Hitching for rides is common practice in Africa, though you may be expected to pay the driver.
Contents
Safety
Road safety in Africa leaves a lot to be desired, and seatbelts are not always fitted. Being stranded in remote areas could be a problem.
Health
Malaria is common in many parts of Africa. Inform yourself and take precautions. Some forms of malaria are particularly deadly. The fact that local populations don't take any malaria prophelactics should definitely not stop you from taking any: Africans are much more resistant to malaria.
Language
Speaking English and French is an advantage. Portuguese in some countries. And learning African languages will make your trip much more pleasant. Some languages are understood in very large parts, such as Fulfulde and Bambara in West Africa.
Tips for each country
The United Nations Statistics Division defines Europe as following:
Eastern Africa
Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Namibia, Réunion, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Middle Africa
Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe
Northern Africa
Algeria, Egypt, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, Western Sahara
Southern Africa
Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland
Western Africa
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo