In 2014, Digital Nomadoben Jones took part in a Bitcoin encounter in Berlin. A few days later, he boarded a plane to Accra and attended the Meltwater School of Entrepreneurial Technology (MEST), a program designed to help Africa's brightest young graduates develop the skills to build startups.
At the time, incubators like this were rare on the continent. The ecosystem was young, investors were hesitant, and tech companies around the world paid little attention. However, over the past decade, Africa's digital economy has skyrocketed, driven by a new generation of entrepreneurs tackling real-world issues around rapid urbanization, mobile connectivity and technology.
“In the UK, you can see startups are working on pharmacy delivery apps and more. It's not useful, but not precisely innovative. But in Africa the shock scale is huge. Get banks without banks, build financial infrastructure from scratch, and jump through the entire development phase,” says Jones.
The first trip to Ghana turned into a long-term involvement with the African technology scene. As remote work and digital nomads become mainstream, more and more global experts are following a similar path, drawn from continental opportunities, affordable prices and thriving high-tech hubs.
“I want to make the whole world my office whether I'm in Myanmar, Cape Town or Iceland,” Jones says. “But what's changing, especially in Africa, is energy, the hustle and bustle. Everyone is hungry because much of the continent is still developing.”
With African countries like Namibia, Kenya and Cape Verde currently deploying their first digital nomadic visas, the continent positions its continent as a destination not only for investors and entrepreneurs, but for the entire workforce freed from traditional office space.
The world is your office
According to Statista's Digital Nomads 2024 report, digital nomad lifestyles are becoming more popular and work remotely around the world. Almost half of them (18.1m) are from the US, showing a 147% increase since 2019. The UK continues as the second largest source of digital nomads, accounting for 7% of the world's total, while Russia, Canada and Germany also make up a significant portion of the movement.
The same report shows that digital nomads are no longer confined to budget-conscious freelancers. Over a third earns between $50,000 and $100,000 a year, with 35% earning between $100,000 and $250,000 a year. On the best end, 2% report income of more than $1 million a year. Most digital nomads are in their 30s, highly educated and work in technology, marketing, or entrepreneurship. Men account for 56%, while women account for 44%.
This financial influence is restructuring the economy in nomadic hotspots, with earning remote workers spending more on lodging, dining and experience than traditional tourists. However, their presence encouraged discussions about rising housing costs, gentlemanship and wider impact on the community.
For years, digital nomads chasing a remote work lifestyle filled with affordable adventures flocked to Southeast Asia, Mexico and Portugal. But as these traditional hotspots become more and more crowded, Africa has stepped into the spotlight. A recent study by the Nebeus Research team ranked South Africa in 2024 as the fourth most popular destination in the digital nomadic world.
“The concept of digital nomads began 15-20 years ago, and many of these remote workers have already traveled extensively. Now they are focusing their attention on Africa,” says Africa co-founder Alejandra Wolf. “However, during the growing interest, the continent lacked essential infrastructure: a space for communal living, a reliable work hub, and a sense of community.”
In 2022, a group of Wolf and hospitality experts built a business hosting travelers at boutique rental properties along Kenya's coast. It didn't take long to realize that what was lacking was not just a lodging facility, but a structured ecosystem for remote workers.
“We saw the opportunity to not only provide a place to stay, but to build a real community,” she says. “By creating spaces for communal living, we help nomads work, live and experience together.”
Guests can soak their toes in digital nomadic life in Africa for weeks or months and pay similar fees to the total monthly expenses of the typical nomadic people living in Cape Town.
One of the first places, Kenya's idyllic Lamb Island appeals to those seeking cultural immersion and a pace of life. “It's probably the best-preserved Swahili culture destination,” Wolf says, explaining how visitors can quickly integrate into the rhythms of everyday life. By contrast, Watamu offers a more modern beachside environment. Currently, Africanomads is expanding to Nairobi. This, according to Wolves, reflects the city's growth as a remote work hub.
“Nairobi has a great culture, an incredible restaurant and a lively live music scene,” she says. “It's also home to the only national park in the world within the city, meaning you can see wildlife in the morning and come back to your laptop by the afternoon.”
Beyond Nairobi, Kigali has also emerged as a remote working hotspot in East Africa. As Rwanda is looking to build an East-to-West route in Africa, he has invested heavily in digital infrastructure with high-speed fiber optic networks and dedicated coworking spaces for mobile professionals.
