The dawn of Covid-19 brought many horrors and confusion, but one good thing it brought was the normalisation of remote work. It has become acceptable to work from anywhere so long as one's deliverables are met.
A class of wealthier individuals take it a step further by racking up some air miles whilst still getting work done — they are called digital nomads. Some posit that this keeps them refreshed and inspired to do more. Research shows that investing in experiences instead of possessions is a huge happiness booster.
This series is for you if you've ever considered being a digital nomad, travelling the world and working from wherever. Let's talk about African cities.
1. Cape Town, South Africa
Known for its beautiful beaches, mountains, abundant sunshine and scenery, Cape Town is a marvel that anybody would love to experience in their lifetime. The city has many fun activities to keep you pumped and going, including hikes, beach activities, restaurant hopping and picnics.
Amid the fun stuff, there are various places to work from with good internet speed.
Maaya, a Peruvian and Japanese restaurant, offers an excellent ambience for breakfast and dinner. It is a great spot to hang out with newly-made friends and respond to a few emails.
Cape Town is a large and not crowded city. It gets an added point for being LGBTQ+ friendly.
2. Nairobi, Kenya
Famed as Kenya's safari capital, Nairobi offers a distinct blend of tradition and modernity. The city has a vibrant nightlife, superb restaurants, and a diverse range of housing to suit all budgets. It's one of the only cities in the world with a national park at its doorstep.
The power grid is good, there are many co-working spaces, and it is an English-speaking city with vibrant tech and nightlife scenes. Movement around the city is easy and affordable, thanks to Uber. The weather is excellent and warm all year round, and the people are amiable.
When I get the opportunity to visit Nairobi, I'd definitely be visiting Pallet Cafe. Its outdoorsiness makes one feel like they're one with nature. It is a cafe with a restaurant, co-working space, yoga and a social centre. What a dream, right?
3. Marrakech, Morocco
Nicknamed "the red city," Marrakech is known as the city of luxury, thanks to its prestigious palaces, gourmet restaurants, opulent spas, hammams, and charming riads. It is a vibrant and colourful city with modern and age-old wonders everywhere you look. It is safe, with lots of fun stuff to do, and the locals are friendly. Arabic and French are standard, but English is fairly spoken.
If steady, fast internet is vital to you, I'd recommend researching before selecting your accommodation, as some areas don't have great coverage.
After all the work, you may like to unwind, and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum is the place to be. You should definitely check it out if you love art, architecture, plants, and dresses. They're open from 9 AM to 6 PM on Wednesdays through Sundays.
4. Port Louis, Mauritius
Port Louis is a city where traditions and the modern coexist. It is the island's economic hub and bustles with daily activities. Yes, Port Louis is an excellent location for a digital nomad to live. Digital nomads can now live on the island for at least one year, thanks to the recently released renewable Premium Visa.
The North of the island is very developed and has many facilities and business centres, and the West has the best places to live. If you like to surf the waves and hike the mountains between work calls, the West is your place.
You must give Port Louis a thorough walkthrough to realise it fully. The Caudan Waterfront, a retail area near the harbour, is a great place to begin your journey. It's also very popular to eat Mauritian street food, and Port Louis is the best place to sample all the different flavours that make up Mauritian cuisine.
5. Johannesburg, South Africa
Johannesburg, AKA Joburg, has established a stellar reputation for quality and affordability, making it a preferred location for business. Most major banks and corporations in South Africa are headquartered in Johannesburg. It is the seat of the highest court in South Africa, the Constitutional Court.
The city has terrific restaurants, theatres, and museums to be experienced. If you're a digital nomad searching for a high-quality and cheap lifestyle, you should enjoy the experience in Joburg.
Being a visitor, you might want to learn about the history of where you're visiting, and a great place to learn about South Africa's history is the Apartheid Museum. They're open from 9 AM to 5 PM daily.
6. Livingstone, Zambia
Livingstone is quickly becoming famous as the adventure centre of Southern Africa, with numerous leisure activities and breathtaking views. It is an English-speaking, spacious country with friendly locals.
Its vast greenery furnishes the environment with excellent air quality. It is no surprise that restaurants equip their space with outdoor eating facilities to leverage the fantastic scenery.
It has vast lakes, rich rivers, waterfalls, national parks, hotels, restaurants, etc. The adventurous activities ranging from fishing, kayaking, bungee jumping, elephant trailing, swimming below Victoria Falls, etc., make for a fun experience.
7. Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos is Nigeria's economic capital and a central financial hub of Africa. The city has been dubbed the cultural, financial, and entertainment capital of Africa, with a significant influence on business, technology, education, tourism, the arts, and fashion.
Lagos is often revered as the land of opportunities by foreigners and locals. Everyone is out to make money, so you might come across those who might try to hustle you. Nonetheless, fear not, for indeed, there are lovely people.
Lagos makes for a great place to be a digital nomad because the tech hub there is massive and booming. It could be a great place to meet and network with other remote workers.
You know the saying, "Work hard, play hard?" The people of Lagos definitely live up to it. There's an array of art, restaurants, cafes, clubs, hotels, lounges and workstations to explore. Hands down a great place to mix business and pleasure.
