Why Africa is hard to sell

Africa is one continent that is well endowed with many tourist attractions but the continent has found it difficult to attract many tourists from around the whole world and here is why Africa is hard to sell. Majority of African attractions are nature based like wildlife parks, highlands like Mountain Kilimanjaro, rivers and others. These once altered like Bujagali falls on River which were one of the best white water rafting destinations in Africa cannot be rebuilt.

In general most of African safari destinations are still some of the unique spots in the world but one is unsure of there future existence to invest a lot of marketing in them.

Some of Africa’s attractions include mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo, the source of the Nile and the beautiful lakes in Uganda. The oceans and beaches in South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania. The migrating wildebeests in Kenya and Tanzania and vast wildlife in East and South Africa among others. The pyramids of Egypt and the great history of west Africa should be enough to attract tourists to this beautiful continent. They diverse culture and hospitable people should be another reason to attract people to visit.

Highlights Of Why Africa Is Hard To Sell

• Expensive African Safaris
• Lack of information about African safaris and the kind of service to expect
• Limited marketing both domestically and internationally in Africa
• Africa having no good Image especially reported by Main stream Media
• Outbreak Of Epidemics in Africa
• Insecurity close to Tourists Attractions In Africa
• Poor Service Delivery In African Destinations
• Poor Infrastructure To African Attractions
• Change in African Programs without upfront warning
• The Perceptions some Tourists Have about Africa

Expensive African Safaris

An interview with some of the tourists that have visited Africa indicates that Africa is an expensive destination. One has to part with lots of money to enjoy a tour in any of the African countries. One tourist from Canada pointed out that a ticket from Canada to Uganda is very expensive and others prefer to hang out or tour areas closer to their countries.

Lack Of Information about African Safaris and the Kind Of Service To Expect

Some tourists  also noted that when they visited Uganda, the service, attractions and people’s hospitality was beyond what they expected. They said that in most cases people in their home countries are hesitant to pay for an expensive tour without knowing what the experience will be. One needs value for money.

That unlike other countries that are cheap and yet offer incredible experience, it’s hard to measure the experience that one will get.

Limited Marketing both domestically and internationally for Africa

Most African countries are not marketed and as such they attract very few high profile tourist. African countries are called upon to invest lots of money in order to attract more tourists.

The more you expose your business to the world, the more you attract more tourists. In Africa, most countries give a small budget to marketing there attractions with in and internationally which limits information about it to potential customers.

Africa having no good Image especially reported by Main stream Media

Media houses all over the world in most cases report no good things that are in Africa. They always show wars, people suffering instead of the beautiful attractions as mentioned above. This has typically hampered and scared away most potential tourists.

Majority of tourists want to visit s destination with peace and enjoy there hard earned moneys without the thought of not returning home injured. Tourists work hard throughout the year and during holiday time one wishes to relax there mind. Africa offers some of the most tranquil environment with only noise from nature.

Outbreak Of Epidemics in Africa

Regular outbreaks of epidemics like Ebola, cholera makes potential tourists skeptical about there health status during an African tour.  When Ebola broke out in West Africa in 2015 ,it became a major problem.

This led to the would be potential tourists to stop all their plans then for visiting Africa and those who had booked and confirmed safaris ended up cancelling. Ebola affected most West African countries and because of lack of enough knowledge, even tourists who had booked tours in East Africa had to cancel.

Insecurity close to Tourists Attractions In Africa

Terrorist alerts have also become a problem in Africa as far as tourism development is concerned. Many countries including Uganda and Kenya have suffered due to threats from Alshabab. Kenya has been the most affected as the country was hit three times.

The great wildebeest migration in Kenya and Tanzania attracts numerous tourists but because of the insecurity, many get scared of booking.

 The D.R.Congo is usually affected by rebel activities especially in the eastern part. This is where its main tourists activities like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking and others are found. These rebel activities in D.R. Congo extend into its neighbors that is Rwanda and Uganda. 

Poor Infrastructure To African Attractions

There is no doubt that Africa will at one time become a world’s major tourist destination if all countries market their countries, try to develop infrastructure such as roads, hotels and provide security. Developed countries should also start looking at African countries as development partners other than looking at them as countries that need foreign aid.

Ridged Cultures in Africa

Protecting the authenticity of different cultures is very important for sustainable cultural tourism but being so secretive about it create luck of information about it.

Africa is a multi-cultural continent but having ridged cultural beliefs and thinking that it will be altered by others knowing about there beliefs creates a major gap for those interested in ethnology.

 Some tourists would like to visit and take a moment to learn more about the African cultures but the belief that it will be tampered with makes it challenging. 

Poor Service Delivery In African Destinations

While on an African safari, you must be ready for slow and over rated services. Majority of the service providers at the destinations in Africa are not time conscience, are under staffed or use under trained staff.

