Africa is a huge continent made up of 54 different countries in total.
Our Africa Food Map covers the most popular African food eaten in each country.
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African food options vary considerably depending on what region you visit. All 54 countries of Africa have different ethnic groups which also influences the cuisine.
So here is the ultimate Africa Food Map for those curious to taste African foods or learn more about fascinating African food culture.
We’ve eaten African food in all 54 countries in Africa during our food journey to visit every country in the world.
From the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, the lush, tropical jungle regions to the vast deserts, our Africa food map will give you a better understanding of African food.
What’s African food taste like?
It’s difficult to answer the question, “what’s African food taste like?”. If you ask me “what does European food taste like?”, I couldn’t answer that either. As multiple countries and cultures make up this continent also, the cuisine is each does change considerably.
The reason why it’s hard to tell you directly what African food tastes like is that each region is quite different. I’ll explain a little more about the regions below.
North Africa foods
What exactly are North Africa foods? If we refer to North Africa Foods that make up this region stretching across Northern Africa, there are some basic staple foods. These are smen (preserved butter), olives and olive oil, couscous, preserved lemons, garlic, floral essences such as rosewater or orange blossom, harissa (chilli paste), onions, oranges, dates, and figs.
As for meat used in North Africa food, lamb and mutton are the main protein, while chicken also features in North Africa foods.
Eastern Africa food
What is Eastern Africa food? Well, traditional East African foods include some form of corn which is used to make just about everything! The preparation of Ugali (popular African food or stew) uses corn as a base.
Cornmeal is used to prepare porridge too – usually the hero of any Eastern Africa food.
Matoke, a much-loved dish of steamed green bananas is typical Eastern Africa food. It is stewed with other vegetables and spices to produce a lovely dish.
South African food
What does South African food consist of? If you speak to any South African, a typical braai (BBQ) is the quintessential South African food that is loved all over this region. Yes, South African food relies heavily on meat.
Proteins such as pork, beef, lamb, boerewors (sausage), chicken, ostrich, and seafood are barbecued on a grill – and I have to admit that a traditional braai is incredibly tasty.
Aside from all that meat, a typical meal in a Bantu-speaking, South African household is a rigid, fluffy porridge of maize meal (called pap). Root vegetables are also eaten in the South African food diet, but it’s almost always second to all that meat!
West African food
From Mauritania to Cameroon, the base of West African food is usually tomatoes, onions and chilli. These ingredients are used to create the base of stews, sauces to ladle over grilled chicken and fufu or as a spread to a freshly baked baguette (our go-to African food when we travelled overland through West Africa in 2019)
Peanuts are abundant in this region and they’re used in West African cuisine, in addition to cassava leaf soup and stew.
These 8 popular West African dishes to try will give you a good idea of what West African food is all about.
Africa food fufu – What is this dish and where do they eat it?
Popular Africa food, Fufu (foo-foo) means to mix or mash, and it’s a staple African food in West and Central Africa, and also in the Caribbean. I always wondered what the widespread African food, fufu is made of?
Essentially, fufu is the somewhat sour, sponge-like dough created from boiled and beaten starchy African foods such as cassava, yams and plantains. The pounding is done in a large mortar with a pestle.
Each country in Africa has their version of ‘Africa food fufu’ as they may add an extra ingredient for taste or even pound two root vegetables to produce this much-loved Africa food or Fufu.
Fufu is featured in our post listing Africa’s 20 popular breakfast foods.
It’s most popular in Cameroon, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Sierra Leone to name just a few.
Fufu is also featured in our post on Africa’s 15 most popular foods.
Here is our Africa Food Map of all 54 countries
1. Algeria – Chakhchoukha
Algeria is the largest African country on our Africa Food Map and chakhchoukha is very popular all over the country. At least from our experience, this was the dish that we were recommended many times.
So, what is chakhchoukha? It’s a dish prepared with torn pieces of thin, flatbread known as rougag. The rougag is topped with marqa, a flavourful tomato-based stew of lamb (or chicken), onions, peppers, chickpeas, and spices.
