Is wild camping allowed in Africa?

You have had a stressful week and would like to switch off. Or you simply feel cooped up at home and you need a change of scenery. On the weekend, it's time for you to get into the van or motorhome and get out into nature, or take a holiday in the country of your dreams. But you don't want to go camping on a campsite, you want to go out into the wilderness, be on your own and listen to the birds singing. However, you still have a few questions before you leave.

Can I camp anywhere?

What are the regulations for vans or campers?

What could happen to me if I get caught?

Are there exceptions to the rules?

Where can I find places to camp wild?

What else can I expect in my destination country?

Depending on where you are or where you want to go, the answers will, of course, be different. In general, there are three possibilities when it comes to wild camping, it is forbidden, tolerated, or allowed. As with every rule, there are always exceptions and special features. But don't worry, we will provide you with the rules for each country.

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Tips and tricks for wild camping

On the country pages you can find more detailed information about wild camping and free camping in your region. However, the basic rules apply to all countries: Be considerate of other campers and nature, and there are easy ways to determine if a place you have found is a suitable place to stay. Of course, it is clear that you always take your rubbish with you and treat nature with respect, which is why we will not go into this further here. Instead, we want to give you a few tips on how to recognize a good pitch.

Cleanliness of the pitch
If your pitch is littered with cigarette butts and you find empty glass bottles or cans everywhere, this is not a good sign. A lot of rubbish is usually an indication that your pitch is a popular meeting place and that you are not necessarily alone at night. So take a closer look at the ground. If you do not find any rubbish left behind, this is a good sign.

Tracks on the pitch
If you are just looking at the ground, you should be careful to see if you can find any tire tracks or animal prints. If you find an increased number of tire tracks, this is a sign that you could be visited by cyclists, motorcyclists, or motorists.

Trash cans in the area
Garbage cans near your place are always a sign that it is so heavily frequented that it is necessary to place garbage cans here. Garbage cans do not have to mean anything bad, it depends on what's on the inside. If they are filled with bottles of alcohol and fast food bags, this indicates that there are visitors at later hours, nappies, for example, are more likely to be visitors during the day.

The surroundings
When you have reached your pitch you should first stretch your legs and take a look at the surroundings. Because all points that apply to your pitch also apply to the surrounding area. If large groups meet only a few meters from your pitch, there is a chance that you will have a restless night.

Our tip: In Africa, especially in the less densely populated and poorer parts of the continent, there are still some diseases that are extensively absent in many other countries of the world. Before your trip, you should check which vaccinations you might need. You can find an overview here: ITVC.

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10 interesting, bizarre and funny facts about Africa

When most people think of Africa, the first thing they think of is deserts, sweltering heat, safaris, and of course, the lion king. It is also widely known that Africa is considered the Cradle of Humankind. But what else do you know about this breathtaking continent? In what respect is Rwanda more advanced than the USA, for example? And how dangerous are hippos? Here we have brought you the answers to these questions and other interesting facts.

Fact #1 - Average age
In terms of average age, Africa is the youngest continent, at just 19.7 years. In Uganda, in 2010, the average age was 15 years.

Fact #2 - Hippos
Hippos are more deadly than you might think. In Africa, they kill more people than lions, crocodiles, and great white sharks put together, making them one of the most dangerous animals on the continent.

Fact #3 - Rwanda
The state in the eastern part of the continent is one of the least developed countries in the world and is, therefore, part of the "Fourth World". However, they are still ahead of the USA in terms of gender equality.

Fact #4 - Animals
A large number of animals can be found in the wild only in Africa. These animals include giraffes, gorillas, hippos, and zebras.

Fact #5 - The Sahara
The name of the largest desert in the world has its origin in the Arabic word ṣaḥrāʾ, which means desert. The ancient Romans called it terra deserta, deserted land.

Fact #6 - The Nile
But Africa not only has the largest desert in the world to offer but also the longest river in the world. The Nile has a total length of almost 6,650 kilometers.

Fact #7 - Witwatersrand
Witwatersrand is a mountain range in South Africa, which is known for its enormous gold deposits. They also serve as the eponym for South Africa's currency, the Rand.

Fact #8 - The biggest city
The largest city on the African continent is not Cairo or Cape Town, but Lagos in Nigeria. With 14 million inhabitants, it is one of the most populous countries in the world.

Fact #9 - Race for Africa
The colonization of the continent is called the race for Africa. The entire continent, except for Ethiopia and Liberia, was colonized during this period.

Fact #10 - Language diversity
About 25 percent of the world's languages are only spoken in Africa. There are over 2,000 different officially recognized languages on the continent.