Digital nomadism is becoming a dynamic lifestyle and it’s a perfect way for travel fanatics to combine their insatiable wanderlust with a fun career that they can conduct anywhere.
Who is a digital nomad?
A digital nomad is someone who thanks to the wonders of modern technology can work remotely from any corner of the world. To put it in simple words, a digital nomad is a person who travels while working through the internet. They can travel anywhere freely while maintaining their job as long as they have their laptop and strong internet connectivity.
Most digital nomads set up a working station in a destination for a few days, weeks or months before moving on.
The digital nomads come in all forms- they could be writers, marketers, IT experts, designers, editors and so on.
By leading this kind of lifestyle, digital nomads enjoy two things;
They build and maintain a career and secondly travel around the globe with relative freedom.
However, not every destination offer the same possibilities.
What makes a great digital nomad destination?
The list of destinations from which you could manage to work remotely are near infinite but digital nomads tend to congregate in destinations with certain characteristics which make them ideal for living an expat lifestyle and working remotely.
Here are some characteristics that most appeal to digital nomads;
- Affordable cost of living
- Availability of reliable and high-speed internet
- An already existing community of digital nomads
- Great weather
- A diverse and rich culture
- Infrastructure
- Safety
- Plus many more
There is only one single obstacle though- if your world is literally your oyster, how do you make a choice of where you can live without making a blunder that might cost you your time and money?
From foodie paradise in Northern Africa to a beachside hammock in Eastern Africa, here are digital nomad community hotspots in the motherland continent- Africa.
Nairobi, Kenya
Some years back, nobody would typically associate the internet economy with African countries the reason being, large swaths of Africa didn’t have reliable internet (most still don’t have). But that is in the past and Africa is now home to areas prime for technological growth.
Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya is one of those few countries. The cost of living is pretty affordable the internet is decent including reasonable Sim internet options and the city is home to a slew of digital co-working spaces and tech incubators.
The best part is the close proximity to some of the most amazing wildlife, for instance, the famous Nairobi National Park is less than 10 minutes’ drive from the city center. The nightlife is also lively and the country is a melting pot of cultures.
Cape Town, South Africa
While Cape Town isn’t really at the top when it comes to the affordable cost of living (compared to other African countries) the country’s infrastructure is among the best in the continent. South Africa is ranked second in Africa for the fastest internet speed especially in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
The visas are also easily acquired and if you are from European countries, you can enjoy a visa-free visit to South Africa for a period of 90 days. If you don’t fancy extending your stay after this period, the country is an awesome gateway to other countries on the digital nomad’s map including Ghana and Kenya.
The rapid growth in digital nomads and entrepreneurs in the recent past has led to a significant rise in a number of co-working spaces in most cities across South Africa.
The Bureaux, based in Cape Town offer workspaces which have fibre optic internet, desks and meeting rooms which you can use for Skype conferences and interviews- it’s a great place to meet like-minded digital nomads and professionals.
Marrakesh, Morocco
Influenced by Spanish, Islamic, Berber and French cultures Morocco is a unique nation with unbelievably stunning g landscapes, lots of gastronomy delights and kind people.
Today, this country is developing entrepreneurial location with loads of startups being funded. Marrakesh is one of the most beautiful cities in Morocco and an excellent option to start from. The prices have one of the best cost/quality ratios. For accommodation, you can check some options from Airbnb or book an apartment near the city center where you’ll get plenty of options for less than $500 per month.
For transport, if you find a house within the city, you can rent a bike or a scooter because the charming streets of Marrakesh a pretty narrow. You can also use taxis which are pretty affordable but be sure to request the driver to turn on the taximeters to avoid overcharging.
The WIFI is pretty affordable with some city cafes offering free WIFI and you can also find a lot of options as far as co-working stations are concerned.
Port Louis, Mauritius
This small tropical island in the center of the Indian Ocean has evolved from a mere legendary honeymoon destination to a great spot for location-independent professionals in recent years.
The city of Port Louis has reliable internet access, the cost of living is reasonable the climate is mild and tropical and in addition, the time-difference to European countries is negligible- which comes in as a plus when it comes to meeting scheduling with clients abroad.
English and French are the most spoken languages which means that you can easily interact with the locals.
Plenty of accelerators, incubators, and co-working stations are coming up all over the island opening up the opportunity to get in touch with the local startup scene plus other location-independent entrepreneurs.
Though the country seems small, there are tons of activities the highlights being the countless blinding white shorelines running into the beautiful water of the Indian Ocean. If you fancy a beautiful beach hammock working station, or you are a water sports enthusiast then your best bet is Port Louis.
Kampala, Uganda
The capital city of Uganda- Kampala is not a very famous destination but it’s a great choice for digital nomads. Located on the border of Lake Victoria, this city is slowly emerging as an underrated digital nomad hotspot thanks to the region’s temperate climate and extremely cheap cost of living.
As long as you stay in the city, safety concern isn’t really an issue, the internet is average and you can survive pretty comfortably with about $500 per month which makes it a perfect choice for digital nomads on budget.
The nightlife might not be as lively as the rest of East Africa but the laid back ambiance is all the more reason to love Kampala.
Lake Victoria is the second largest freshwater lake in the world and it offers a lot of opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming. If you wish to venture a bit out of the city, be sure to visit the famous Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a sanctuary and home to half of the world’s populations of the mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, colobus monkey and hundreds of different bird species.
Cairo Egypt
Not unless you double check from your map, you really won’t believe you’re in Africa. The ancient city of Cairo is a thriving digital nomad destination and it’s easy to see why. Tech and other industries are ever rising in this city, the internet is reliable and availability is widespread.
The national language is Arabic so be prepared to experience some language barrier but most people are educated so they can at least communicate in English. Internet cafes and co-working spaces are in abundant.
The safety is not an issue and the city of Cairo is one of the most affordable destinations in the world especially when it comes to food stuff. You can easily survive on $800 per month and that can further be reduced to $500 if you are willing to give up some comforts.
The Egyptian culture is quite interesting being an African country yet inhabited by Arabic decent there is so much to learn and see about the fascinating history as well as the awesome world wonders like the Giza complex and the pyramids.
Lagos Nigeria
Lagos is situated on a picturesque area with multi-hued sandstone cliffs and caves with a beautiful contrast of turquoise blue water. The cost of living is affordable especially if you put some efforts into planning.
If you want to save some money on the grocery, for instance, you can head to the market on Saturdays and in accommodation, avoid the touristy areas especially in summer.
The internet connection is pretty strong and there are dozens of cute little cafes where you can get your job done and at the same time enjoy people watching.
The city is safe but of course, like many other African countries, it’s best not to stay out late and if you have to, please make sure you take a taxi back to your premises. There are plenty of affordable houses but do not compromise on your safety, choose areas with high population if you want to do a lot of walking.
English is the most spoken language in Lagos so you can comfortably interact with the locals-befriend most of them, Nigeria has one of the richest cultures in Africa, you don’t want to miss out on that.
Thanks for reading!
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