How Many African Countries Drive on the Left

Fourteen African countries drive on the left. Most are clustered in Eastern and Southern Africa, with two Indian Ocean island nations also following left-hand traffic; nearly all share a British colonial legacy that set the convention.

The 14 African countries that drive on the left

Across the continent, left-hand traffic is the rule in a distinct band from South Africa up through East Africa, plus two island states. Below is the complete, up-to-date list as of 2025.

• South Africa
• Namibia
• Botswana
• Zimbabwe
• Zambia
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Lesotho
• Eswatini
• Kenya
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Mauritius
• Seychelles

Taken together, these 14 nations represent roughly a quarter of Africa’s 54 sovereign states. The rest of the continent, including all of North and West Africa and most of Central Africa, drives on the right.

How Africa ended up split on driving sides

The pattern is largely historical. Countries that were administered by Britain generally adopted left-hand traffic and retained it after independence—especially in southern and eastern regions where cross-border travel and trade reinforced the status quo. In contrast, former French, Belgian, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish territories standardized on right-hand traffic. During the 1960s–1970s, several West African states that had once driven on the left switched to the right to align with neighbors and vehicle supply chains, leaving today’s left-driving cluster primarily in the south and east.

Practical implications for travelers and trade

Driving-side differences affect everything from vehicle fleets to road design and border operations. Here are key points travelers and logistics operators should keep in mind.

• Vehicle compatibility: Left-driving countries use right-hand-drive vehicles; cross-border rentals and commercial fleets must match the destination’s rules.
• Road signage and intersections: Roundabouts, overtaking rules, and lane markings are mirrored; switching sides can challenge unfamiliar drivers.
• Border engineering: Busy borders where traffic sides change often use one-stop posts, flyovers, or channelized lanes to safely swap sides.
• Trade flows: Left-driving states in southern and eastern Africa import many vehicles from right-hand-drive markets (e.g., Japan, the UK, South Africa), reinforcing the current pattern.

With growing regional trade, infrastructure at key crossings has improved, but drivers should still plan for side changes and local driving norms immediately after borders.

Notable left–right border crossings

At several major frontiers, motorists must switch from left-hand to right-hand traffic (or vice versa). These are among the most frequented and well-marked transition points.

• Kenya–Ethiopia (Moyale): Left in Kenya to right in Ethiopia.
• Kenya–South Sudan (Nadapal/Nakodok): Left in Kenya to right in South Sudan.
• Tanzania–Rwanda (Rusumo): Left in Tanzania to right in Rwanda.
• Tanzania–Burundi (Kobero/Kabanga): Left in Tanzania to right in Burundi.
• Uganda–DR Congo (e.g., Mpondwe/Kasindi): Left in Uganda to right in DR Congo.
• Zambia–DR Congo (Kasumbalesa): Left in Zambia to right in DR Congo.
• Namibia–Angola (Oshikango/Santa Clara): Left in Namibia to right in Angola.
• Uganda–South Sudan (Elegu/Nimule): Left in Uganda to right in South Sudan.

These crossings typically feature clear signage and traffic-calming measures to manage the side swap, but congestion can add complexity—extra caution is advised.

Summary

Fourteen African countries drive on the left, concentrated in Eastern and Southern Africa with Mauritius and Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. The distribution reflects colonial legacies and regional alignment, while neighboring right-driving states create several well-managed but critical side-switching border points for travelers and trade.

Why does Mozambique drive on the left?

Mozambique drives on the left because, although a former Portuguese colony, it maintained the tradition of left-hand driving due to its borders with neighboring former British colonies that also drive on the left. This pragmatic approach prevented costly and unnecessary changes in traffic laws to align with different neighboring countries.
 
Here’s why this system persists:

• Historical Context: Left-hand driving was a widespread historical norm, particularly in parts of Europe, before large-scale road networks and the dominance of right-hand driving due to Napoleon’s influence. 
• Geographical Proximity: Mozambique shares borders with other countries, such as Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi, which all drive on the left due to their past as British colonies. 
• Economic and Social Factors: Portugal itself only switched to right-hand traffic in 1928, and in many of its colonies, like Mozambique, the existing left-hand driving system was maintained. This was a practical decision to avoid disruption and the expense of changing the entire infrastructure and driver habits of the territory. 
• Lack of Intervention: Because Mozambique already had a system of left-hand driving in place and it aligned with the systems of its neighboring states, there was little incentive to implement the change to right-hand driving, which was adopted by continental Europe. 

How many countries drive on the left?

There are 163 countries and territories that drive on the right side of the road, while 76 of them drive on the left. Many of the countries that drive on the left — making up about 30% of the world’s population — are former British colonies, including ones in Southeast Asia, Southern Africa, and Oceania.

Does Nigeria drive on the left?

On Sunday, April 2, 1972, Nigeria ditched the British-styled right-hand drive to the left-hand drive common among the French, German, and Americans. The terms right and left-hand drive refers to the position of the driver in the vehicle and are the reverse of the terms right and left-hand traffic.

Does Kenya drive on the left side?

Driving in Kenya is done on the left side of the road.