Such leads to poor service delivery which may not be tolerated by every tourists who is time conscience. The African hotels rate themselves according to world standards like 3 star, 5 star which may not meet the standards set by the world for such categories.

 There is no specified body where one can file a case against poor service or no service given to tourists. Even the courts of law in Africa take long with cases reported which is money and  time wasting.

Change in African Programs without upfront warning

While preparing to do some activities in Africa, some major changes may be made at the last minute. You must be ready for such moments. Although some occurrences may be inevitable, having this information in advance prevents you from getting a shock while preparing.

Since Africa is still developing, many activities are being altered for purposes like industrialization, electricity production and others. The former Bujjagali fallson River Nile in uganda one of the best white water rafting destinations in the world which were some of the best were turned into an electricity dam.

 Marketing such destinations for the world to recognize and love them takes a lot of money and effort. The uncertainty of surrounding African attractions makes its challenging to market them.

The Perceptions some Tourists Have about Africa

 In the past, Africa was referred to as the Dark Continent. This perception still lingers in some people’s minds. Telling such people about the beauties in Africa is still a problem. All efforts to help them change their mind is still futile.

Even the young generation under their care is adopts the same thinking. It takes a lot of effort and time to convince such potential tourists about another side of Africa as a tourism destination.

What Tourism Destinations To Visit In Africa.

Africa has different regions that is North Africa, West Africa, East Africa and southern Africa. Our main focus is on East African attractions worth to be included on the must see tourism activities

The Great Wildebeest Migration In Tanzania and Kenya

This is one of the 8 wonders of the world where annually, crowds of wild animals make a return journey from Serengeti National park in Tanzania to Masai Mara in Kenya. Some of the animals include gazelles, impalas, zebras, wildebeest, lions, leopards, jackals, cheetahs to mention but a few. This unexplainable occurrence attracts tourists worldwide.

A series of event throughout the year lead to the great migration and these keep unfolding as the year progresses. In the months of January to March, calving season in Serengeti National park, April to mid-June nurturing infants, June animal movement may start until September when major crossing into Masai Mara National Park occurs.

This is one of the major highlights of Africa tourism.

Gorilla Trekking and Other Primates

East Africa has the only homes of the mountain gorillas in the world that is Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable National park and Mgahinga National Park. Rwanda in Volcanoes National park and D.R.Congo in Virunga National Park. D.R.Congo also has lowland gorillas in Kirenga Viega National Park.

A number of other primates live in Africa too that is chimpanzees, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey checked mangabey, olive baboons, bush babies, golden monkeys and others. You need a permit to be allowed to participate in some of these Africa activities.

Beach activities In East Africa

The east African cost is full of water activities like cruise shipping, scuba diving, visit to the slave trade museums, kayaking, walks by the beach, swimming in the ocean and others. Some of the prominent East African coastline destinations include Zanzibar Island, Malindi, Mombasa, Dar el Salaam and others

There cost line has a variety of accommodations where tourists stay for holidays like summer time, festive holidays, organize destination weddings, celebrate anniversaries and others. You just need to Enquire and our tours and travel consultant will get back to you.

 Other Game Parks In East Africa

Majority of East African destinations are nature based that is national parks. In Uganda Queen Elizabeth National park, Kidepo Valley National Park , Lake Mburo National Park, Kibale National Park, Rwenzori National Park, Semliki National Park and others

In Kenya, Nairobi National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Amboseri National Park, Kisite Marine national Park, Shimba Hill National Reserve, Meru National Park, Samburu And Buffalo Spring National Reserve and others

Tanzania has mountain Kilimanjaro National Park, Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Mikumi National Park, Mahale Mountain National Park and others

Rwanda has volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park

Burundi is endowed with Rusinzi National Park, Kibira National Park, Ruvubu National Park and others

Is Africa A Dangerous Destination

No, Africa is not a dangerous destination as a whole. It is just a few countries that are politically unstable like D.R.C but its not the entire country.

 Most favorable African safari destinations like Uganda, Kenya, Egypt and others have great concern for security of there people and tourists too.

Planning to travel for a safari in Africa requires advance booking because money to facilitate all bookings like accommodation must be paid in cash or wire transfer. Credit cards are not commonly used in Africa because of there lengthy procedure of collecting money from them.

In terms of feeding, most destinations in Africa have agriculture as there economic activity. Expect to feed on fresh produce, we advise you to eat in designated locations to avoid food poisoning.

Never walk around with huge sums of money because thieves may follow you. Ensure that you stay in designated places with great security that will be comfortable for the number of days on an Africa safari.

Do not pack your precious jewels to avoid attracting the wrong people. In case you carry them, declare them to the lodge manager so that they are kept in the hotel safe

Keep close to the people in your safari group so that you are not lost. Most routes in Africa are not labeled so do not appear on google map. You must be in touch with people you have travelled with incase you step out of your room

Contact us for more information about Africa as a destination.