Chakhchoukha is designed to be shared (as many other Algerian dishes are) and it’s a simple, affordable and filling meal. Here are 10 more popular Algerian dishes, a good idea of what to expect from North African food.
If you’re considering a trip to Algeria, these 8 AMAZING places to visit will inspire you.
2. Angola – Chicken Muamba
This dish is an incredibly popular stew in Angola, some would say it’s their national dish. Other Central African countries have their version of this flavourful African food too.
This is a rich chicken stew cooked with garlic, onions, and fresh chili to add some heat. Okra is an important ingredient added which is added to thicken the stew.
3. Benin – Maafe (groundnut or peanut stew)
An iconic African food that can be found on many Africa food menus across the continent, particularly in West African countries.
Typically made with chicken, scotch bonnet peppers and either groundnut or peanut butter, it’s a rich, flavourful stew. The blend of sweet, savoury and spicy flavours is the key to its popularity and it’s a good source of protein. Maafe is usually eaten with fish or chicken and is typically served with fufu, white rice, or couscous.
Our favourite peanut stew experience was in Cotonou, the capital of Benin at a local restaurant called Saveurs du Benin. I highly recommend stopping by to enjoy some delicious African food. The dish I enjoyed here was named Igname Pille with peanut stew.
A plate of delicious African food was about $6, and it’s fantastic!
4. Botswana – Dikgobe
Dikgobe is a dish prepared with a variety of beans, peas, and samp (processed maize or corn). The maize gives the dish a porridge-like texture. It’s simple African food that is high in protein, and filling and can feed many mouths with one large pot.
5. Burkina Faso – Fresh baguette with chicken stew
The food in Burkina Faso is similar to West African food you may find on this Africa food list. Locals here eat millet, sorghum, maize (corn) and peanuts. Something readily available all over the country is a freshly baked baguette (yes, the bread in Burkina Faso is wonderful) filled with a simple, yet super tasty chicken stew.
You can find ladies selling them in markets, on the streets and conveniently at bus stations and roadside stops.
RELATED POST: Travel Burkina Faso – A Useful Guide
6. Burundi – Mukeke
Burundi is a landlocked country and it’s bordered by Lake Tanganyika and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, Tanzania to the east and Rwanda to the north.
Mukeke is a fresh fish from Lake Tanganyika and it’s a popular dish to eat in Burundi. It’s usually cooked whole and served with rice or salad and chips. We had a great time in Burundi, however, it was certainly a journey getting here.
7. Cameroon – Chicken or Fish Yassa
Yassa is a favourite in Cameroon and other countries in West Africa and it’s known to have originated in Senegal. Chicken or fish pieces are marinated in dijon mustard and lemon juice, then braised with caramelized onions and slow-cooked until the meat is perfectly tender.
Served with rice or couscous, Yassa is a very comforting meal to eat in Cameroon.
8. Cape Verde – Fried chicken with rice, beans and salad
Cape Verde is a set of small islands located off the coast of Africa. The archipelago consists of 10 islands and many islets.
There is some fantastic Creole food to be eaten on these islands with the most popular dish being fried chicken with rice, beans and salad. The protein can be changed with fresh fish too.
We ate like queens in the capital city of Praia, here are 7 places where we ate the best food.
9. The Central African Republic – Kanda
This is a popular meatball dish in the Central African Republic. The two main ingredients are beef and ground pumpkin seeds. Other key ingredients used are onions, tomatoes, garlic, parsley, and chilli.
The meatballs are usually served atop rice, fufu or even pasta.
10. Chad – Whole fried Lake Fish
African food in Chad is usually camel meat or whole fried fish from the lake. The fish eaten here is usually Carp or Capitaine fish. Usually served on a platter with a salad of coleslaw mixed with mayonnaise, fresh baguette, fried plantain and spicy dipping sauce.
We enjoyed the African food in Chad very much – we even wrote a post about the best places to eat in the capital city of N’Djamena.
