If you have ever imagined strolling through a spice market in Zanzibar, partaking in a bowl of jollof rice with strangers in Ghana, or waking up to rhythmic drumming from a drum in a remote village, then you have taken your first steps in your journey.
But like you, I held back. The African continent, with all its richness and complexity draped on, feels more like a someday destination shoved behind extensive travel plans of other places. It feels expensive. It feels difficult to plan. I thought the same until I made my first visit to Africa.
That is when I realized the truth; some of the most breathtaking, heartfelt, and delightful moments of travel I have experienced in places where my expenses barely exceeded twenty dollars a day. Yes, airfare is expensive. But once you set foot on the continent, all your assumptions of where claiming Africa would drain your monetary reserves and increase constraints, get disproved.
The guide is not structured around how to save money, meant to achieve the new definition of travel. It is exclusively formed in the direction where travelers look for genuine experiences, guided by the local populace, draped in culture, adventure, all while saving money and using their brain.
Everything I came across while travelling without a goal in mind was not included in the travel guide or the Instagram highlight of the day. It was in the eyes of children who adored playing football in the heart of Malawi.
It was in the boisterous laughter of the passengers that resided on an Ethiopian minibus. It was found in the serene composure of the elders at the Moroccan mountain villages, and in the cadence of the chatter in Ugandan cafes. Those are the moments I want you to uncover. To reach them, there’s no need for lavish comfort.
What Affordability Really Means When You Travel Africa
While in Africa, things work differently from the rest of the world as travelers tend to think about affordability as steeped in budget cuts, taking a shortcut and having less to spend. The truth is quite the opposite in Africa. The more frugal you are, the more connected you become to the places you visit.
When visiting Africa, you’re bound to use your legs instead of driving. You’re bound to eat in local eateries. Your lodging is also set to change from hotels to guest houses. All of these changes allow you to experience the raw essence of the continent.
For example, there was a time I spent a week in a remote village in Malawi, $50 a night at a hotel, absolutely stunning views and my cabin was right by the porch.
Even though the air conditioning unit was missing, the room had a window that opened to children singing in the distance. The meals were unelaborate, and I often enjoyed them with the family I stayed with. One evening, the father brought out a handmade drum. We sat by the fire while he taught me a rhythm that I still tap on my lap unconsciously. I didn’t just visit. I belonged—for a moment. Cannot price that kind of value.
When you release your expectations of what Africa has to offer and let go to its rhythm, your costs drop and experiences multiply.
Morocco’s Color and Chaos Are Still Surprisingly Cheap
Morocco was the first African country I have ever visited. While arriving in Marrakech, my expectations were extremely high. Marrakech far exceeded my expectations. Morocco is unlike anything I have ever experienced before. Back in my hometown, a roadside motel would cost more than what my current accommodation is. I booked a riad tucked away beyond the frightfully loud medina.
For someone like me who is traveling for the first time, the hosts make sure that their guests are treated royally. Sipping sweet mint tea on the rooftop while the city’s call to prayer rings in the distance is truly a surreal experience.
Traveling to the souks is free of charge and offers picturesque scenery at every turn. Kefta sellers market their delicious food courtesy of street carts for only one dollar. Locals offer guiding services for the High Atlas Mountains at rates that are lower than bus tours offered in Europe. The unparalleled prices give rise to unparalleled adventures throughout the region.
The staged culture that is often seen throughout the West was for the first time bitterly absent in Morocco. Moreover, Morocco single handedly altered my perception of what affordable travel truely means, and while doing so, gave me affordably rich, immensely intense, soul-shaking experiences.
Ethiopia: Where Culture and History Meet the Roof of Africa
Traveling through Ethiopia felt like time travel. The churches of Lalibela, carved into stone, stood silent and majestic beneath the rising sun as priests in white robes carried ancient scrolls. I arrived in the highlands by bus—an all-day journey that tested my patience but rewarded me with landscapes that looked like paintings and strangers who became friends by the end of the ride.
The food is unforgettable. For just a few dollars, I shared massive plates of injera and spicy stews in local eateries with no menus, only smiles. Accommodation was basic, but every room came with character—and often, an unexpected view of the hills or a courtyard filled with chatter.
Ethiopia isn’t easy. The roads are long, the pace is slow, and the infrastructure sometimes feels like an afterthought. But if you let go of modern expectations, you gain something deeper. You’re not just seeing culture. You’re feeling it under your feet.
Ghana: Warmth, Rhythm, and a Budget That Works
There are multiple reasons to keep going back to Ghana. The beaches, food, and hospitality to travelers cannot be compared. I personally experienced this hospitality as soon as I set foot at the airport in Accra. A gentleman showed me how to get the right tro-tro and helped me book the right one to the city. “No tips are required, just enjoy my country,” were the words that gentleman said. That succinctly tells you all about Ghana.
The intercity travel was very emotional. From Cape Coast to Accra, it was economical travel that I’d never imagined. The tro-tros were shared with locals, allowing me to interact with locals in the lesser known small towns. For a wholesome, drinkable, less than two dollar highlife glass, heartfelt slave fort walks were accompanied by student beach bar dances. A village visit where I chanced upon a women crafting lotions taught me how to competitively dye fabrics I could use for lunch.
