+49 176 708 128 09 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
🖨️ Print Your Checklist
Save a paper copy for easy reference while travelling
🎯
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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