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Before you go on any safari vacation to Africa make sure that you have the correct travel adapter with you before you leave home. When traveling you will be surprised how quickly the batteries of a camera will be used, and how much we rely on having having access to electricity. Getting access to an adapter that suits you while traveling will be next to impossible. Most luxury safari lodges will have one to borrow should you need, but it is always best to have your own. Below is a list of countries and the adapters you will need for each of them.
If you are looking to buy a travel adapter plug for Africa, Safari Guide Africa recommends the Belkin F8E449 Universal AC Travel Adapter which you can purchase from Amazon by clicking here. Please note that there is no fully universal plug available for Africa, but this one is the closest to covering plug options you will need. If our readers have success with other adapters, please share it with us.
South Africa: Electric plug M 220/230V 50Hz. In some areas plug C & G.
Electric power plug M has the official name of BS 546. Type M is a “15 A/250 V” version of electric plug D: 220/230V 50 Hz. Note that electric plug M is larger than D, thus plug D is not compatible in South Africa. A comment from a local I met was “I am sure that this is what they had in mind when they made that guy – it is completely different from anything I have ever seen”
Tanzania: Electric plugs D & G 230V 50Hz.
Traveling to Tanzania you will need to bring both the electric travel adapter D and G. Electric plug D has the official name BS 546 (5 A/250 V earthed). This plug is commonly used in countries colonized by the British. Plug G also known as the standard British 3-pin rectangular blade plug or the “13-amp plug”. The official name is BS 1363 (British 13 A/230-240 V 50 Hz earthed and fused).
Kenya: Electric plug G 240V 50Hz.
Traveling to Kenya you will need to use electric travel adapter G also know as the standard British 3-pin rectangular blade plug or the “13-amp plug”.
Zambia: Electric plugs C, D & G 230V 50Hz.
Going on safari in Zambia we recommend you to bring all of the above electrical travel adapters. Electric plug C is commonly known as the “Europlug” but the official name is CEE 7/16 (Europlug 2.5 A/250 V unearthed). This plug is used throughout continental Europe, Middle East and much of Africa, South America, former Soviet countries and Central Asia.
Namibia: Electric plug M 220v 50Hz.
Safari travelers going to Namibia need to use electric travel adapter M which is the same for South Africa.
Please let us know if you have any questions or comments in regards to electric travel plugs related to your Safari.
If you want to read up more about African power outlets on Wikipedia click here.
