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by rippercushions 1348 days ago
Paradoxically, traveling Africa can be very expensive, because many parts are so poor and unvisited that there is no demand (and hence no supply) for reasonable transport, hotels, etc. The locals just don't travel long distance, and if they do, it's squashed into a clapped-out truck going to the market with a flock of goats, and it's two weeks until the next one.

The cheapest places to travel are middle-income places like Thailand and Vietnam, where there is plenty of local demand but wages have not risen to Western levels yet.
2 comments
coldtea 1347 days ago
>Paradoxically, traveling Africa can be very expensive, because many parts are so poor and unvisited that there is no demand (and hence no supply) for reasonable transport, hotels, etc.

You just use "unreasonable transport, hotels", which is fine if you're the kind of "traveller" the author claims to be. Due to cost of living differences, they are still much cheaper than Thailand and Vietnam.

It's only "very expensive" if you go for luxury in those places (and even then, due to cost of living, it's cheaper than comparable luxury elsewhere, except if you go to some place that only caters to the elite). For exampke, if there's no transport in a country in Africa, you can usually just hire a guy to serve as a driver for several days - and it's often less than what you pay for a simple train ride betweem countries in Europe.

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eckesicle 1347 days ago
No, GP is right.

My firm has conducted over 50 projects in rural Africa last year, and the cost of living and transportation is most certainly inversely proportional to how developed the area is.

The local options simply aren't available to outsiders.

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csomar 1348 days ago
I understand if you are looking for a minimum of comfort but I thought the main point of the article is to go the "rough" way. You can always bring a car from Europe (cheap) and drive starting from the North and getting into the Ivory Coast and neighboring countries.

Lots of people (Westerners) are doing it every year. They have groups and connect with one another. You won't be alone.

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