11. Comoros – Mshakiki
A barbecued meat favourite known as mshakiki is prepared with marinated beef cubes, then skewered and grilled until the meat is delicate and juicy.
The delicious marinade is a blend of minced ginger, garlic, lemon juice, tomato paste, grated papaya, chilli, curry powder, and turmeric.
Are you wondering exactly where Comoros is located?
12. The Democratic Republic of Congo – Poulet à la Moambé
The National dish of the DRC, poulet à la Moambé (also spelt as nyembwe or mwambe) is a hearty, rich chicken stew. This dish is also a very popular African food in Angola.
It’s prepared by combining chicken, palm butter and spices to form a thick consistency and is usually served over rice, sometimes with the addition of stewed cassava green leaves.
13. Djibouti – Skudahkharis
Without question, this has to be the most popular dish in Djibouti. Typically prepared during the Islamic holiday of Eid, (the celebration after the month of Ramadan) it is made of lamb, rice and a range of spices such as cardamom, cumin and turmeric that offer health benefits.
Other proteins such as beef, chicken, and fish are common too.
14. Egypt – Ful Medames
Fava beans, parsley, onion, tomato, lemon juice, olive oil and tahini – are the ingredients to produce this delicious dish. Eaten with a basket of fresh Egyptian bread to scoop it all up – a satisfying meal for sure. Ful (pronounced ‘fool’) is popular breakfast food in Egypt.
This is an African food that is also popular in Syria (don’t miss these 9 incredible Syrian dishes), Lebanon and Sudan.
Don’t miss reading about these 10 more Amazing Egyptian Dishes to Try.
15. Equatorial Guinea – Succotash
Eaten all over the country, this simple, yet this tasty dish is a national favourite. Succotash is made of a mixture of corn, lima beans, and tomatoes that are sauteed together with butter, salt and fresh herbs.
16. Eritrea – Tsebhi (stew)
This popular Eritrean stew is served atop injera, a flatbread made from teff flour, sorghum, or wheat (popular in Ethiopia too) and hilbet (a paste made from pulses, specifically fava and lentil beans). Eritrean dishes are usually lighter in texture than Ethiopian meals as they tend to use more tomatoes and fewer spices and butter.
I really love this style of African food, where everyone eats from one platter. Learn more about our experiences travelling in Eritrea, one of our favourite African countries for sure.
If you’re interested in visiting Eritrea, don’t miss our Eritrea Travel Tips | 10 Essential Things to Know Before You Go.
17. Eswatini (Swaziland) – Sishwala
A thick porridge served with meat or vegetable stew. The porridge is prepared with dried sugar beans, maize flour, water, and salt. It’s quite simple, yet it’s filling and popular in Eswatini.
18. Ethiopia – Doro Wat
I love Ethiopian cuisine, in fact, it might be my favourite cuisine on this Africa food map. I love it so much that I wrote about my favourite 15 Ethiopian dishes you must try!
African food doesn’t get better than this! Doro Wat is a spicy chicken stew prepared with Ethiopia’s definitive berbere spice mix. It is served on top of spongy Injera bread, which also acts as a scoop to enjoy the meal.
No utensils are needed! Another key ingredient is spiced clarified butter which gives it that silky smooth texture. Yum! Find these other amazing Ethiopian foods in Addis Ababa.
19. Gabon – Nyembwe Chicken
A traditional African food recipe of Gabon. The sauce is made from the red fruit covering the seeds of African oil palms in addition to tomatoes, garlic, onions, okra, hot peppers, salt, and cayenne pepper.
Bite-sized pieces of chicken are covered with this sauce, then simmered over low heat until everything is tender. Usually eaten with rice or fufu.
20. The Gambia – Jollof Rice
Each West African country has its version of Jollof rice and it’s one of the most well known African foods. In fact, our Africa food map wouldn’t be complete without it.
Essentially jollof rice is a one-pot rice dish made with tomatoes, tomato paste, spices (such as nutmeg, cumin and ginger) and vegetables. Meat or fried plantain can be added to this dish if you wish.
