Holidays in Africa

Africa stretches for 5,000 miles from north to south, so the journey can vary widely depending on your location. Direct flights from the UK to countries in north Africa, such as Morocco and Egypt, take around four to five hours, while flights to Cape Town in South Africa take around 11 hours 30 minutes, 12 hours to Mauritius and over 13 hours (including a stop) to Madagascar.

All our trips to Africa are escorted tours, some of which also include a cruise or safari with all meals, and with options visiting multiple countries or focusing on a single destination. There’s the chance to theme your trip to Africa around the continent’s astonishing wildlife and natural wonders, to see one of the wonders of the ancient world, relax on beaches or to take an unforgettable rail journey.

Whatever tour you choose, Saga includes our nationwide return shared chauffeur service, to pick you up from home or another address, and take you back after your trip finishes. We also offer optional travel insurance, plus all escorted tours have an expert tour manager to make sure everything runs smoothly, alongside tour guides to ensure you see the best of your destination.

You’re spoiled for choice across the continent when you’re planning a holiday, from the culture and heritage of northern Africa to the wildlife and safaris of the east and south of Africa. But you can also find great cities, unique creatures and tropical golden beaches. South Africa is one of the best destinations in Africa to start off, including the attractions of Cape Town, the Garden Route, the winelands and the chance to enjoy a safari by the Cape or at Kruger National park.

Egypt is another favourite Africa holiday destination, home to the iconic pyramids, as well as the chance to sail to the temples along the Nile. If you’re looking for another short-haul alternative to Europe, Morocco mixes historic cities like Marrakech, Fez and Meknes with mountains, the Sahara desert, and Roman ruins. Or if you’re fascinated by Africa’s wildlife, head off on safari in Kenya, Botswana or Namibia or discover the unique creatures of the island of Madagascar, including its famous lemurs. There’s another Indian Ocean paradise to explore in neighbouring Mauritius too, with white sand beaches but also tea plantations, a multicultural heritage, a 100m high waterfall and botanic gardens.

There’s no bad month to visit Africa, although your choice of destination and activities will be the deciding in factor when you’re looking at where to go. If you’re heading to north Africa, the shoulder season of spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best option, outside the fierce summer heat of summer. Egypt is still pleasantly warm during the day in the winter months too, although Morocco tends to be cooler. In South Africa, the Cape has a Mediterranean climate, so late spring to early autumn is also a good time to visit this part of the continent – the seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphere, which means you’d need to plan a trip between November and March. Elsewhere in the country, the cooler winter months of May to September are ideal for a safari with the driest weather.

If you’re planning a safari, the country’s dry season tends to be the best time to visit, as it’s easier to spot animals around water holes and when the undergrowth is thinner, as well as avoiding any disruptions from heavy rains. In Kenya, this is from July to September (which also coincides with the Great Migration), from July to October in Namibia and from May to October in Botswana, when it’s also a fantastic time to explore the Okavango Delta. If you’re combining Botswana with Zimbabwe for Victoria Falls, the cascades are at their fullest earlier in the year, from around March to May. Or on Madagascar, September to October are two of the best months to explore, while July and August are also ideal to spot whales off the coast. And if you’re heading for the beaches of Mauritius, May-June is warm without being too hot, and quieter than peak season, while September to December are also good months to choose, with the temperatures (and crowds) increasing through the year.

There are six time zones across Africa, from Cape Verde in the west, which is one hour behind GMT, to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the east, which are four hours ahead of GMT. The remainder include 13 countries on the same time zone as GMT (including The Gambia), 14 which are one hour ahead of GMT (including Morocco), 16 which are two hours ahead of GMT (including Namibia and South Africa) and nine which are three hours ahead of GTM (including Kenya and Madagascar). No countries in Africa observe daylight savings except Egypt, although Morocco does sometimes alter its clocks during Ramadan.

The majority of African countries require UK visitors to have some form of visa, including Kenya, where you need to get an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travel and Namibia, which now also requires a visa (available online or on arrival). If you’re visiting Zimbabwe and Zambia, it’s possible to get a KAZA Univisa which is valid for travel between both countries, available at Zimbabwe’s airports and the land border at Victoria Falls.

You can visit Morocco, Botswana and South Africa for up to 90 days without a visa, and Mauritius for up to 60 days without a visa. If you’re visiting Madagascar for more than 15 days, you need to buy a 30 or 60-day single-entry tourist visa on arrival at the airport. Visa regulations can change, so you should always check the latest information.

The vaccinations recommended vary from country to country, but you’re advised to have additional vaccinations for most destinations in Africa on top of those suggested for life in the UK. For Egypt, you’re advised to ensure boosters for polio are up to date, as well as having a tetanus vaccination, while both tetanus and Hepatitis A are recommended for Morocco. Hepatitis A is also recommended for South Africa and Namibia, along with any boosters required for diphtheria (plus tetanus for Namibia).

If you’re visiting Zimbabwe or Botswana, Hepatitis A, polio and tetanus are all recommended, while for Madagascar and Kenya, diphtheria, Hepatitis A, polio and tetanus are advised. Tetanus is also recommended for holidays in Mauritius.

African food is as diverse as the many countries which make up the continent, so you’ll find quite different dishes in north and south, east and west, as well as local specialities and ingredients. In north African countries such as Morocco, you’ll find tagines, a slow-cooked stew using a special dish with a domed lid. Meanwhile in Egypt, you’ll find food similar to other Middle Eastern and Mediterranean destinations, including shawarma, falafel and dips such as hummus and ful, made using broad beans.

South Africa’s cuisine alone is incredibly varied, with influences from Europe, Asia and the Indian subcontinent, alongside traditional African ingredients. Expect meats such as antelope, ostrich and crocodile on the menu, along with biltong, made from spiced dried meat, boerewors sausage, and the Cape Malay dish bobotie, using spiced minced meat that’s baked and topped with an egg, plus fish and seafood along the coast.

There are more grilled and stewed meats to find in countries such as Kenya, but look out too for the spiced leafy greens known as sukuma wiki, and ugali, made from white or yellow cornmeal and served as a side dish with everything from soup to fish to stew.

Namibia has its own porridge-like side dish made from sorghum or pearl millet to accompany game meat and fish, but don’t miss a taste of kapana, a snack using grilled red meat dipped in spicy tomato sauce. Look out for German influences here, too, with everything from schnitzel and the thick noodles known as spätzle to creamy cakes. Head to West Africa, and Jollof rice is a favourite, a one-pot rice dish with a spicy tomato flavour, while injera is a staple in Ethiopia, a spongy flatbread made using sourdough, to name just a few.

Mount Kilimanjaro is found in northeastern Tanzania, near the border with Kenya. This large dormant volcano was formed around two million years ago and is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain above sea level in the world. The mountain is now part of Mount Kilimanjaro National Park.

Algeria is the largest country in Africa at around 2.38 million km sq, closely followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo. South Africa also makes the top 10 largest countries in Africa by landmass, with Mauritius among the smallest.