Advice and information for LGBT Travellers to Safari Africa

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Africa are very limited compared with LGBT rights in Europe and the US. Some parts of Africa are more welcoming of LGBT tourists than others and unfortunately, some still have less progressive stances towards LGBT rights. 

With the exception of South Africa, same-sex marriage in Africa is not recognised, and it’s not even legal. Modern-day laws and regulations stem from thousands of years of heritage and history, and of course, tribal culture plays a huge role in making African countries so unique. However, because African culture is very conservative, especially in the Islamic regions, displays of affection between couples are often considered offensive, regardless of the couples’ sexual orientation. On a side note, hand-holding between male friends is quite common, so you will witness this throughout Safari Africa.

If you’re aware of the laws and regulations concerning same-sex relationships before travelling, and you’re prepared to adhere to them, you’re unlikely to encounter any problems. So as long as you’re willing to avoid making public displays of affection, we wouldn’t advise against visiting any destination that we offer.

If you have any questions or concerns about any aspects of travelling to a safari destination, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our experts here, to have a chat about your safari options.

Apart from in South Africa, same-sex marriage in Africa is not legal. Even if same-sex relationships are legally allowed in a destination, the local society can be intolerant. There are some countries where same-sex relationships are illegal but where the law is not strictly enforced. And then there are certain destinations where it is illegal and it’s a punishable offence.

Although anti-LGBT behaviour is unlikely to be directed at tourists, we provide a few recommendations for LGBT travel below:

However, we do have a cautionary note. As open as Cape Town is to LGBT culture, we advise that travellers avoid excessive and overt displays of affection and try to be respectful of local customs. The political standpoint hasn’t translated to full public acceptance, especially within the more rural areas – studies show that 61 per cent of locals believe that homosexuality should not be accepted.

Although homosexuality is considered a taboo topic, homosexuality is not illegal in Rwanda. In sharp contrast to its neighbours, such as Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi, Rwanda is actually considered a leader in East Africa for its progressive steps towards LGBT rights. In 2011, Rwanda was a signatory of the United Nations joint statement condemning violence against LGBT people. Also, as it’s the only destination in the area without anti-LGBT laws, the country is starting to become a haven for those alienated from their homes. However, though being gay is not illegal, that doesn’t mean people here don’t face significant prejudice. As always, we recommend being respectful and avoiding any obvious acts of affection towards a partner.

When it comes to the popular East Africa destinations or the more traditional Southern African countries, we recommend a bit more caution for LGBT travellers.

For travel to Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, and Botswana, we advise that you avoid public displays of affection. However, with these destinations, there are stronger laws and regulations against same-sex relationships, and it’s a good idea to be aware of these. Sodomy and homosexuality practices in general are illegal, and some governments within these countries continue to prosecute members of the local LGBT community.

Namibia prohibits sexual relations between men, according to an old law inherited from the time of South African occupation. However, there are no such laws against same-sex relations between women and the law against men has not been enforced by prosecutions.

Visitors to the destinations mentioned are typically not troubled – for example, no Yellow Zebra client has encountered issues relating to homophobia. However, it’s important to understand that there is a higher chance of an issue arising, and potentially the worst outcome could be that you are refused entry into the destination.

Uganda is the one country on our list that requires a particular mention. This destination is notorious for having some of the harshest anti-LGBT laws – being homosexual in Uganda is punishable by life in prison. There’s a strong outcry to reduce the strict regulations that are imposed on the estimated 500,000 LGBT people in the country, but the local communities are still forced to remain underground. As a tourist, there’s no need to be overly worried, as visitors rarely encounter issues. However, as always, discretion is advised; and in certain lodgings and situations, we might even recommend twin-bed rooms as a precaution.