We ate Jollof rice in many West African countries we travelled through in 2019 (read more about our crazy adventures in West Africa here). We don’t have very fond memories of meeting the corrupt border guards at the Gambian border, but I think we handled the situation well.
We enjoyed jollof rice the most in Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Nigeria.
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Read more: 21 Most Popular Foods From Kenya
21. Ghana – Red Red
A thick stew made of mashed black-eyed peas. It’s cooked in red palm oil and pepper and many recipes include a little tomato paste, chilli, fresh garlic, ginger and spices to add extra flavour.
Often served with fried plantain, this African food pick for Ghana is tasty, especially if you get those crispy bits that cook a little too long on the bottom of the pot. Visiting Ghana was a highlight of our African food journey across the continent.
Find out why we like travelling in Ghana so much.
Aside from the great food, there are some interesting activities and things to do in Ghana.
22. Guinea – Fufu
Fufu is very much a staple food, common in many West African countries. Aside from Guinea, fufu is a staple food in Cameroon, Liberia, Ghana and Benin. Fufu is prepared by mixing and pounding separate equal portions of cassava, (a root vegetable or Africa food staple) and green plantain flour thoroughly with water.
Other flours can take the place of cassava flour, such as maize flour, semolina or even mashed plantains.
Once the dough is prepared, fufu is then rolled into balls and dipped into sauces or eaten with stews of fish, meat, or vegetables.
23. Guinea-Bissau – Caldo Stews
Often considered the national dish of Guinea-Bissau, Caldo stews are a good example of tasty African food. The favourite dish would likely be Caldo Mancarra, a chicken and peanut stew usually served over rice.
24. Ivory Coast – Kedjenou
This traditional chicken stew is prepared with pieces of chicken, tomatoes, okra, eggplants, onions, chilli, ginger, thyme, garlic, and chicken stock (broth). The above ingredients are placed into a clay pot called canari, which is sealed and then placed over burning coals.
The pot is shaken a few times during the cooking process to deter the pieces from burning on the bottom. The stew is slow-cooked until the meat is tender. Kedjenou is commonly served with rice or attiéké, (a dish made from cassava).
25. Kenya – Ugali (Cornmeal)
This is a simple and satisfying dish. Essentially, Ugali is cornmeal porridge, however, it’s quite dense.
It’s the ideal accompaniment to stews, curries, and soups. You can learn more about the 21 most popular foods from Kenya.
26. Lesotho – Papa (Stiff Porridge)
Papa is a staple food in Lesotho. Essentially this dish is a stiff white porridge and quite similar to polenta in texture once it has been cooked.
It’s usually eaten with moroho (leafy greens), however, beans, meat, canned fish, or eggs are popular additions.
27. Liberia – Potato Greens
Delicious African food that brings us to the halfway point of our Africa Food Map. Liberian potato greens are fried and curried sweet potato leaves cooked with chicken or other meat and enjoyed with steamed rice.
It’s not uncommon to use cassava leaves as a replacement for sweet potato leaves to prepare this dish.
28. Libya – Tagine
The Libyan tagine typically uses lamb, or chicken and sometimes only vegetables and chickpeas. Ingredients such as spring onions, tomatoes, carrots, butter, ginger, and fenugreek paste are cooked down to produce a lovely sauce.
Typically served with bread, rice, couscous or pasta. Visiting Libya was a fascinating journey into the past. The Roman Ruins of Leptis Magna and Sabratha were amazing to see.
Read more about visiting Libya – one of the least visited countries in the world, but definitely one of the most interesting.
And, of course, we’ve got 10 more Most Popular Foods of Libya.
29. Madagascar – Romazava
Malagasy Romazava is the national dish of Madagascar. A meat stew (usually beef) filled with a combination of green leafy vegetables. The meat is commonly braised for many hours before it’s succulent and tender.
