Africa contains some of the world's most affordable travel alongside some of its most expensive safari experiences and knowing which half of the continent you're in makes an enormous difference to a budget trip. North Africa and parts of East Africa, where currencies have weakened significantly, can be remarkably cheap for food, transport and accommodation.
The destinations on this list range from backpacker hubs along established overland routes in East and Southern Africa to North African cities where a strong dollar or euro stretches unusually far. Shared transport keeps costs down considerably compared to private transfers or organised safaris.
Avoiding pre-packaged safari pricing is usually the single biggest budget lever on the continent. Travelling overland and booking activities directly rather than through international operators can cut costs dramatically.
