Is Travel in Africa Safe? How the BookAfrica Verification Standard Provides Transparency
Quick Facts: What is the BookAfrica 23-point vetting process for tour providers?
What it is: Verified by BookAfrica is our proprietary vetting and verfication standard. BookAfrica looks across six key pillars and 23 points to assess the safety, connectivity, quality and reliability of each provider and experience.
What it isn’t: Verified by BookAfrica is not a forcing-function to cookie-cutter, inauthentic, similar Africa travel experiences. Our goal is to let travellers know what they’re getting into - and what their booking will and will not entail, with certainty. Verified by BookAfrica is about standards and information - not sameness.
The six pillars of the BookAfrica assurance standard: BookAfrica believes that Africa travel (Africa tours, Africa experiences, Africa accommodations) should feel adventurous - not anxiety-provoking. We’ve developed a proprietary 23-point assurance system based on extensive on-the-ground experience. Verified by BookAfrica examines preparedness across six key pillars, namely:
Safety and Security
Health and Emergency
Connectivity
Continuity and Access
Sustainability
Inclusion
Every listing on BookAfrica meets our minimum standards - and every listing puts
information in the hands of travel buyers - for them to make the most informed decision
possible when booking Africa tours and activities.
From the markets of Accra to the savannahs of East Africa or shores of the Senegal: our Verfied by BookArica standard will provide the best information about the most unforgettable Africa travel experiences. Find trusted Africa tour operators on BookAfrica, and book with confidence.
What is the Verified by BookAfrica Standard and how does it protect travelers?
At BookAfrica, we believe in connecting global travelers to unforgettable Africa experiences - wherever discovery happens. We believe that exploring the beautiful continent of Africa should be about discovery - not doubt. Yet, for many travelers, a trust gap remains: the uncertainty of whether a listing matches the reality on the ground, a worry that what they see online is not, in fact, what they will get. Questions about how well the tour, experience or accomodation they’re booking is able to meet their specific needs and expectations.
At BookAfrica, we aim to close that trust gap. We’ve developed a proprietary 6 pillar assurance stack: a rigorous vetting framework that standardizes our understanding of the safety, quality and reliability of experience providers across the continent. BookAfrica’s six-pillar, 23-point assurance stack is designed to be the new universal benchmark for African travel. Whether you’re looking for things as critical as first aid preparedness or fire safety certificates, or just want to know if an activity is family friendly - we’ve got you covered. 100%of BookAfrica hosts meet our baseline multi-layer vetting criteria: safety, health,connectivity, access, sustainability and inclusion.
BookAfrica is more than just an OTA; we are a transparency-first booking platform. Our 'Verified by BookAfrica' standard ensures that before you book an Africa tour, you have the data you need to make an informed decision.
Here is how we ensure every BookAfrica experience is as reliable as it is authentic.
How does BookAfrica verify safety compliance and guide licensing for local tours?
We focus on vetting and displaying the best authentic local tours and experiences across Africa, and are so excited to share the wonders of Africa with you. We work with many different types of local providers, from the upstart guide with a passion for the area they’ve spent their whole life, to the established travel company that excels at booking group tours. Taking into account local regulation, we confirm if guides and companies are licensed, so that whether you’re seeking a waterfall massage or a heritage tour of Cape Coast - we’ll let you know if the person or company youv’e booked with has locally certified guide experience.
We also know that safety is top of mind for travelers, especially as they traverse off-the-beaten path locations or emerging tourism destinations. At BookAfrica, our verification process assesses security provisions made by each travel and tourism operator we feature. We require details around key components of safety preparedness, such as fire safety provisions and vehicle roadworthiness. Whether on a beach excursion to Busua, Ghana or taking a local cooking class, you can comfortably book safe travel in West Africa with us knowing that we’ve clearly assessed and communicated the safety features you can expect during your experience.
How to check the emergency and medical preparedness of your Africa tour host
Travel requires a certain level of preparedness for the unexpected. We know that many travelers are looking for Africa travel safety tips, and we’re here to help. To ensure you and your family have clear insight to guide decisions based on your health and medical needs, BookAfrica confirms the first-aid readiness and escalation plan for all applicable host categories, ensuring that you are able to choose options that provide the backup help you desire. While this is especially relevant in adventure tourism categories (eg ziplining, kayaking, safaris, hikes), we understand that some travelers may be looking for a bit more assurance. Verified by BookAfrica takes this into account. Whether you’re cruising on the Akosombo in Ghana or on a night food tour of Accra, rest assured that BookAfrica has carefully vetted and communicated the preparedness of your host.
How can I find verified internet and mobile connectivity data for trips in Africa?
In a digital world, knowing your connection status for your travel plans shouldn't be a guessing game. Our Connectivity pillar provides real-time transparency. Whether you’re a digital nomad working from East Legon or an adventurer in the Volta Region, we provide verified data on mobile and internet connectivity before you book. Looking to create TikTok reels of your slave castle visit? Want to check-in with family while enjoying the beaches of Ada? Need to check in with work during your wellness escape to Aburi? Prefer to fully unplug during your shea village experience in Noothern Ghana? Verified by BookAfrica will provide you the information to make the best decision for you.
How BookAfrica audits provider transparency for backup power and road access.
Traveling across Africa can be complex. For some people, that is part of the charm. For others, they’d like to avoid certain experiences. While we can't impact infrastructure or development, our continuity & access pillar audits the “unseen” logistics that keep a trip moving. Whether condiering the access to certain properties on unpaved roads during rainy season, or ensuring that your Cape Coast UNESCO world heritage site overnight tour comes equipped with a backup power solution in case of electricity cuts, we meticiously vet and document the sort of things that make all of the difference. Whether you’re headed to Mole National Park or a beach in Busua, we’ll help you plan the smoothest journey possible.
Which Africa travel experiences are verified for local community impact?
Modern travelers want to know if the decisions they’re making are good for the planet, benefit the local environment, and leave their host countries better off than without their spend. Verified by BookAfrica’s sustainability pillar understands that some travellers want to ensure that a local commuhnity isn’t left behind, and that the impact on the planet is minimal. How do we do so? By investigatging the involvement and benefit of local communities, and confirming if an operator participates in any globally accepted travel and tourism certification proocesses. Not every listing meets these standards, but we let you know which do so you can make the right choice. While sustainability is a journey, we highlight those leading the way so you can vote with your booking. . Whether ensuring that the communities you visit during your Eastern region tour of Ghana benefit from the tour you’ve purchases, or that your Kakum national park birding tour meets global sustainability standards, Verfied by Book Africa collects the information you need to make your decision around sustainable tourism in Africa.
Verified by BookAfrica: enabling you to book wonder, book joy, book curiosity, Book Africa - with the assurance you need to ensure the adventure you embark on meets your standards.