Added to a sauce of tomato, ginger, garlic and stewed mixed greens, this is African food that you don’t want to miss. Our detailed 14 Day Ultimate Itinerary for Madagascar will fill you in on all the best places to visit (including where to find the best food).
30. Malawi – Chambo
Fresh fish from Lake Malawi is one of the most popular foods in this country. Chambo fish is the most favoured and it can be roasted, cooked or fried or even dried in the sun.
It is usually served with a side of soup and it’s best eaten with beans and other vegetables.
31. Mali – Tigua Degué
Essentially this dish of just rice with peanut sauce is known as the national dish of Mali. Fish, meat or vegetables can also be added to this dish. Tigua Degué is very popular in Senegal, however here it is known as Mafé.
This dish is also featured on my 8 most popular foods to try in West Africa as peanuts are readily available, therefore the locals use them to create tasty meals.
32. Mauritania – Mechoui
Essentially Mechoui is slow-roasted lamb, a much-loved delicacy of Mauritania. This dish could also be included on our Africa food map in other North African countries such as Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. During festive occasions and events, the lamb is roasted until tender and delicious.
Nothing goes to waste here, and the lamb’s organs are also cooked. Particularly the kidneys, eyes, head, and liver are usually served for special guests. It would be rude to refuse, so accept and enjoy gladly!
33. Mauritius – Roti Chaud
Mauritian cuisine has evolved as a melting pot of flavours, an exciting destination for food lovers. In fact, this is an interesting destination with many amazing things you probably don’t know about Mauritius.
Roti Chaud is a flat Indian bread served with various curries and pickles. These are sold on the street and in all restaurants and are quite similar to Indian roti or chapati. Here are 9 Delicious Foods to Try in Mauritius.
34. Morocco – Pastilla
A delicious pie made from thin layers of pastry, meat (fish, chicken, or pigeon), almonds, and eggs and spiced with saffron. This is an easy snack food in Morocco and is available everywhere. Best eaten hot and straight from the oven.
While there are many great things to eat in Morocco, I recommend that you read our basic rules about what to eat in Marrakech (and what to avoid) first.
35. Mozambique – Feijao con Arroz
Feijao con Arroz (beans and rice) is a staple local meal in Mozambique, sometimes vegetables will be served with this meal too.
We ate this dish and more wonderful dishes at our amazing accommodation in Tofo, Mozambique.
36. Namibia – Oodhingu
Originally a way of storing meat for longer periods before cooling or refrigeration was available in Namibia.
Oodhingu can be made from a variety of meats such as beef, springbok, kudu, goat or other game. Fresh meat is sliced into long strips and hung in the sun until dry.
This popular African food is usually seasoned with salt and cooked over an open fire. While consumed as dried meat, Oodhingu is also a popular ingredient to add depth of flavour to stews.
37. Niger – Brochettes
Niger has the best beef brochettes I’ve tasted in the entire world. So tender. Brochettes are skewers with chunks of meat that are grilled, roasted or barbequed and this is exactly how they are cooked in Niger.
Usually, the brochettes are marinated, threaded on skewers, and then grilled over an open fire. Best eaten with fresh salad, don’t miss them!
38. Nigeria – Suya
Suya is a popular African food, particularly in Northern Nigeria. Skewers of spiced cuts of meat such as chicken, beef, or mutton are grilled over a BBQ or charcoal fire.
Often served with chunks of raw onions, spicy sauce for dipping, and extra seasoning, Suya is best enjoyed in a local eatery alongside a cold beer.
Read more: 20 Most Popular Foods From Nigeria
RELATED POST – Is it safe to walk around in Lagos, Nigeria?
39. The Republic of Congo – Pondu
One of the most widespread dishes in the Republic of Congo is Pondu. This vegetable dish is made using washed and prepared cassava leaves that are boiled in a pot with salt. An easy and affordable meal to prepare and it’s essential on this Africa Food Map as many other African countries eat Pondu.
This dish is usually eaten alongside meat or fish with either bread, rice, boiled yam or fried plantain. The food across the river in the Democratic Republic of Congo is similar to food here in the Congo.
