Should I book with an online travel agency (OTA) to save money?

Avoid OTAs for multi-country African travel. If a flight is canceled or delayed, getting support from an OTA is notoriously difficult. Booking directly with the airline allows for faster rebooking when things go wrong.

Is it better to fly or take land transport between countries?

In many regions, border crossings via land can take 12+ hours and are subject to security risks. Flying is safer and significantly more time-efficient, though it is more expensive.

Booking Multi-Country Flights in Africa Without Overpaying

Use a combination of major international carriers for the 'long haul' legs and regional low-cost carriers for intra-Africa routes. Avoid booking everything on a single ticket, as regional hub connectivity often requires separate bookings to keep costs down and flexibility up.

Use a Multi-City Search Tool for Baseline Pricing. Start with Google Flights' 'Multi-City' feature to identify which major airlines cover your desired path (e.g., Ethiopian, Kenya Airways, or Royal Air Maroc). Do not book yet; use this only to see the 'all-in' price and connectivity options.
Isolate Intra-Africa Legs. Identify specific regional hops, like Nairobi to Kigali or Johannesburg to Windhoek. Check these individual routes on local carrier websites (e.g., Airlink, Precision Air, Fastjet). Often, these short-haul flights are cheaper when booked directly rather than through an international consolidator.
Check Hub-and-Spoke Carriers. Consider booking a 'pass' or long-haul ticket on a major hub airline like Ethiopian Airlines. They offer massive connectivity across the continent through their Addis Ababa hub, and booking multi-leg itineraries directly on their site can sometimes save 20% compared to booking separate tickets on smaller airlines.
Verify Baggage and Transfer Rules. If you book separate tickets (an 'interline' transfer), ensure you have at least 6 hours between flights. You will likely need to exit immigration, collect your bags, and re-check them for your next flight. Check visa requirements for the transit country if you need to leave the secure area.

Should I book with an online travel agency (OTA) to save money?: Avoid OTAs for multi-country African travel. If a flight is canceled or delayed, getting support from an OTA is notoriously difficult. Booking directly with the airline allows for faster rebooking when things go wrong.
Is it better to fly or take land transport between countries?: In many regions, border crossings via land can take 12+ hours and are subject to security risks. Flying is safer and significantly more time-efficient, though it is more expensive.