Do all African countries drive on the left?
No. Only 14 African countries drive on the left; the vast majority—roughly three-quarters—use right-hand traffic. Left-driving nations are clustered in Southern and Eastern Africa, plus two island states, reflecting colonial and regional influences. Most of North, West, and Central Africa drive on the right, aligning with continental European norms and neighboring countries.
Contents
Where people drive on the left in Africa
The following list outlines the African countries that currently drive on the left. These are largely former British-administered territories in the south and east of the continent, along with two island nations in the Indian Ocean.
- Botswana
- Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
- Lesotho
- Namibia
- South Africa
- Zimbabwe
- Zambia
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Tanzania
- Kenya
- Uganda
- Mauritius
- Seychelles
Taken together, these 14 countries form a contiguous left-driving block across much of Southern Africa and parts of East Africa, with Mauritius and Seychelles as notable island exceptions.
Right-hand traffic dominates the rest
All other African countries drive on the right, including every nation in North Africa (e.g., Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya), nearly all of West Africa (e.g., Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal), and most of Central and Horn of Africa (e.g., DR Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia). This majority reflects French, Portuguese, Belgian, and Spanish colonial legacies and the practical need to harmonize with neighboring states.
Territories and notable exceptions
Several territories in the broader African region follow left-hand traffic but are not sovereign countries—such as Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (UK). Meanwhile, Rwanda and Burundi are right-hand traffic despite being in the East African Community alongside left-driving Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Rwanda has permitted right-hand-drive vehicle imports in recent years to ease regional trade, but the country still drives on the right. French-linked islands such as Mayotte and Réunion (France) and Comoros drive on the right.
Why the split?
Driving side patterns in Africa largely trace back to colonial administration and later regional standardization. Former British territories typically retained left-hand traffic, while countries influenced by France, Portugal, Belgium, and Spain adopted or kept right-hand traffic. In the late 1960s and 1970s, several West African states that once drove on the left switched to the right to align with neighbors and regional trade routes, cementing today’s map.
Cross-border travel: what to know
Drivers moving between left- and right-hand traffic countries—such as Tanzania to Rwanda or Zambia to DR Congo—must adapt at the border, where signage and road markings guide the switch. Vehicle import rules can also differ: some right-driving countries restrict right-hand-drive cars and vice versa, though regional blocs sometimes make exceptions to facilitate commerce and tourism.
Summary
The key points below recap how driving sides vary across Africa and what shapes those differences.
- Most African countries drive on the right; 14 drive on the left.
- Left-driving nations are concentrated in Southern and Eastern Africa, plus Mauritius and Seychelles.
- Colonial legacies and regional harmonization explain the split.
- Travelers should check local rules and border procedures when moving between left- and right-hand traffic countries.
In short, Africa is predominantly right-hand traffic, with a clear left-driving corridor in the south and east rooted in history and regional continuity.