I recommend you take the Brazzaville to Kinshasa river crossing and visit both countries if possible.
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40. Rwanda – Matoke
Bananas are a staple food of the Rwandan diet and there are a few different types of bananas that can be prepared in a variety of ways. The most popular cooking methods are to bake, mash, fry and roast bananas.
One popular type of banana is the matoke. It’s green and unripe, and it has the consistency of a potato when cooked, so it’s a frequent addition to soups, stews, wraps, and more.
41. Sao Tome and Principe – Calulu
This robust stew is enjoyed in Sao Tome, Príncipe, and Angola. It can be prepared with fresh or dried fish and shrimp or other meats too.
Vegetables added to this tasty stew include tomatoes, okra, onions, eggplants, and sweet potato or cassava shredded leaves. Calulu is traditionally served with rice or funje, a creamy porridge made from cassava.
Don’t miss our Top 10 Reasons to Visit Sao Tome and Principe, and our post about What to Do and Where to Stay in Sao Tome and Principe.
42. Senegal – Thieboudienne
This traditional dish is made from rice, fish and tomato sauce. Other ingredients include cabbage, onions, carrots, cassava and peanut oil. It’s a one-pot dish into which you can throw any vegetables you have on hand.
Filling, affordable and tasty, this dish is typically featured on every daily menu because it’s always a good choice.
We tried this dish during our visit to the colourful old colonial city of Saint-Louis in Senegal.
43. Seychelles – Bouyon Blan
A flavourful fish soup with herbs, chopped green or ripe tomatoes, garlic, and ginger. There’s a secret fruit ingredient called bilimbi that gives the soup a distinct tangy flavour.
Sometimes this soup is prepared with small cubes of potatoes to change the texture and thicken the broth. We loved this dish, a favourite during our trip travelling Seychelles on a budget! It’s totally possible.
44. Sierra Leone – Plasas (Leaf Stews)
Plasas are stews made with various green leaves in Sierra Leone, and they’re essential to the cuisine here. The leaves are boiled and cooked with oil (usually red palm oil, but sometimes groundnut or coconut oil), fresh chilli, onions, fish and/or meat.
Plasas are almost always served over rice, and the most popular would be cassava leaf plasa. The capital city of Freetown is the best place to taste a range of Plasas.
Affordable and decent accommodation can sometimes be hard to find here, don’t miss our recommendations for where to stay in Freetown Sierra Leone.
45. Somalia – Bariis Ishkukaris
I’d describe this dish as quite similar to pilau, which we’ve eaten in Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. Bariis Ishkukaris is a rice dish seasoned with fragrant spices and cooked in a meat broth.
Tomatoes are usually added to the dish to add texture and flavour. The result is delicious and enjoyed on a large platter designed to be shared by a group of people and typically eaten with the right hand only.
46. South Africa – Biltong and Droewors
Biltong is a variety of meat cuts (springbok, kudu, or other game meats) soaked in brine and hung to cure. This is an age-old technique of preserving meat.
Droewors (dried sausage) go through a comparable curing process, but instead of meat cuts, ground beef mince and mutton fat are combined with spices to make a sausage which is then hung to cure.
Read more: 10 Best Things To Do In South Africa
47. South Sudan – Kajaik
A popular fish stew in South Sudan, Kaijaik is made of dried fish. It is commonly added to porridge.
The regions in the country’s south have multiple lakes and rivers, so it makes sense that fish are the most consumed African food in this region.
48. Sudan – Kamounia
A comforting stew prepared with beef or liver. The name of this dish, Kamounia comes from the word cumin, so it’s no surprise that this is the key spice used to flavour it. The stew is quite easy to prepare and other spices used to flavour the dish are garlic, parsley, oil, and cumin.
It is usually served with rice or bread, an excellent addition to our African food map. If you plan to visit Sudan, don’t forget to register in Sudan when you arrive.
