Digital nomadism on the rise as footloose head to Africa

In 2014, digital nomad Ben Jones was at a Bitcoin meet-up in Berlin when someone invited him to become a technology fellow in Ghana. Days later, he was on a plane to Accra, joining the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST), a programme designed to equip Africa’s brightest young graduates with the skills to build startups.

At the time, incubators like this were rare on the continent. The ecosystem was young, investors were hesitant, and few global tech companies were paying attention. But over the past decade, Africa’s digital economy has surged, driven by rapid urbanisation, mobile connectivity, and a new generation of entrepreneurs tackling real-world problems with technology.

“In the UK, you’ll see startups working on things like pharmacy delivery apps – useful, sure, but not exactly revolutionary. But in Africa? The scale of impact is huge. It’s banking the unbanked, building financial infrastructure from scratch, leapfrogging entire stages of development,” says Jones.

That first trip to Ghana turned into a long-term engagement with Africa’s tech scene. As remote work and digital nomadism have become mainstream, a growing number of global professionals are following a similar path, drawn by the continent’s opportunities, affordability, and thriving tech hubs.

“I want to make the whole world my office – whether I’m in Myanmar, Cape Town, or Iceland,” says Jones. “But what does change – especially in Africa – is the energy, the hustle. Because so much of the continent is still developing, everyone is hungry.”

Now, with more African countries like Namibia, Kenya, and Cape Verde rolling out their first digital nomad visas, the continent is positioning itself as a destination not just for investors and entrepreneurs, but for an entire workforce untethered from traditional office spaces.

The world is your office

The digital nomad lifestyle has surged in popularity, with 40m people worldwide now working remotely while travelling, according to Statista’s Digital Nomads 2024 report. Nearly half of them – 18.1m – are from the United States, marking a 147% increase since 2019. The United Kingdom follows as the second-largest source of digital nomads, making up 7% of the global total, while Russia, Canada, and Germany also account for significant portions of the movement.

The same report shows that digital nomadism is no longer limited to budget-conscious freelancers. Over a third earn between $50,000 and $100,000 per year, while 35% make between $100,000 and $250,000. At the highest end, 2% report incomes exceeding $1m annually. Most digital nomads are in their 30s, highly educated, and work in tech, marketing, or entrepreneurship. While men make up 56%, women account for 44%.

This financial clout is reshaping economies in nomad hotspots, with high-earning remote workers spending more on accommodation, dining and experiences than traditional tourists. However, their presence has also fuelled debates about rising housing costs, gentrification and the broader impact on local communities.

For years, digital nomads chasing an affordable, adventure-filled remote work lifestyle have flocked to Southeast Asia, Mexico, and Portugal. But as these traditional hotspots grow increasingly crowded, Africa is stepping into the spotlight. A recent study by the Nebeus Research Team ranked South Africa as the world’s fourth most popular destination for digital nomads in 2024.

“The concept of digital nomadism started nearly 15 to 20 years ago, and many of these remote workers have already travelled extensively. Now, they’re turning their attention to Africa,” says Alejandra Wolf, co-founder of AfricaNomads. “But while interest was growing, the continent lacked the essential infrastructure – co-living spaces, reliable work hubs, and a sense of community.”

In 2022 Wolf and a group of hospitality professionals built a business to host travellers in boutique rental properties along Kenya’s coast. It didn’t take long to realise that what was missing wasn’t just accommodation but a structured ecosystem for remote workers.

“We saw an opportunity, not just to offer a place to stay, but to build a real community,” she says. “By creating co-living spaces, we’re helping nomads work, live, and experience Africa together.”

Guests get to dip their toes in Africa’s digital nomadic life for weeks – or a couple of months – at a time, paying fees similar to the total monthly spend of a typical nomad living in Cape Town.

Kenya’s idyllic Lamu Island, one of their first locations, appeals to those looking for cultural immersion and a slower pace of life. “It’s probably the best-preserved Swahili cultural destination,” Wolf says, describing how visitors quickly integrate into the rhythm of daily life. Watamu, by contrast, offers a more modern, beachside environment. Now, AfricaNomads is expanding into Nairobi, a move Wolf says reflects the city’s growing status as a remote work hub.

“Nairobi has so much to offer – amazing culture, incredible restaurants, and a vibrant live music scene,” she says. “It’s also home to the only national park in the world located within a city, which means you can spend your morning watching wildlife and be back at your laptop working by the afternoon.”

Beyond Nairobi, Kigali is also emerging as an East African remote-work hotspot. Rwanda has invested heavily in digital infrastructure, with high-speed fibre-optic networks and dedicated co-working spaces catering to mobile professionals, as AfricaNomads looks to build an east-to-west route across Africa.

“We take the guesswork out of relocating,” Wolf adds. “From flight arrangements to power and internet backups, we make it as seamless as possible.”

