How to travel to Africa from Europe Without Flying

Traveling to Africa from Europe without flying is more of challenging trip but possible! It needs you to use a combined alternative of transportation methods like use of trains, buses, ships, and or driving. Such cross borders journey takes much time than flying, but it is more rewarding than flying.

Below are some ways to reach there from Europe;

1. Travel to a European or Middle Eastern Port

First, you need to be in Europe for you to be able to travel to Africa without flying by reaching a port city in Europe where you can catch a boat or a ship. Below are the some departure points:

• From Europe:

You can travel to Africa without flying through the following ports;

Spain: The Spain port is located in Barcelona city that connects you to Morocco by ferry.

France: France port is located in Marseilles city; the oldest city in France, this port connects you to Spain. You can have rest in Spain before proceeding to Barcelona for a ferry to Morocco.

Italy: The Italy port is located in Genoa city; you can travel to Africa from Italy on ferry to Spain.

United Kingdom: Portsmouth is the main and popular port in UK and operates daily ferries to Santander port in Spain then Connect from Spain to Morocco from Barcelona city.

2. Board Train or Bus to the Port

If you are starting from a different part of the world (e.g., Asia or the Americas), you will need to travel by land or by sea to one of these departure cities. For example:

• From Europe or the UK: Take a train or bus to the port city.
• From the Americas: You would travel overland or by boat to a European or African port city, possibly via the Caribbean or South America. Trains and buses across South America can be part of the journey.

3. Cross the Mediterranean or Red Sea by Ferry

Once you have made it to a port in Europe or the Middle East, you can travel to Africa by boat. Below are the travel options:

• Mediterranean Ferry: You can take ferries from Spain, Italy, or France to Morocco, Tunisia, or Algeria.
• Cargo Ship: You can also book passage on a cargo ship traveling from Europe to African. It is a longer and less conventional option, but it is a possible if you are flexible with your itinerary.

4. Considerations

• Visas: Most African countries require you to have visas for entry, therefore, be very sure to check the visa requirements for each country you plan to transit through.
• Health and Safety: Ensure you have yellow fever vaccinations as its requirement for most African countries.
• Time and Budget: The journey of travelling from Europe to Africa without flying will take a lot of your time, weeks or months. Make sure you enough time to spend and enough money

Example Itinerary:

• Start in London by train or bus to a port in Southern Europe like Barcelona or Marseilles).
• Get a Ferry to Morocco from Spain or France
• Travel by Bus or train through Morocco into Mauritania, Senegal etc.
• Travel across West Africa by bus, train or get self-drive car.
• Continue by boat from a coastal port (e.g., Dakar in Senegal) to an African country like Ghana, or to the Canary Islands if needed for further connections.

Conclusion

While flying is by far the fastest and most common way to get to Africa, traveling without flying is possible, though much more time-consuming and challenging. It requires creativity, patience, and flexibility. Whether you are hopping on ferries, traveling by cargo ship, or going overland through several countries, this alternative journey can become an exciting, memorable adventure!