Homosexuality is illegal in every African country except for South Africa. So if you are gay or lesbian and wish to travel to Africa you need to take a few extra precautions to stay safe. Inform yourself of the current laws and practices against gays in the country you are planning to visit (but don't forget that laws often do not reflect public attitude, which is very open and welcoming for the most part).

Naturally there's an underground gay and lesbian scene in every country and you can tap into this through bulletin boards before you go. There are also various tour operators that cater to gay and lesbian travelers throughout Africa. To get more information, see my Gay and Lesbian Guide to Africa. I have also collected links and articles covering most of the major African destinations for the discerning gay and lesbian traveler. If I have left anything out please let me know.