Africa is an astonishingly exciting continent in which to travel and in many ways is the ultimate travel destination.

On very simple terms for a backpacker traveller Africa can be divided into three main areas of interest. Egypt is a stand-alone as although part of Africa its more accurately a middle-east nation.

East Africa includes Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda. Its attractions are dominated by the game parks although the beaches in Zanzibar & Tiwi are pretty nice places to relax afterwards. Oh and Tanzania has Africa's highest mountain; Kilimanjaro.

Southern Africa includes South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nambibia, Malawi and Botswana. Plenty of game parks again but you won't see the sheer numbers of animals that you do further north. On the plus side the infra-structure tends to be better and frankly you do get better value for your money.

You can backpack on your own through Africa using the public buses and trains but it really doesn't make sense. Firstly much of what you want to see as a tourist is not served by public transport. Sure you can catch a bus from Nairobi to Arusha but if you then want to get to the Serengetti you'll need to book a tour. Secondly Africa is challenging. The risks of being ripped off or robbed is strong. Petty crime is rampant through much of Africa and westerners are an obvious target. Violent crime is also a big problem in Africa and of course some of its governments are not exactly bastions of democracy.

Most younger travellers use the overland truck option of which there are many in Africa. A classic journey for example is the Nairobi to Capetown (what a fantastic city to end a tour in) taking in Kenya, Tanzania, Malawai, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Nambibia and South Africa.

The following is essential travel information for visitors to Africa. This is not an exhaustive list but centres on those countries most likely visited by Australians. It includes visa advice, location of Australian consular assistance and airlines offering services there from Australia.