“We'll remove the speculation from the relocation,” adds Wolf. “From flight arrangements to backup your power and internet, it's as seamless as possible.”
Destination: Namibia
As digital nomads gain traction across Africa, Namibia is trying to open up its place in the movement. In 2022, the government introduced the first iteration of digital nomadic visas, offering remote workers a six-month stay in the country.
“We began thinking about digital nomadic visas during the European energy crisis,” said Margereth Gustavo, executive director of strategy and branding at the Namibian Investment Promotion and Development Committee (NIPDB). “Namibia is exposed to the sun all year round and has had the opportunity to attract digital nomads looking for another job.”
The program exceeds the standard 90-day tourist visa and gives remote workers the freedom to cross Namibia while they are working. Since its launch, it has collected 58 applications, with 33 approved. Most applicants come from Germany, the UK, France, Canada and South Africa, but the competition is fierce. Its south neighbors attracted much more digital nomads.
While some applicants wonder why they were unable to use tourist visas instead, others were disappointed by the rules that prevented them from reapplying for another digital nomadic visa immediately after six months. “We know that we need to address this and are working to improve the process,” says Gustavo.
Despite these hurdles, Gustavo says Namibia has doubled its digital nomad push and a target marketing campaign for the European market is being planned. The country's affordable prices, reliable internet and English-speaking environment have become attractive options, but the real draw is the physical and mental space. Namibia offers remote workers the opportunity to settle without putting pressure on the already tense housing market at other destinations.
“Our wide open space gives people the opportunity to retreat, reflect and think about their lives,” Gustavo says. Rather than staying in Windhook for six months, most nomads use the capital as their base before exploring coastal towns and the country's desert interiors. This movement injects spending on 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 beginning to invest in better accommodation and services,” Gustavo says.
Beyond Namibia, several African countries have introduced tailored visas to attract remote workers. Mauritius offers premium visas that are valid for up to one year, with applicants demanding a minimum monthly salary of $1,500 and health insurance coverage. The Seychelles Workcation Program targets self-employed people and business owners and allows stays in the range of one month to one month. And Kenya's digital nomadic work permit, announced in October 2024, requires an annual income of at least $55,000, and aims to position the country as a major destination for high-revenue remote experts.
Tension with local people
However, South Africa continues to attract future workers shares, with around 10,000 remote workers currently living alone in Cape Town. However, the influx of high-revenue professionals has boosted housing costs and has heightened tensions with the local community.
There are over 23,500 Airbnb lists, more than the number of major cities like Barcelona and Berlin, with long-term rental availability being reduced, particularly in popular areas such as Sea Point and Green Point. Property owners opt for short-term Lets, which offers significantly higher revenues, making it difficult for Kepetonians to find affordable housing.
The city's leadership argues that digital nomads who make more than $50,000 a year are primarily looking for high-end real estate, but the reality is that their presence is a full-scale increase in prices. Each digital nomad is estimated to donate $2,700 a month to the local economy, Mayor James Foss, who is on the city's Economic Growth Committee, told reporters. However, locals struggling to ensure stable accommodations have seen fewer benefits. The South African response was to impose high-income requirements on digital nomadic visas and provide a minimum annual salary of $53,000 (R1 million).
The digital nomadic boom in Africa is accelerating, but the challenges remain beyond housing and visa policies. Infrastructure gaps, such as inconsistent power sources, limited high-speed rural internet, and fragmented payment systems, can be hurdles for remote workers.
Many digital nomads rely on Starlink with their local SIM cards as backups, but the lack of extensive, high quality coworking space outside major cities remains a limitation.
In response, cities such as Kigali and Nairobi are expanding their textile optic networks, while coworking brands such as Workstyle Africa are growing rapidly and catering to flexible workers.
Meanwhile, local banks and fintech startups are working to facilitate cross-border payments and access to financial services for foreigners. These efforts illustrate a continent that adapts to the reality of a remote foreign workforce, even if the transition is still underway.
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 won't go anywhere else,” he says.
As a remote worker across the continent, Jones said he built millions of dollars businesses, co-founded Bitcoin Bank and secured more than $50 million in venture capital. The former CEO is now using his experience of advising startups globally and navigating the rapidly moving technology landscape in Africa.
With digital nomad visas expanding, infrastructure improvements and a growing community of remote experts, the continent is no longer a wildcard.
“People assume Africa is too difficult, but the reality is that digital nomads are already here. They stay longer, spend more and integrate into their communities in ways that short-term tourists never can,” Wolf says.
