Travel to Africa and view a part of the world most people will never have the chance to see. Often the trip of a lifetime, visiting Africa offers endless possibilities for the traveler. For those traveling with financial restrictions, an important part of the journey will be finding the cheapest available transportation.
By far the cheapest way to travel within Africa itself is via share taxis. In Ghana, they are called tro-tros, in Tanzania dala-dalas and in Egypt share taxis are known as mashrou. Wherever you are traveling, this is how the common citizen gets around the country.
Share taxis in Africa vary from minibuses where more than 20 people are practically sitting on top of each other to flatbed trucks outfitted with rails, benches and a roof of sorts often with three goats, two chickens and a sack of cassava on top. These vehicles are not for the faint of heart, and you should not expect other tourists on board. Choose your driver wisely as driving methods can sometimes get creative.
Sail down one of Africa's many rivers on the cheap. Whether on an actual sail or motor boat, river travel is often a fascinating, if not slower, mode of getting around. In the Republic of Mali, for example, travelers can board a boat in Mopti and travel for two nights on the Niger River to the mythical Timbuktu. In most cases, prices are negotiable, and bargaining is encouraged. In the case of Mali, it is not uncommon for a small crowd to gather around as you and the ticket salesperson battle it out. Pay special attention to what the differences are between first and second class lest you find yourself sleeping in the cargo hold in a hip-high space atop a bag of rice.
Fly within Africa visiting multiple stops and save. Multi-stop travel is sort of a niche market in the United States. Not many travel agencies handle this area, and even fewer work solely in this arena. However, agencies that do handle multi-stop flights generally offer substantial savings. If, for example, you're flying first to Accra, Ghana, for a month before flying across the continent to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and later still to Cairo, Egypt, before heading home, this might be an ideal option for you. Also, if you're flying into one area, then traveling overland before flying from another city or country, this is an appropriate option. Uniglobe Democracy Travel is one of the oldest such travel agencies in the United States.
Charlie Domina
Uniglobe Democracy Travel
4818 MacArthur Blvd. NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 965-7200