Our highlight here was our day trip to the incredible Meroe Pyramids. If you’re travelling on a budget, getting here on your own is not so difficult.
Our post on how to get to Meroe Pyramids by public transport has simple steps to guide you.
49. Tanzania – Wali wa nazi
A starchy side dish of rice cooked in a blend of water and coconut milk and seasoned with a bit of salt. This filling, creamy dish is typically served as an accompaniment to classic African food curries or fish, chicken, and meat dishes.
It is a much-loved dish for the Swahili people of East Africa, notably in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.
50. Togo – Akara
You may have noticed by now that some African foods covered in our Africa Food Map are quite similar. The most popular food in Togo are dishes such as fufu, peanut stews, brochettes and cassava leaf stews. In Togo, you will also find Akara, a savoury fritter made from cowpea commonly known as the black-eyed pea.
The peas are boiled until soft and then smashed into a paste. The paste is then seasoned with salt and diced onion. They’re shaped and flattened into small bite-sized snacks and then deep-fried in palm oil. Yum!
51. Tunisia – Fricasse
The fricasse can only be described as a savoury doughnut filled with mashed potato, tuna, olives, hard-boiled chopped egg, and harissa (chilli paste).
Sandwich shops and street food vendors churn these out at lightning speed, and they’re cheap, filling, and satisfying.
Fricasse was also featured in our 8 Best Street Foods in Tunisia post.
If you’d like to travel around Tunisia, our 14 day itinerary for Tunisia is the perfect way to go! Before you go, remember to read my 10 best tips for independent travellers.
52. Uganda – Kikomando
This is a popular Ugandan food of chapati and fried beans. Other choices of Kikomando include meat, vegetable stew or avocado.
You can find this African food in street stalls and restaurants. It’s the ideal snack for budget-conscious travellers on a budget because it’s cheap and tasty and at least offers some nutritional value, which is always a bonus.
I enjoyed Kikomando a few times during my trip to Uganda to go trekking with the gorillas, it was one of the best experiences of my travels.
53. Zambia – Ifinkubala
Would you dare try to eat caterpillars in Zambia? Ifinkubala (or fried caterpillars) are typically deep-fried in oil, or sometimes boiled for a few minutes and then fried in oil.
These delicacies of Zambia are served with tomatoes, onion, and nshima, a thick porridge made from finely ground cornmeal.
This looks similar to mashed potatoes, yet the taste is quite bland. Nshima is also a good African food to appear on our Africa food map as it’s consumed in multiple countries.
54. Zimbabwe – Muboora
A popular African food from Zimbabwe, Muboora is made with a variety of pumpkin leaves, tomatoes, onions, oil, bicarb soda and salt. An important step to prepare this tasty African food is to ensure the pumpkin leaves are washed carefully as they hold a lot of grit and soil from the earth.
The leaves are placed into a pot filled with boiling water and all other ingredients and simmered on low heat until cooked.
Sadza (a thick porridge) is usually served with Muboora and a tangy relish to add flavour.
Africa Food Recipes
Find 32 of the best African food recipes from The Kitchen Community. Some of the best dishes from our Africa Food Map can be created in your own home using their comprehensive African food list.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading our Africa Food Map and perhaps it inspires you to travel this massive continent.
It was difficult, but we listed our 10 Best Food Countries in Africa.
Don’t miss our ultimate Africa Bucket List for the most iconic experiences in all 54 countries!
The Best Ways to Travel Around Africa
You can visit many countries in Africa as a solo traveller and we travelled through many countries overland independently as two females. But, honestly, it’s a very challenging part of the world to tackle on your own.
Perhaps not so much for Eastern Africa, as the infrastructure is set up for visitors and travellers, but particularly for travelling in West Africa.
Our post about 17 things to know about travel in West Africa covers our best tips and hints for you. Also, our Ultimate Packing List for Africa has everything covered, the key is to travel light!
Safety in Africa
There are certainly some countries that are not secure enough to travel independently due to safety concerns. We recommend that you always check your own government website (such as smarttraveller.gov.au for Australians or travel.state.gov for American travellers) before making arrangements to visit select countries in Africa.
