017670812809 info@pieronetours.com Accra, Ghana · Munich, Germany
Travel planning for Africa
🗺️ Trip Planning Checklist

Plan Your Africa
Trip with Confidence.

Everything you need to organise — from the moment you decide to travel to the day you return home. Work through each phase and arrive fully prepared for the journey of a lifetime.

Interactive Checklist All African Destinations Printable Version
1
3–6 Months
2
2–3 Months
3
4–6 Weeks
4
Final Week
5
Day of Departure
6
On Return
Your Timeline

Six Phases to a
Perfect Africa Trip

Tick each item as you complete it. Your progress is saved automatically.

6 mo
Book & Plan
3 mo
Documents & Health
6 wk
Logistics & Prep
1 wk
Final Checks
Day 0
Departure
🎯
Phase 1
Book Early & Set the Foundation
3–6 Months Before
Booking & Itinerary
Choose your destination(s) and travel dates
Research which African countries or regions match your interests — wildlife, culture, beaches, history, or a combination.
Required
Book your tour or itinerary with Pier One
Confirm your programme, payment schedule, accommodation type, and group arrangements with your Pier One coordinator.
Required
Book international flights
Book early for the best fares — especially for peak season (Nov–Mar) and major hubs like Accra, Lagos, Nairobi, and Cape Town.
Required
Purchase comprehensive travel insurance
Ensure cover includes medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and all planned activities. See our Insurance Guide →
Required
Budget & Finance
Set your total travel budget
Include tour fee, flights, insurance, visas, vaccinations, kit & equipment, personal spending, and emergency funds.
Required
Notify your bank of travel dates and destinations
Prevents cards being blocked abroad. Confirm daily withdrawal limits and any international transaction fees.
Recommended
📋
Phase 2
Documents, Visas & Health
2–3 Months Before
Passports & Visas
Check passport validity — minimum 6 months from return date
Most African countries require at least 6 months validity beyond your planned departure. Renew early to avoid delays.
Required
Apply for all required visas
Ghana (e-Visa), Nigeria (on arrival or sticker), Kenya (e-Visa), Rwanda (on arrival), South Africa (visa-free for many nationalities). Check country-specific requirements.
Required
Make 2 certified copies of passport and visa pages
Keep one copy at home with a trusted person, and pack one separately from your passport.
Recommended
Vaccinations & Health
Yellow Fever vaccination — mandatory for most African countries
Obtain International Certificate of Vaccination (Yellow Card). Required at many border crossings and airports.
Required
Begin anti-malarial medication course
Options include Malarone, Doxycycline, or Lariam — consult your GP or travel clinic. Some courses start 1–2 weeks before travel.
Required
Check and update routine vaccinations
Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Tetanus, Meningitis, Rabies (if going to remote areas or working with animals).
Recommended
Visit a registered travel health clinic
Book at least 6–8 weeks before departure to allow time for multi-dose vaccines and medical advice tailored to your destinations.
Recommended
Arrange prescription medications for full duration of trip
Request a doctor's letter confirming all prescribed medications. Pack 2x the required amount split across hand luggage and hold.
Required
🎒
Phase 3
Logistics, Kit & Preparation
4–6 Weeks Before
Communications
Arrange international roaming or a local SIM card
Local SIMs (MTN, Vodafone, Airtel, Safaricom) are widely available and far cheaper for calls and data than roaming plans.
Recommended
Download offline maps (Google Maps / Maps.me)
Download your destination regions before departure. Useful in areas with intermittent data coverage.
Recommended
Share detailed itinerary with a trusted contact at home
Include accommodation names, Pier One emergency contact, and your travel insurance policy number.
Required
Packing — Clothing & Essentials
Light, breathable clothing (neutral colours for safari)
Pack layers — mornings can be cool in highlands. Avoid dark navy/black for safari (attracts tsetse flies).
Required
Conservative dress for cultural and religious sites
Long trousers/skirt, shoulder cover. Essential for mosques, traditional palaces, and certain community areas across West and East Africa.
Recommended
Sturdy, worn-in walking shoes and sandals
New boots cause blisters on long game walks. Break in footwear at least 3–4 weeks before departure.
Required
Packing — Health & Safety
High-factor sunscreen (SPF 50+) and UV-protective sunglasses
