Preparing for Your First African Safari — The Best Books About Africa

When you’re traveling abroad, it’s important to know some about the country you’re visiting. And thanks to our schooling, many of us know the history of England, Italy, Germany, and many of the western European countries. But too often, we carry inaccurate and outdated stereotypes about the African countries we visit.

Before you go to visit Africa, you need to read some books about Africa. Below is a list of our top recommendations for both fiction and nonfiction books to teach you a little more about this amazing continent.

A History of South Africa by Frank Welsh

If you plan to visit South Africa, you should know some about the area’s turbulent past and its modern culture. A History of South Africa gives you a vivid guide to the country’s pivotal historic events. It debunks myths about modern South Africa and takes you through the historical process that led to apartheid.

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

Long Walk to Freedom is the autobiography of Nelson Mandela, the noted South African president and Nobel Prize winner. The book details Mandela’s early life, education, and the nearly three decades he spent in prison. You’ll come out with a new perspective on his fight for freedom in South Africa.

The Bright Continent by Dayo Olopade

You may have noticed over the last few years that more and more products are coming out of sub-Saharan African countries. The Bright Continent discusses the economic revolution that has occurred in those countries in the last decade or two. It examines innovative businesses, social sector ventures, and government initiatives that have powered this development.

It’s Our Turn to Eat by Michaela Wrong

On the subject of business revolutions, It’s Our Turn to Eat looks at the darker side of that modern sub-Saharan culture. It tells the story of official corruption in the region and one Kenyan man’s fight to expose this embezzlement. The book also brings light to the complex issue of embezzlement and the ways it impacts African society.

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimanada Ngozi Adichie

If you’re looking for a good African historical fiction book, Half of a Yellow Sun is a great option. This novel recounts the events that led to the Biafran war of independence in the 1960s. It’s a story of love, loss, and war in post-independence Africa.

Radiance of Tomorrow by Ishmael Beah

Another novel that discusses life, war, and post-colonialism Africa is Radiance of Tomorrow. This story follows the inhabitants of a small town called Imperi. It shows the injustice and terror that swept sub-Saharan Africa after the end of colonialism, as well as the hope that overtook the region.

Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron

The Rwandan genocide was one of the darkest stains on Africa’s history and one you need to know about before you visit. Running the Rift tells the story of life during that time through the lens of a young Tutsi man. Nkuba Jean Patrick is a runner who dreams of competing in the 1996 Olympics even during a time when his country is coming apart at the seams.

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

If you want to see the story of African roots through African eyes, you need to read Homegoing. The novel traces the lines of one Ghananian family over the course of two centuries. The family is divided into two branches, one in Ghana and one in the United States, and it covers some of the most turbulent centuries in African and American history, including slavery and the events of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

What Is the What by Dave Eggers

The wars in Sudan have left a generation of child soldiers “lost boys” trying to escape war and poverty. What is the What tells the story of these boys crossing deserts on foot, dodging bullets, and evading large predators. Some of the ones who survived went on to live in the United States, where the novel follows the hardships they suffered there.

So Long a Letter by Mariana Ba

So Long a Letter is a novel comprised of a series of letters written by a woman on death row for killing her pimp. The work covers the topics of family, friends, and death as the letter writer refuses to sign a request for pardon. It is a fascinating look at African feminism and the ways that societal and cultural perspectives shape women’s rights.

The Looting Machine by Tom Burgis

Although corruption is common in some sub-Saharan African countries, many people have the impression that it is worse than it really is. The Looting Machine tells the truth of this corruption – that while it is bad, it is not the worst in the world. This book discusses Lesotho, Nambia, Rwanda, and Ghana, the most corrupt nations in Africa and the fact that Ghana still ranks better than Greece, Italy, and other European countries.

The White Man’s Burden by William Easterly

If you live in the United States, you have probably heard about mission trips to Africa. And while these may be made with the best of intentions, they have often done more harm than good. The White Man’s Burden examines these issues and explores effective ways to promote economic development in poor countries.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind tells that story. This book tells the astonishing story of a brilliant young Malian man who worked to generate electricity on his parents’ farm. He used decades-old physics books from a tiny local library and created a working windmill in a demonstration of the staggering human potential.

Discover the Best Books About Africa

If you’re going to visit Africa, you should know some about the continent and the variety of cultures it houses before you visit. Reading these books about Africa and more will help you dispel many western myths that circulate and gain a better appreciation for the cultures you’re experiencing. They will also give you a sense of the history of this rich and varied continent.

If you’d like to plan your African trip, check out the rest of our site at African Sermon Safaris. We offer trips to Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar. Check out our Kenyan and Tanzanian trips to start planning your next adventure today.