Is Travelling in West Africa Safe?
So, you’re thinking about travelling in West Africa, and wondering, Is Travelling in West Africa Safe? With information on the area limited, and a lot of the countries obscure, Is Travelling in West Africa Safe will be one of the first questions you ask yourself. With any news that does come out of the region usually being negative, many people are concerned. Having spent four months travelling from Morocco to Ghana around the West African coast with my wife in 2024, Is Travelling in West Africa Safe is our own experience exploring the area. Is Travelling in West Africa Safe? The simple answer is Yes!
Driving
During our four months in West Africa, the number one safety concern would be driving. Buses and public transport vehicles tend to be in a run-down state, often without seatbelts. Roads are busy with traffic, cows, pedestrians and street vendors selling all sorts of things. But the state of the roads is usually pretty average, so speeding is not possible in the cities, which works in your favour. Local driving habits are erratic, so be aware of this if you are driving. Travelling during the day when the driver can see properly is the safest way. Travelling at night is best avoided. Is Travelling in West Africa Safe? You can increase your safety by taking precautions.
Police
There are police checkpoints on the roads. Around the cities and towns throughout West Africa, there’s plenty of police around the place. They were always very friendly, and are there to keep things safe.
Border crossings and airports can get a little busy and overwhelming. There’s always plenty of security and police around. As long as you follow instructions, you won’t have any problems at all. Like anywhere else on the planet, Police and security personal require respect. During our adventure, they would stop us for a chat, photo, or to exchange phone numbers. They were warm and welcoming.
Attitude
My wife and I travelled all through Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal and The Gambia in a car, without any problems at all. At no stage did we feel unsafe. Out of our comfort zone, yes, but unsafe, never. Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Ghana we travelled by public transport, with no problems at all. There are plenty of checkpoints on the roads. If you are driving, you will usually be asked where you are going, and where you are from. A couple of times we were asked for our passports. Sometimes we were just waved through. We found that approaching the stops with a positive and friendly attitude worked really well. Smiling is infectious. Complaining about being stopped and being rude won’t do you any favours. Is Travelling in West Africa Safe? Having a positive and friendly attitude helps.
In general, we found people in West Africa do not like their photo taken, so to avoid any problems, always ask before you take a photo. Always respect the wishes of the locals. No one wants to be surrounded by an angry crowd. Monuments, political buildings and military compounds are generally areas where photographs are not allowed. Always ask first.
Late nights
Obviously, like any destination on the planet, if you want to find trouble, it’s not too hard. Like New York, Paris or Sydney, wandering the streets late at night or in the early hours of the morning has added risks involved, and the likely hood of getting into a difficult situation increases. Avoiding being out during these hours is the first step to staying safe.
One of the main differences in West Africa is that they are not big drinkers. Nightclubs and late night bars are where locals go to dance and socialize, with drunken behavior in general rare. Some countries have problems with drug use, like everywhere else, but these are confined to certain neighborhoods and are easy enough to avoid. Spending time in the same area enables you to get a feel for it, and you will become familiar with the stall holders and street people. You will know how comfortable you feel. Is Travelling in West Africa Safe? If you want it to be.
Busy Places
West African cities are full of people, with local markets and bus stations always two of the busiest places. It’s a good idea to keep your valuable items secured when in these areas. Also, have small notes for shopping. Never pull out all of your money or wave around flash jewelry. This will make you stand out, which you really want to avoid.
Hustler’s are common around markets and bus stations. They will approach you offering assistance and may ask you to go with them. They will usually want to sell you something or want a donation. They will have a sad story, telling you about their many problems. It’s best not to follow them. Be friendly. Don’t ignore them. We found that saying hello and giving them some recognition was the best way to deal with them. Being rude often makes them more persistent.
You will see plenty of hungry and homeless people. Handing out money isn’t the best idea. We gave them fruit and water purchased from the market, which they were very grateful for. Is Travelling in West Africa Safe? If you use your common sense.
Travel Insurance
As with any trip, travel insurance is important. There are plenty of policies that cover all of the West African nations, and you shouldn’t have any problems finding one that suits your needs and budget. Most travel insurance agencies base their policy on government advice. If your home government puts a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning on a specific country, then it can be hard to find insurance cover, but not impossible. There are no countries in West Africa with a ‘Do Not Travel’ advice level. Travelling to certain regions in Mauritania, namely in the Eastern Sahel area, is only possible in a group, but the main areas of the country pose no problems. The only problem you will face in many parts of West Africa is a sore arm from waving to everyone!
Final thoughts on travelling in West Africa
Is Travelling in West Africa Safe? It is safer than it’s ever been. It is currently a peaceful and rewarding area. West Africa is not a Do Not Travel zone. Acts of violent crime are low, much lower than main stream destinations around the world. Political situations can change quickly, and there has been several coup attempts in the past few years, but travellers and foreigner’s are not the target. The people are friendly, and most countries welcome travellers. Travel here isn’t scary or dangerous. It’s rewarding and interesting. As long as you take the usual precautions, like you would whilst travelling anywhere else, you will have a memorable adventure.
After spending four months in the region with my wife, we found that a lot of the media and things you hear about these countries are mis-conception’s. People are afraid of what they don’t know. West African people are some of the kindest we have met in thirty years of travel. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns. Life and travel here is not easy. But that’s part of the attraction and adventure.
Is Travelling in West Africa Safe? Yes, it is. Use your common sense, be respectful and friendly. Travel is what you want it to be. Travel is what you make it.