These websites are regularly updated and should advise you of any unrest, civil wars or concerns that may affect your intentions to travel.
Our 12 Tips for Safe Travel are things you should do when travelling anywhere in the world
We hope we’ve inspired you to take your own journey in Africa.
You can tick off and eat as many African foods as possible, which are featured on our Africa Food Map.
Travel Tips for Africa
We have many travel guides and tips for Africa – what a massive continent!
Have you ever wondered how many countries in Africa there are? 54 or 55? We cover them in depth in our ultimate Africa bucket list.
There is some delicious cuisine to be enjoyed across Africa, and these ten best African countries for food will inspire your food journey.
Check out how many of these 15 most popular foods you can taste.
If you’re wondering what they eat for breakfast in Africa, check out these 20 popular breakfast foods.
For food lovers, our Food Map of AFRICA lists the quintessential dish you need to eat in every nation!
It’s worth reading these 17 ESSENTIAL Things to know before travelling to West Africa, and our packing list for Africa may be helpful to you.
Don’t miss our recap of our travels across West Africa for even more helpful tips, and try these popular West African dishes; they’re fantastic!
You’ll need to stay connected while travelling in Africa. We recommend eSIM. It’s easy, reliable and affordable. View eSIMs for individual countries in Africa, or consider a regional eSIM for Africa (which covers 36 countries)
If your travels in Africa are part of a much larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries, offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text Global eSIM. This eSIM has been a game-changer for us, and we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.
If you want to travel with like-minded travellers, consider joining a group tour. Check out our Group Tours first for any upcoming departures in Africa, or view Tourradar for deals on group tours in Africa.
Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.
Travel Planning Resources
✈️ Flights: We use Skyscanner to book cheap flights worldwide.
🏨 Accommodation: Booking.com is our preferred platform for booking hotels and accommodation. We use Vrbo to book apartments and long-term stays.
🏥 Travel Insurance: We recommend Heymondo (Get 5% off Heymondo) & SafetyWing
🚌 Transportation: Trainline is the best website to reserve trains. We use Omio to book transport worldwide. For travel in Asia, we use 12Go.
🚘 Car Rental: We use DiscoverCars to book rental cars worldwide.
👫 Group Tours: We now offer Group Trips; view them here! Alternatively, we recommend G Adventures OR Tourradar. For Europe, Expat Explore is a good choice. *Get 5% off when you quote code VERYHUNGRYNOMADS to your Expat reservations agent. (*Valid for new clients only).
📸 Day Tours & Trips: GetYourGuide & Viator are the only two platforms you need.
📚 Lonely Planet: The Best Range of Travel Guides & Ebooks, and FREE Shipping! (use code RACHELDAVEY10 for a 10% discount)
🎒 Luggage: Osprey Farpoint 40L Backpack or Samsonite Luggage Range.
🛄 What to Pack: Don’t forget your Universal charger and a good power bank. To help you pack the essentials, here is our ULTIMATE Packing List for all Travellers.
🐶 Become a House Sitter: Join Trusted Housesitters and enjoy FREE accommodation worldwide. Use our invite to receive 25% off your new membership.
💰 Send Money Anywhere: WISE & Revolut are the best online accounts that let you send money, get paid, and spend money internationally. Both are so easy to use and way cheaper than any bank transfer.
📶 Stay Connected: Airalo eSIM allows you to get connected the moment you land at your destination, and you can avoid those expensive data roaming charges. We LOVE this product! Use code RACHEL5045 to get $3 off your first Airalo eSIM.
✅ Check out our Travel Gear and Travel Resources for more valuable tips to save you money!
1 Comment. Leave new
Thank you for sharing this list! I only wish you would have shared a dish that is actually native to Cameroon and more popular than Yassa. For example we have Poulet DG; Ndole, which is the “national dish”; Eru; Kati Kati; Koki, to name a few.