11 Best Travel Apps for Exploring Africa in 2025

1. WhatsApp

• Cost: Free
• Can be used offline: No

WhatsApp is a widely-used communication app in Africa, owned by Facebook.

Used most to send messages instead of texting through your cell phone carrier, it can also be used to make calls.

If you spend any time in town, you may need to keep that great taxi driver’s phone number. Or your new friends’ contact info.

Plug it into your contacts, and the WhatsApp app can take it from there. It’s that easy. I use WhatsApp all the time – SMS just isn’t popular in Africa.

It does use data, though, so be sure to arrange that. Find a little help with that here.

2. Africa Travel Guide

• Cost: Free
• Can be used offline: Yes

This great travel guide app has information on Africa, its cities, and the sights you don;t want to miss.

Find out what currency each of the 54 different countries uses, and what type of electrical adapters you need.

You’ll also have useful information under Regions about each country’s government and languages.

The different airlines you can use to fly into Africa are discussed, too. Plus which local providers fly within Africa.

This app is as useful to look through before you leave home as it is after you’ve arrived.

3. Currency Converter Calculator/iOS, aka. Currency Converter Offline/Android

• Cost: Free with ads, US$3 for premium
• Can be used offline: Yes

This is an excellent, easy-to-use app. Staying aware of the exchange rate will help you stay on budget by helping you keep track of what you’re spending in your home currency.

To use it offline, of course, the app will need to be downloaded before you leave home.  Or somewhere along your travels when you have an internet connection.

Keep in mind that exchange rates change often. When you are in an area with a connection, be sure to go online to let the app update its rates.

4. Google Translate

• Cost: Free
• Can be used offline: No

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find a translator app that will translate African languages. Google Translate will give you access to several – Afrikaans, Malagasy, Shona, Sudanese, Swahili, Tsonga, Twi, Tigrinya, Zulu, and Xhosa.

There are thousands of languages spoken on the African continent. This is a pretty good selection, though, and more are being added all the time.

However, they’re not available offline here, nor are they on any other app that I’ve tried.

Google does offer a camera feature, so you can let the app translate visually. It also has a spoken-word translator which is great for asking local people questions.

It is still the best translator app I’ve come across for any African language.

5. Packpoint

• Cost: Free, US$2.99 for Pro
• Can be used offline: Yes

This is a really useful travel app for Africa. It works by letting you input the dates you’ll be travelling, the location, and the activities have planned. 

You also have the option of choosing “Repeat Basics” and “Laundry” if you plan to re-wear and wash.

It then presents you with a list of items that a single person should pack. This list is based on weather, activities and trip duration.

Packpoint is great for anyone who needs a little help packing light. It doesn’t go overboard on the number of each item.

The list is customizable and can be saved and used again and again.

The Pro version is a good idea.  It provides many more options in the way of activities, but the basic app is great all by itself.

6. Kingdon Guide: African Mammals

• Cost: US$15.99
• Can be used offline: Yes

This app is based on the well-known guide by Jonathon Kingdon, and I highly recommend it.

It provides pictures, descriptions, and distribution maps of 460 species of mammals, all of the main wildlife areas.

You’re able to filter the results so that you see just animals in the country and region of your choosing. In addition, there is a personal species list for you to fill out as you go.

The list can be exported and saved if you want to uninstall the guide when you get home. Money very well spent!

7. TripIt

• Cost: Free, Pro – US$49/year
• Can be used offline: Yes

The TripIt app syncs with your email to organize all of your reservations, flights, confirmation numbers, etc.

These will all be arranged into a single itinerary. Also:

✈︎ It will allow you to add items manually, share your itinerary, and send email alerts about travel plans.

✈︎ It shows you options for offsetting the carbon footprint created by your trip.

✈︎ TripIt gives you a safety rating of your destination based on your confidence level as a traveller. This is also based on how much risk you’re willing to take.

✈︎ As we’re still living in a Covid world, TripIt will give you guidance based on current protocols for your destination.

Moreover, the free version will allow you to upload 3 travel documents for your trip, for example, your passport and visas.

Even if you’re not willing to pay for the pro version, there are a lot of uses for this app. It’s definitely worth a try.

The Pro version does offer a lot of perks. To name a few:

✈︎ It will keep track of your travel rewards programs.

✈︎ Shows the wait times at the security gate.

✈︎ Gives updates on flight and gate changes.

✈︎ Has info about the language of your destination, currency exchange rates, and what type of electrical plug-ins they use.

8. Herd Tracker

• Cost: Free
• Can be used offline: No

Herd Tracker is a web app that tracks the movement of the wildebeest migration. The migration travels between Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara.

Although the migration never really stops, the annual mass movement of thousands of animals is a spectacular sight.

Herd Tracker allows the public to not only see migration updates in almost real time. It also shows the relative locations of nearby accommodation.

If you’re in that part of the world you have the opportunity to make a last-minute booking, you can see the action up close!

If you’re not, month-by-month predictions are also made so you can plan ahead. Videos of past migrations are available, too, if you’d like to have a look.

9. Sasol eBirds of Southern Africa

• Cost: Lite-Free, Complete-US$24.99
• Can be used offline: Yes

I never have much interest in birds unless I’m in Africa. There are so many beautiful and interesting birds here.

This is the ultimate guide if you’re looking for more information about them.

The lite version has a sample size of 30 species of birds. All the other capabilities of the complete app are present.

This includes photos and illustrations, bird calls, descriptions, and up-to-date distribution maps.

There is also a life list for you to fill out. The complete version covers all 994 bird species found in southern Africa.

What more could you ask for from a birding guide?

10. Uber

• Cost: Varies according to distance
• Can be used offline: No

Yes, even in Africa. Taxis are very affordable in most parts of Africa. However, Uber is another good option for getting around.

The service is available in South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Morocco and Ivory Coast.

Have a look on the app itself to see if your destination town or city is listed.

There are alternative, too, depending on where you are. Lefa is available through an app in Namibia, and Lyft in South Africa.