The Prep Guide to West Africa

A trip to West Africa requires a lot of preparation and planning, even if you decide to have a loose itinerary. First and foremost, take the time to look up the embassy or consulate's websites to figure out if you need a visa and/or vaccines for the country/ies you are visiting. Once you're on the ground, you'll realize pretty quickly that things don't work like in Europe or the US, especially when it comes to transportation and border crossings. Hopefully, the below tips will come in handy before and during your trip.

TRIP PLANNING

Plane Tickets

• Plane tickets to Africa can be very expensive so look into airfare as early as possible
• The search engine Vayama offers good rates and offers for plane tickets to Africa

Visas

• Double check if you need a visa before you enter the country/ies you are visiting; you will find the information on the country's embassy or consulate's website
• If you need a visa, make sure you apply ahead of time; it usually takes 5 to 10 business days to get it done (you can expedite your request but there will be an extra fee)

Vaccines

• Make sure your vaccines are up to date!
• The Yellow Fever* vaccine is mandatory for most West African countries. You will receive a yellow card that you must keep with you during your travels. In some cases, a copy of your yellow card is required for your visa application so don't wait until the last minute to get the vaccine.
• I also recommend getting vaccines for Tetanus and Typhoid*, as well as Hepatitis A* and B (if you didn't get them already).

* Yellow Fever, Typhoid and Hepatitis A are usually not covered by US insurance companies. Each vaccine costs between $150 and $190 so make sure you include them in your budget.

What to Bring

• A backpack is preferred if you'll be on the road (Osprey makes great ergonomic backpacks; they can be a little pricey but well worth the investment)
• Flip flops (for the beach and everyday use)
• If you plan on hiking, sneakers or hiking shoes (low-rise waterproof Merrell hiking shoes are great and not too heavy)
• Light weight close shoes such as espadrilles or TOMS (if you don't want to wear open shoes when traveling)
• At least 1 t-shirt or tank top per day, plus 1 or 2 extra ones if you have space (it's nice to have a change of clothes after a long day of traveling in the heat)
• One light long sleeved shirt (good to have when there is AC)
• A pair of light pants
• One or two pairs of shorts
• Small towel (cheaper hotels don't always provide towels)
• Flash light (very handy when power goes off)
• Sun tan lotion (even if the sky looks cloudy, the sun isn't far away)
• Bug spray with high DEET concentration (put on bug spray every day, starting at dusk and reapply before going to bed)
• If possible, try to get a MozStop (for sale on KLM flights); it looks like a gadget but it works!

In full globe-trotting backpacker gear

ON THE GROUND

Sanitation

• Do not drink water from faucets and avoid ice cubes. Only drink bottled water and make sure that the bottles are well sealed.

Currency

• Make sure you know what the local currency of the country is, and look up what the average cost per day is so you know how much to budget
• It also helps to know the exchange rates so you have a rough idea of how much you will be getting when exchanging money (that will prevent you from getting ripped off if you change money on the black market, especially at the borders)
• The local airport usually offers the best exchange rates so make sure you have cash to exchange when you arrive in the country (plus will need local money to pay for a taxi).

Transportation

• Always set the price before you get in a taxi, whether private or shared (there are no meters and drivers will always try to rip you off if you wait until you arrive at your destination)
• If you look for a taxi or mini-bus, try to speak with the driver directly (unless someone you trust offers you to negotiate for you), otherwise you might have to pay an additional "booking fee" (i.e. a made up excuse to ask for more money)
• When traveling by road, always add 1h to the estimated travel time indicated in your guide book. There is a lot of traffic - especially in big cities - and the roads are usually in bad condition, both of which will delay your trip.

Filling-up the tank

Border Crossings

• Be patient! Immigration can be long and painful so expect to spend at least 30 minutes at the border, filling out paperwork and getting your passport stamped
• If you're traveling between countries with different currencies, you will have to pay for your visa in the currency of the country you are traveling to. You can exchange money on the black market at the border but they'll rip you off so make sure you have a rough idea of what the exchange rates are; it will help you to negotiate and get the best possible rate.
• If your passport and visas are in order, you should be able to go through immigration without any problem. However, if you do not have the right visa, be prepared to run into difficulties and long-winded negotiations.

Togo-Benin border