With every other country I visit, there is pressure to spend if you want to be socially in the circle of friends. But Ghana is filled with kindness, and fortunately this isn’t just PR fluff that gets tossed around in a tourism campaign. Things such as being looked after, fed, greets at every corner literally turn out to be kindness, which isn’t hard to give out as long you are travel-worthy. And that is something every traveler can get if they are respectful explores.
Uganda: The Source of the Nile and the Heart of Adventure
In Uganda, I came across adventures woven into my daily routines. I made a stop in Jinja which is the staring point of river Nile and serves as a beggining point for both rest and activities. My water-side guest house was greeted with wonderful hospitality as the aunt of the owner supplied mouth watering meals. And to top it all, my hospitaitly was charged a lot less than I expected.
I was truly astonished with the prices in Jinja. Remember that white-water rafting ride you went to and was talk of the town for weeks. Yes, it was under seventy dollars. Fearing for my life because the cost was almost equivalent to dinner at a fancy Western restaurant, I decided to give woman strenuous exercise a shot.
If that was vigorous then aged two bravados might have blown me away with their sheer display of strength and cuteness while dancing in the school yard. So fearing for my impending demise, I tried to tell the little rug rats about the amazing fluffy white stuff modelled as pillows, also known as snow. In exchange these adorable kiddos promised to teach me their native languages.
For the record, Uganda is far beyond a national park and gorilla safari tracking emporium and no shocker, the price is jaw-dropping. Why is all of this here you may wonder: so that every single day I wake up, strive to remain motivated, feel like I have a purpose, and finally inspire to stay alive.
Tanzania: Where Swahili Culture Meets Epic Landscapes
The first destination in Tanzania to capture my heart was Stone Town. The atmosphere is filled with the scents of spices and ancient stone. The call to prayer blends with distant drumbeats. My wonderful experience was at a family-run inn where local bread and fresh fruits were served for breakfast in a shaded courtyard. I settled the bill in cash directly to my hostess. On my departure, she insisted I sample her daughter’s wedding soup.
Even Zanzibar, which has developed a reputation for higher prices, can be traveled affordably. Eat from local eateries. Book accommodation right off the beach and have drinks with locals. Fishermen are often more interesting than tour reps. That is the local style.
On the mainland, I met some budget travelers in a shared safari van into the Serengeti. We pitched our own tents, cooked our own meals sandwiches, and soaked up the sights of lions, elephants, and flamingos. Adventure is in the little things. In Tanzania, it often feels more real when it’s not luxurious.
Malawi: The Country That Gave Me Back My Joy
Malawi was not part of my initial travel plans. During a visit in Zambia, someone recommended that I go to Malawi and I decided to go, which ended up changing my perspective. My journey started with a long bus ride to Nkhata bay, where I ended up staying by the lake for weeks. This was surprising even to me because all I did was wake up one morning, gaze at the lake, and decide that I did not want to leave.
Every day, I visited the lake, aided in preparing meals in the guest house, and gave lessons on my old camera to the local children. The amount of money that I had to spend was very low and was only covered by my food and accommodation expense. These experiences, though simple, were priceless.
Tunisia: Ruins, Roses, and Real-Life Magic
Tunisia did fascinated me when I first visited the place where Monaco meets the desert .Walking around the historical remains of Carthage sipping on mint tea and enjoying splendid views of the Bou Said area was nothing less than heavenly for a person on the budget. Did I forget to mention that mint tea is an affordable beverage , good for the palette depleting dinars left on your pocket?
Street food and public transport were both ultra affordable, as well as easy to navigate through. Even though I couldn’t speak French or Arabic very well, I was still able to enjoy some pleasnt dialogues over handshakes and smiles. The magic of Tunisia is the combination of African identity combined with unique deep roots influenced by Arabia, Europe.
Tunisia is a budget wonderland. In this, it allows storytellers to cherish boundless experiences.
Travel Africa Slowly, and You’ll Spend Less While Feeling More
When it comes to traveling across Africa, I learned that the slower you go, the more you save and, more importantly, the more you feel. Rushing through activities and locations requires the use of private cars or planes. When you immerse yourself in the culture, by eating the local cuisine, riding the local transports, and staying at locally owned lodgings, that is where the culinary magic unfolds.
I still fondly remember a journey I took between two towns in northern Ethiopia. I was taking a bus and it conveniently decided to break down on me. At that moment, people began to laugh instead of complain and that’s when it all hit me.
While basking in the glory that the sun provides, we waited until a pick-up truck came to assist us. I immediately climbed into the back with the hald of the passengers that had already boarded. I didn’t learn most of their names, however the faces would stay with me forever. The snacks and stories they had to offer created a priceless memory that would stay with me, all for less than a cup of coffee.
My Opinion
Contrary to popular belief, Africa has the potential to be a wonderful place. Africa has the potential to shock you, not because it is cheap, but due to its generosity. Africa doesn’t need you spending money left, right and center to feel welcomed. Culture isn’t put behind a ticket booth, as it is readily available and waiting for you to seize the moment around the corner, in a kitchen, by a fire, or in the middle of nowhere with a stranger who becomes a friend.
The adventure and culture arising from Africa’s low-cost travel destinations are rich in substance. These destinations show the immense value of traveling not for the purpose of spending money, but instead spending time joyfully exploring deep stories and rich cultures. So, board the flight. Pack lightly.
Explore with an open mind. And keep in mind: Africa is not putting its exploration on hold until your traveling funds are ideal. It is simply ready and waiting for your affirmative reply.
