day activities of your Africa trip. So what do you want to do while you’re in X African country? Nightlife? Game drives? Cultural tours and museums? Hiking? Or would you like to attend historic national celebrations? What kind of transportation do want to use while in-country? Decide what kind of activities interest you the most and research where they are in-country. Internet search engines and travel websites can be super helpful with finding tourism information and booking contact details.

Make any reservations you need to but don’t wait until the last minute because some activities may book out months in advance. If you’re overwhelmed by the idea of organizing your trip all alone, reach out to a travel agent or trip planner to help you set things up for a fee.

Here’s a rundown of the basic stuff to think about including on your trip itinerary:

Accommodation.
Transportation.
Tourism activities.
Socializing.
Dining.

Step 6: Buy travel insurance

When it comes to travel insurance you’ll find that you can choose from several different coverage options. First, you’ll need to decide what type of insurance you want. Would you like missed connecting flights covered? Lost luggage? Or how about emergency medical or evacuation coverage? Quick tip: For medical travel insurance choose a policy with a high coverage limit (a good limit is $100,000). You also need to make sure your insurance is actually usable in the African country/ies you’re visiting. Once you choose a policy be sure to read the fine print closely before you sign up so that you’re clear about exactly what you’re covered for. You can use an insurance travel comparison engine search tools to compare different insurance options.

Step 7: Make your packing list

With a good list, packing for a trip to Africa doesn’t have to be a headache. And, my ultimate guide to packing for a trip to Africa will make the process even smoother. Once you’ve decided where you’re going, what you’ll be doing, and what the weather will be, you’ll know what to bring along. Going skiing down Namibia’s world-renowned sand dunes? Make sure you pack along some light clothes and sturdy shoes for sliding down all that sand! Thinking about hitting up Accra’s hottest nightclubs? Slip your sexiest heels and clutch in your luggage. It should go without saying that a camera (and maybe an extra SD card) is a must! Just start gathering your travel items in advance to avoid unnecessary stress!

You can also google phrases like ‘what to pack for X African country’ and get tips from travelers who’ve been to the country you’re heading to. But be sure to check out my ultimate Africa packing guide for super detailed packing advice!

Step 8: Read up on the local culture

Learn a few local phrases like greetings (greeting is big across Africa) to interact with the locals, and buy a travel book or two to learn more about the country. If you really want to be prepared, read up on the history of the country so that you have better insight into the culture. Feel free to check out the local news in the country beforehand too. Remember that the more informed you are as a traveler, the better you’ll be able to connect with locals, which means your overall experience will be even meaningful.

Step 9: Pack!

My biggest advice on this is not to wait until the last minute! Don’t spoil your excitement about traveling to Africa with a mad dash of shopping and packing the day and night before. You want your pre-departure week to be as stress-free as possible. And be sure to check with your chosen airline about the maximum number of free luggage and any weight restrictions. You should also find out what liquids you can and cannot take with you in your carry-on and how they need to be packed (these days most carry-on liquids need to be placed in zip lock bags).

You should also leave space for all the awesome souvenirs you’ll likely return back home with! Try not to stress too much about every little detail because if you forget something you can likely find a replacement in the country.

You’re ready to take on the Motherland!

See! That wasn’t so painful, was it? While we tend to think of planning a trip to Africa as some exceptionally ginormous task when the truth is it’s not much different than planning a trip to any other part of the world. With the right pace of planning and a well thought out approach, you’ll be setting foot on the continent in no time. If you truly want to experience all the goodness African life has to offer, take the plunge and start planning your vacation now!

How to Plan Your 2020 Visit to Africa!