Top countries for a first time visit to Africa

Last updated March 14th, 2023.

This guide may contain affiliate links. At no cost to you, they allow me to provide these free and, even if I do say so myself, expert guides based on almost two years of travel in Africa. For a broader view, don’t miss my complete guide to travel in Africa.

Africa’s reputation can be intimidating to say the least. However, go behind the headlines and you’ll find a mesmerising continent full to brimming with sights and experiences. Heading out on safari is a no-brainer. But there’s a lot more to Africa besides. Here are what I think are the top countries for a first time visit to Africa.

1. South Africa

You could say South Africa has it all. There’s wildlife, with 21 national parks offering up a range of safari experiences across a vast area. Kruger National Park alone encompasses an area equivalent to that of Wales.

Safaris can cost big bucks, but definitely worth the price. Aim to spend at least three days in Kruger to make the best of it. It’s easily reached from Johannesburg (and South Africa’s primary international airport). If your budget doesn’t stretch quite that far, consider a single full-day tour instead. Led by an experienced team, they are still very much worth it!

Then there’s South Africa’s coastline, where humpback and south right whales are frequent visitors between June and December. Marking the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans at Cape Agulhas, surfers and kite-surfers fly in from across the world to experience the breaks.

At the same time great whites propel themselves out of the waters. The only place in the world they are known to do this, it makes Hermanus (and Cape Town) the perfect shark diving destination.

If that’s not all, there’s the heady sights, sounds, and smells of Cape Town. The city routinely tops the charts of the most liveable cities anywhere in the world. Incredible value for money thanks to a depreciation of the South African rand over the last 20 years, there are almost endless opportunities to bungee, kayak, paraglide, hike to the summit of Table Mountain and generally get the adrenaline flowing in bucket loads.

And for an extra impetus to head straight to South Africa, most passport holders needn’t worry about a visa either.

2. Tanzania (and Zanzibar)

It’s Kenya that generally gets the credit when it comes to east African safaris. This is due to the famed Maasai Mara and Tsavo East National Parks. But the wildlife viewing in Tanzania is as good, if not better, than its northern neighbour.

What’s more, seeing fewer international tourists means the country has a slightly more laidback feel too.

In Tanzania there are big names. There’s the Serengeti (actually directly linked with the Kenya’s Maasai Mara anyway). But also the Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro – the continent’s highest, and Selous Game Reserve. The latter is the largest protected area anywhere in Africa. When it comes to wildlife holidays, Tanzania is hard to beat.

And if that wasn’t enough, the Spice Islands of the Zanzibar archipelago lie a couple of hours by boat from Tanzania’s main city and airport at Dar es Salaam. Here golden beaches, luxurious resorts, and an intriguing amalgam of cultures comes pretty close to paradise on earth.

So as well as dozing on a pristine beach, you’re sure to want to head out on a tour or two. If your stomach leads the way, consider this brilliant evening food tour of the island’s unique cuisine. It will leave you plenty of time during the day for all things beachy.

Alternatively, get the lowdown on the culture and history of Stone Town, the island capital, with this walking tour.

3. Ghana

The first time I visited Ghana was so long ago I was still using a film camera. Only one European airline was brave enough to fly there.

It wasn’t my first time in Africa, but Ghana certainly makes for a first foray into this incredible continent.

For one thing, as a former British colony, English is widely spoken on the streets. Ghana was the first black African nation to gain independence – in 1957. It is one of the few countries in West Africa where English is the official language.

But Ghana’s claims as a top first time African destination don’t stop there. Ghana boasts an incredible cultural history. For one thing is the chain of 20-plus European-built castles that line its Atlantic coast. If you visit only one, make it either Cape Coast (where Barack Obama headed in 2009) or nearby St George Castle Elmina. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They played a major role in the transatlantic slave trade, making them melancholic and fascinating in equal measure.

The cultural theme continues with the Ashanti in the centre of the country. Their king is still a powerful figure, visiting monarchs and presidents around the world as well as the odd tourist in his Kumasi Palace. Other attractions include Kumasi’s Asantehene (Manhiya) Palace Museum. Its multiple galleries display an intriguing array of artefacts from the tribe’s history, including a Second World War Imperial Japanese flag.

Further north, you’ll discover the sorts of animals – elephant, hippo, and leopard – more closely associated with east Africa at Mole National Park.

Sightings aren’t as guaranteed as they are in Tanzania. However, visitor numbers are in the tens rather than the hundreds, and a stay will cost you a fraction of the price. Walking safaris will get you close to elephant and antelope. Game drives take in forest home to leopard and hippo lakes.

4. Morocco

Another country that has realised the benefit of visa-free travel for tourists is Morocco. One of Africa’s few remaining monarchies, it’s well connected by air and sea to Europe. In fact, Morocco is just 9 miles (14 km) south of Europe at its closest point.

The country is able to show off an alternative side to Africa than a fly-drive safari. Here you’ll discover the four imperial cities of Fez, Meknes, Marrakesh and Rabat. Each are rich in cultural attractions ranging from ancient mosques to top museums. There’s also slightly seedy and down at heel Tangier, which is always an assault on the senses, and the blue city of Chefchaouen. The Old Town is so instagram friendly it hurts, while its position in the Rif Mountains is second to none.

While it might be tempting to dash around these cities take your time to enjoy watching the world go by. Enjoy a mint tea at a small street side café, or wander alongside locals to a restaurant for the best tasting tagine you’ll ever eat in your life.

5. Botswana

Botswana is possibly the easiest and safest of all African nations I’ve travelled around. Pretty much all its major attractions can be reached independently. That said, as a first time visitor to Africa you’ll get a lot more out of your trip by taking a guide-led tour at least part of the time.

The country’s treasures lie primarily in its natural wildernesses. Almost half of Botswana’s landmass is protected in some way. And although much it is occupied by the Kalahari Desert, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to see.

Hugging the borders with Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe in the north of Botswana is Chobe National Park. Large enough to be slipt into several zones, its sandy soils are home to everything from kudu to lion. Get out onto the waters of the Chobe River on a sunset cruise, and the animal encounters just keep coming.

Though impressive enough, you can’t visit Botswana without heading to the Okavango Delta. A UNESCO World Heritage Site that truely deserves the designation, it is unique in the world. Earth’s largest inland river delta, it reaches it’s peak water levels between June and August.

These months are therefore the best ones for a mokoro (canoe) trip through its myriad channels. Hippos – which created the channels – are almost ten a penny. Elephant also enjoy the water’s edge, while giraffe, rhino, buffalo and lion inhabit Chief’s Island. Indeed, the Big Five are one of the attractions of the Moremi Game Reserve section of the delta.

If there’s a downside to Botswana, it’s that its accommodation and safaris tend to be aimed at the upper end of the market. It’s therefore probably not the ideal destination for a first time visitor to Africa with a backpack in tow.

Top countries for a first time visit to Africa

If you’re thinking of heading to Africa for the first time, take some time to consider the five countries above that I think are the top countries for a first time visit to Africa. Mauritius also comes highly recommended to me from Rob Baker (who wrote the book Toubab Tales). So if you’ve got your own thoughts, why not drop them below?