The equatorial sun is intense — even on overcast days. Reef-safe sunscreen for marine conservation missions.
Required
DEET insect repellent (50% concentration or higher)
Apply every 4–6 hours in malaria zones, especially at dawn and dusk. Permethrin-treated clothing adds extra protection.
Required
First aid kit and personal medical supplies
Imodium, oral rehydration salts, plasters, antiseptic wipes, blister treatment, antihistamine, paracetamol, ibuprofen.
Required
Water purification tablets or filter
For remote areas or if bottled water is unavailable. Lifestraw or Sawyer Squeeze filters are compact and reliable.
Recommended
Packing — Tech & Equipment
Universal power adapter (Type G, D, or C depending on region)
West Africa: Type G (Ghana) or D. East/Southern Africa: Type G or M. Confirm with your destination list.
Required
Portable power bank (20,000mAh+)
Power outages are common in some areas. A large power bank keeps all devices charged during long travel days.
Recommended
Camera, binoculars, and dust-proof storage bags
For wildlife destinations, 8x42 binoculars are ideal. Dry bags protect electronics during boat trips and rain.
Optional
Phase 4
Final Week Checks
5–7 Days Before
Documents & Confirmations
Print all travel documents — flights, hotel confirmations, tour itinerary
Many African airports and immigration desks still prefer paper copies. Don't rely on your phone battery.
Required
Confirm airport transfers and pick-up arrangements with Pier One
Share your flight number and ETA with your Pier One coordinator for smooth arrival.
Required
Check-in online for all flights (if available)
Select seats and save your boarding pass digitally and as a screenshot in case of connectivity issues.
Recommended
Withdraw an appropriate amount of local or USD cash
USD is widely accepted as a backup currency across Africa. Bring crisp, clean notes — worn or torn notes may be refused.
Required
Home & Personal
Arrange care for pets, plants, and home security
Ask a trusted neighbour or family member to check in regularly.
Optional
Set email and voicemail out-of-office messages
Include your return date and an emergency contact for urgent matters.
Optional
✈️
Phase 5
Day of Departure
Departure Day
Passport, Yellow Card, and visa printouts in hand luggage
Keep all critical documents on your person — not in hold luggage that could be delayed or lost.
Required
Anti-malarials, medications, and first aid in carry-on
Never put medications in hold luggage. Airlines permit clearly labelled prescription medicines in carry-on.
Required
Save Pier One emergency number offline on your phone
Screenshot or note our 24/7 on-ground contact in your phone notes — accessible without data.
Required
Arrive at airport minimum 3 hours before international departure
African international airports can have lengthy check-in and security queues — especially during peak season.
Required
🏠
Phase 6
On Your Return
After Your Trip
Complete your malaria prophylaxis course
Most anti-malarials must be continued for 7–28 days after leaving a malaria zone. Do not stop early.
Required
See a doctor if you develop fever within 3 months of return
Mention your travel history immediately. Malaria symptoms can appear weeks after exposure and mimic flu.
Required
Submit your Pier One post-trip review
Your feedback helps us improve every journey for future travellers and benefits the communities we serve.
Recommended
Consider supporting your host community long-term
Ask your Pier One coordinator how you can continue to contribute — through fundraising, advocacy, or a return visit.
Optional
Your Progress
Keep going — you're building a great trip
0 of 35 items complete
🌍 Pier One Pro Tips
💧
Always drink bottled or purified water — even in capital cities. Ice cubes in restaurants can be a risk in some destinations.
📵
Respect local photography rules — always ask before photographing people, markets, or sacred sites.
💵
Bargaining is expected at markets but done with warmth, not aggression — and always with a smile.
🦟
Apply repellent before sunset — not just at night. Malaria-carrying mosquitoes are active at dusk.
🏥
Register with your home country's embassy or high commission in-country for emergency support.
🛡️ Need Travel Insurance?
Our insurance guide covers what to look for, what Africa-specific risks to cover, and our trusted provider partners.
Insurance Guide
💬 Have a Question?
📞
Our travel specialists are available Mon–Sat, 8am–6pm GMT to answer any planning queries.

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Africa Dream a Reality?

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