Five myths about travel to Africa
Africa is lauded as the destination of a lifetime by those fortunate enough to visit on safari -- and perhaps equally feared by those who read headlines about war, disease and misfortune.(Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Is there anywhere in the world that's as misunderstood as Africa? Lauded as the destination of a lifetime by those fortunate enough to visit on safari — and perhaps equally feared by those who read blistering headlines about war, disease and misfortune — Africa is the subject of many misconceptions and generalizations. Here are five we should put to rest.
1. Africa is really one country.
Amazing as this may sound to seasoned travelers, this is a remarkably common misconception, in part because Africa is often spoken of as a single place.
"Africa is in fact a continent, the second largest on the planet after Asia," says Rumit Mehta, the Kenyan-born CEO and founder of Immersion Journeys, which takes travelers to both East and West Africa. "It's home to 54 independent countries that all belong to the African Union or United Nations. Each has a constitution, government and army, as well as dazzlingly diverse landscapes from mountains to beaches, grasslands to river deltas, all home to exotic animal habitats."
Indeed, it's the sheer size of the continent that's hard for many people to get their head around. Geoffrey Kent, founder, chairman and CEO of Abercrombie & Kent, points out that "Dakar, Senegal, in West Africa is actually closer to New York than it is to Nairobi, Kenya, in East Africa or Cape Town, South Africa."
2. Africa has a lot of violent crime and is very dangerous.
Headlines about carjackings in Johannesburg, robberies in Nairobi and piracy off the coast of Somalia are what many people think of when Africa is mentioned.
"But South Africa has halved its murder rate since the 1990s and, according to the United Nations, Africa is now less dangerous than Central and South America," says Mehta of Immersion Journeys. "Most thefts in Africa are directly tied to socio-economic issues and are opportunistic, so stumbling out of a night club in Nairobi and walking to your hotel at 3 a.m. is a sure-fire way of getting your wallet stolen. A great tip is to use common sense and have confidence in an experienced tour operator to put together a customized itinerary."
There is also a great deal of misinformation about crime in Africa, says Shanny Hill, marketing manager of TDA Global Cycling, which offers long-distance bike tours throughout Africa. The perception is "made worse by government travel warnings with irresponsible and overly cautious advice. If one tourist is pickpocketed in Lilongwe, Malawi, for example, the Australian, American and British travel advisory may make blanket statements that warn of 'pickpocketing in Lilongwe'. There is a lack of differentiation between isolated incidents and more widespread problems."
Hill notes that his company is now in its 14th year of bringing groups of cyclists to bike across Africa and says that "unlike bus tours, you are very exposed on a bicycle. The most common feedback we get about the dangers of Africa from our cyclists is that the perception doesn't match the realities of the welcoming cultures we meet along the way."
3. Africa has major problems with diseases.
"Ebola has been significantly curbed in Africa in the past year and the disease is generally confined to three countries in Western Africa — Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone — which are not frequent American tourist destinations," says Mehta of Immersion Journeys.
Once again, geography can help define the dangers. In the case of Ebola, "consider that Europe and even South America were closer to the epicenter of the outbreak than the two major tourist regions, East Africa and Southern Africa, which had no incidents of Ebola," says Dennis Pinto, managing director of Micato Safaris. "One thing that has always been true is that as a traveler, you need to make an informed decision based on geography, not on perception."
That said, while HIV/AIDS is still prevalent in southern Africa, new infections are declining as the number of people receiving treatment grows. There is "much more education, prevention and awareness of AIDS and other diseases," says Mehta. Most visitors going on safari are given a list of suggested or required medications, such as anti-malarial drugs. A far bigger health problem for any visitor to Africa are traffic accidents, which he says are "more risky for healthy Americans living, working or traveling in foreign countries than crime or disease. So, buckle up."
4. I like the idea of a safari, but it costs a small fortune.
There are safaris for all budgets, says Pinto of Micato. "All-inclusive Africa trips offer good value and compare very favorably to the cost of a do-it-yourself European trip because everything is included: all meals, hotels, gratuities, intra-country flights, transportation and park fees."
Mehta agrees, adding that "taking a safari doesn't require a second mortgage. But luxury accommodations and environmentally responsible eco-lodges built in the remote, undeveloped wilderness don't come without some cost. Much of the cost goes towards conservation, anti-poaching teams, animal welfare and veterinary science research."
It also comes down to choosing the best company that your budget can afford, not the most expensive or luxurious outfitter. Hill of TDA says "be a smart traveler and do a two- or three-day camping safari instead of a five- to seven-day lodge tour. It's enough time to see huge amounts of wildlife in the Serengeti or Kruger and the camping helps you feel a little more connected to your wild environment, which is a key part of the experience."
5. African hotels are not up to Western standards.
This year's Travel + Leisure World's Best list included 20 hotels in Africa, so that statement really doesn't hold water. Africa has many five-star hotel brands such as Protea Group, Serena Hotel, Tsogo Sun, Wilderness Safari Lodges, andBeyond and Sun International. But luxury is a bit beside the point.
"Don't come looking for U.S. standards," says Hill of TDA. "You are traveling to a place that is not catering to your way of life. The hotels and restaurants have their own standards and you need to adapt. The most pleasurable hotel experiences I have had are in the smaller, locally owned places that have quirky features that make you smile. Be open-minded and you will get more out of the experience."
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