Destination: Namibia

As digital nomadism gains traction across Africa, Namibia is trying to carve out its place in the movement. In 2022, the government introduced its first iteration of a digital nomad visa, offering remote workers a six-month stay in the country.

“We started thinking about the digital nomad visa around the time of the energy crisis in Europe,” says Margereth Gustavo, executive director of strategy and branding at Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB). “Namibia has sunlight all year round, and we saw an opportunity to attract digital nomads looking for a different place to work from.”

The programme extends beyond the standard 90-day tourist visa, giving remote workers the freedom to live and travel across Namibia while working. Since its launch, it has attracted 58 applications, with 33 approved. Most applicants come from Germany, the UK, France, Canada and South Africa, but competition is fierce – its southern neighbour has drawn digital nomads in far greater numbers.

Some applicants have questioned why they couldn’t use a tourist visa instead, while others were discouraged by rules preventing them from immediately reapplying for another digital nomad visa after six months. “We recognised that this needed to be addressed, and we’re still working on refining the process,” says Gustavo.

Despite these hurdles, Gustavo says Namibia is doubling down on its digital nomad push, with targeted marketing campaigns planned for European markets. The country’s affordability, reliable internet, and English-speaking environment make it an attractive option, but its real draw is space – both physical and mental. Namibia offers remote workers the chance to settle in without adding pressure to an already strained housing market in other destinations.

“Our wide-open spaces give people the opportunity to step back, reflect, and think about their lives,” Gustavo says. Rather than staying in Windhoek for the full six months, most nomads use the capital as a base before exploring coastal towns or the country’s desert interior. This movement injects spending into local businesses, from long-term car rentals to guesthouses and restaurants. “The hospitality sector is beginning to benefit, and as more digital nomads arrive, local businesses are starting to invest in better accommodations and services,” says Gustavo.

Beyond Namibia, several African nations have introduced tailored visas to attract remote workers. Mauritius offers a premium visa valid for up to a year, requiring applicants to have a minimum monthly income of $1,500 and health insurance coverage. The Seychelles Workcation Program permits stays ranging from one month to a year, targeting self-employed individuals and business owners. And Kenya’s digital nomad work permit, announced in October 2024, mandates an annual income of at least $55,000 and aims to position the country as a prime destination for high-earning remote professionals.

Tensions with locals

Yet South Africa continues to draw the lion’s share of workers, and has around 10,000 remote workers currently living in Cape Town alone. But the influx of high-earning professionals has driven up housing costs, fuelling tensions with local communities.

With more than 23,500 Airbnb listings – exceeding the number in major cities such as Barcelona and Berlin – long-term rental availability has shrunk, particularly in sought-after areas like Sea Point and Green Point. Property owners are opting for short-term lets, which offer significantly higher returns, making it harder for Capetonians to find affordable housing.

While the city’s leadership insists that digital nomads earning over $50,000 per year primarily seek high-end properties, the reality is their presence is driving up prices across the board. Each digital nomad is estimated to contribute $2,700 per month to the local economy, Alderman James Vos, who is on the city’s committee for economic growth, told reporters. But locals struggling to secure stable accommodation are seeing fewer benefits. South Africa’s response has been to impose a high-income requirement for its digital nomad visa, stipulating a minimum annual salary of $53,000 (1m rand).

While Africa’s digital nomad boom is accelerating, challenges remain beyond housing and visa policies. Infrastructure gaps – such as inconsistent power supplies, limited high-speed internet in rural areas and fragmented payment systems – can be a hurdle for remote workers.

Many digital nomads rely on Starlink with local SIM cards as backups, but the lack of widespread, high-quality co-working spaces outside major cities remains a limitation.

In response, cities like Kigali and Nairobi are expanding their fibre-optic networks, and co-working brands such as Workstyle Africa are rapidly growing to cater to location-flexible workers.

Meanwhile, local banks and fintech startups are working to make cross-border payments and access to financial services easier for foreigners. These efforts signal a continent adapting to the realities of a remote-first foreign workforce, even if the transition is still in progress.

Africa, a place to get things done

For digital nomads like Ben Jones, Africa is a place to get things done. “Spending time here gives you access to opportunities and insights that you wouldn’t get anywhere else,” he says.

As a remote worker across the continent, Jones says he built a multi-million-dollar business, co-founded a Bitcoin bank and secured over $50m in venture capital. A former CEO, he now advises startups globally, drawing on his experience navigating Africa’s fast-moving tech landscape.

With digital nomad visas expanding, infrastructure improving, and a growing community of remote professionals, the continent is no longer a wildcard.

“People assume Africa is too difficult, but the reality is, digital nomads are already here. They’re staying longer, spending more, and integrating into communities in ways short-term tourists never could,” says Wolf.