Africa is a continent of remarkable diversity — and that extends to its electrical systems. Unlike Europe, which largely standardized on a single voltage and a handful of plug types, Africa reflects its complex colonial history through a patchwork of British, French, and Portuguese-derived electrical standards. This guide gives you a clear, country-by-country reference so you can pack the right adapters and travel with confidence.
The African Power Landscape: What to Expect
The vast majority of African countries operate on 220–240V at 50Hz, inherited from European colonial standards. There is one important exception: Liberia uses 120V / 60Hz — the North American standard — and requires Type A or B plugs, making it unique on the continent.
The challenge in Africa is not voltage — it's plug type diversity. Former British colonies typically use Type G (the large rectangular three-pin British plug) or the older Type D (the large round three-pin plug used historically across British India and Africa). Former French colonies predominantly use Type C and Type E. South Africa uses its own unique Type M standard, with Type C and N also common. Understanding which region you are traveling to largely determines which adapters you need.
⚠ Key fact for travelers: Almost all of Africa runs on 220–240V / 50Hz. Modern dual-voltage electronics (100–240V) work everywhere with only a plug adapter. Single-voltage 120V devices from North America require a step-down voltage converter in all African countries except Liberia.
Plug Types Found Across Africa
TYPE C The Europlug — Most Widely Accepted
Two thin round pins, ungrounded. Type C is the most universally accepted plug in Africa — it fits into Type E, F, and many hybrid sockets found across the continent. If you carry only one adapter into francophone West and Central Africa, Type C will cover the majority of your needs for phones, laptops, and small electronics.
TYPE D Large Round Three-Pin — British Colonial Legacy
Three large round pins in a triangular arrangement. Type D is the old British standard once deployed across India, Africa, and parts of the Middle East. It remains prevalent in Nigeria, Ghana, India, and scattered across former British African colonies. Many newer buildings are replacing Type D sockets with Type G, but older infrastructure widely retains it — always carry a Type D or universal adapter when visiting Nigeria, Tanzania, or Zimbabwe.
TYPE G UK Three-Pin — East Africa & Former British Territories
Three large rectangular pins in a triangular arrangement. Type G is standard across East African nations including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania (alongside Type D), and the island nations of Seychelles and Mauritius. If you're visiting multiple East African countries, a Type G adapter is your single most important piece of kit. Type G is identical to the UK plug, so a UK travel adapter works throughout.
TYPE M South African Large Round Pin — Southern Africa
Three large round pins in a triangular arrangement (larger than Type D). Type M is South Africa's dominant plug standard — and it is unique to South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Namibia. Most South African sockets also accept the smaller Type C Europlug for ungrounded devices, making Type C a practical backup. For any grounded appliance, however, a dedicated Type M adapter is required.
TYPE N Brazilian-Compatible — New South African Standard
Two round pins plus a grounding pin in a recessed socket. South Africa adopted Type N as its new official standard in 2013, and newer construction increasingly uses Type N sockets. Type N is also the standard in Brazil. Older buildings still use Type M, so travelers to South Africa may encounter both. A universal adapter covering both Type M and Type N — plus Type C — covers all South African bases.
TYPE E French Round with Ground Hole — North & West Africa
Two round pins plus a round hole for a socket-mounted grounding pin. Used across francophone North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) and West Africa (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mali, Burkina Faso). Type C plugs fit Type E sockets and provide full compatibility for ungrounded devices. For grounded appliances, a Type E adapter is required.
Country-by-Country Quick Reference
Africa by Region: What Adapters to Pack
North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt)
North Africa is the most straightforward region for European travelers. Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt all use Type C and Type E sockets at 220–230V / 50Hz — the same standard as continental Europe. If you're already equipped with a Type C or Type F adapter for Europe, it will work seamlessly here. American travelers need a dual-voltage device or a voltage converter in addition to a Type C plug adapter.
East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia)
East Africa is where your planning gets more complex. Kenya, Uganda, and the Seychelles use Type G exclusively — the British three-rectangular-pin standard at 240V / 50Hz. Tanzania uses a mix of Type D and Type G. Ethiopia is particularly varied, with Type C, E, F, and L sockets all found in different buildings. Rwanda uses Type C and the Swiss-style Type J. A quality universal adapter covering Type G, Type C, and Type D covers the East African traveler comprehensively.
West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mali)
West Africa splits along former colonial lines. Nigeria and Ghana (former British colonies) use Type D and Type G. The francophone nations — Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mali, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and most of the region — use Type C and Type E. Packing both a Type C and a Type D or G adapter covers virtually all of West Africa. A quality universal adapter that includes Type C, D, and G handles all scenarios.
Southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe)
South Africa is the defining adapter challenge of the region. Its dominant Type M plug (three large round pins) is unique to southern Africa and requires a specific adapter — no other continent uses it as broadly. Newer South African buildings are adopting Type N sockets. Most South African sockets also accept Type C for ungrounded devices. If you're visiting South Africa, buy a dedicated Type M adapter before you leave — it's not always easy to find outside the region.
⚠ Liberia exception: Liberia is the only African country using the North American standard (120V / 60Hz, Type A/B plugs). Travelers arriving from Europe, the UK, or most of Africa visiting Liberia need both a plug adapter AND will need to verify their devices handle 120V. Devices rated 100–240V are fine; single-voltage 230V European devices are not.
Adapter Strategy: What to Pack for Africa
(Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt)
(Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania)
(Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal…)
(South Africa, Namibia, Botswana)
✓ Smart tip: For southern and eastern Africa, buy a local universal adapter on arrival at a major airport (Johannesburg, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam). Quality options are widely available and often cheaper and higher-rated than pre-trip purchases. For West Africa, bring one in advance.
Voltage Compatibility in Africa
With the exception of Liberia, all of Africa runs on 220–240V at 50Hz. This means that any device rated 100–240V (dual-voltage) will work anywhere in Africa with only a plug adapter. Most modern smartphones, laptops, tablets, and their chargers are dual-voltage by default — check the small print on your power adapter or charging brick for the INPUT voltage range.
Hair dryers, curling irons, and some travel appliances are frequently single-voltage (120V only). Bringing a 120V hair dryer to Africa without a voltage converter will destroy the device and potentially create a fire hazard. See our complete hair dryer travel safety guide for full detail on what to check and how to travel safely with heated styling tools.
Power Quality and Reliability in Africa
One practical consideration often overlooked in plug guides: power reliability. Load shedding (scheduled rolling blackouts) is a regular feature in South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and parts of West Africa. Power surges are also more common in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa than in Europe or North America.
Traveling with a quality universal adapter that includes a built-in surge protector is strongly advisable for Africa. Some travelers also carry a small travel surge protector to protect expensive electronics like laptops and cameras. This is a minor investment that can save you from a very expensive device replacement mid-trip.
Use our interactive voltage checker to look up the specific plug type and voltage for any African country on your itinerary and get an instant compatibility verdict for your devices.