Best Airbnb Markets Sub-Saharan Africa in 2025
Based on our data, this page shows the top Airbnb locations to invest in Sub-Saharan Africa with
key
statistics and information, like short-term rental regulations, number of listings, occupancy rate,
average daily rate, and annual revenue. This allows you to discover the most profitable cities to
invest in, buy, and own Airbnb rental properties in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Why Invest in Airbnb Sub-Saharan Africa in 2025?
In recent years, Sub-Saharan Africa has emerged as one of the best locations for investing in
short-term rentals thanks to its popular tourist attractions, thriving business activities, growing
digital nomad presence, and vibrant cities like Hermanus, Dolphin coast and Cape town. With millions of international
visitors coming each year, the demand for vacation rental accommodations is growing, making Airbnb
Sub-Saharan Africa a lucrative option for both local and foreign investors.
Due to strong demand from travelers, Sub-Saharan Africa offers competitive average daily rates
(ADR), healthy occupancy rates, and attractive revenue potential in the best Airbnb markets. Whether
you’re looking to start your first Airbnb business with a modest budget or to add a luxury
short-term rental property to your portfolio, Sub-Saharan Africa has a profitable location to
meet your budget and aspirations as an investor.
Note on Methodology: The Airbtics Market Score indicates how attractive a location is for investing
in an Airbnb rental property. We determine this score based on the following criteria:
- Short-term rental yield: The ratio between annual revenue and property price, as a percentage. Locations with higher Airbnb rental yield score better.
- Short-term rental regulations: How STR-friendly the local Airbnb rules and laws are. Markets with more lenient regulations get a higher score.
- Market size: The number of Airbnb listings. Larger vacation rental markets get a higher score as it is easier for investors to buy and sell properties.
- Growth: How fast the market is becoming saturated. Priority is given to markets that are already developed but are not approaching saturation yet.
- Seasonality: To what degree Airbnb performance is affected by seasonality. Less seasonal impact is preferred as investors can enjoy a more stable short-term rental performance throughout the year.
Based on this methodology, the best places to buy Airbnb in Sub-Saharan Africa are:
Learn more about how we collect the data and accuracy
Top 15 Sub-Saharan Africa Cities for Airbnb in 2025
| Position | Market Name | Regulation | No of Listings | Avg. Occupancy Rate | Avg. Daily Rate | Revenue | Short-term Rental Yield | Rent Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cape town | Lenient | 19,678 | 71% | $90 | $23,594 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 2 | Nairobi | Lenient | 5,204 | 46% | $44 | $7,478 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 3 | Mpumalanga | Lenient | 2,545 | 43% | $78 | $12,424 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 4 | Sandton | Lenient | 2,309 | 52% | $55 | $10,647 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 5 | Dolphin coast | Lenient | 1,835 | 52% | $133 | $25,594 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 6 | Pretoria | Lenient | 1,800 | 48% | $50 | $8,968 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 7 | Johannesburg | Lenient | 1,427 | 50% | $43 | $8,030 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 8 | Lagos | Lenient | 1,387 | 45% | $67 | $11,185 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 9 | Dar es salaam | Lenient | 1,179 | 48% | $49 | $8,720 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 10 | Knysna | Lenient | 1,041 | 53% | $103 | $20,189 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 11 | Madagascar | Lenient | 898 | 46% | $52 | $8,875 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 12 | Hermanus | Lenient | 804 | 58% | $133 | $28,572 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 13 | Windhoek | Lenient | 520 | 54% | $49 | $9,814 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 14 | Durban | Lenient | 417 | 43% | $79 | $12,684 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 15 | Zanzibar | Lenient | 385 | 40% | $50 | $7,399 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
Find the Best Airbnb Markets with Our Interactive Tool
Use our interactive Market Explorer to find the best places to start an Airbnb in COUNTRY. Compare multiple markets side by side, apply filters like regulations, budget (property or rent prices), and market size, and even export the results to Excel.
Explore Interactive ToolBest Cities for Airbnb in Sub-Saharan Africa by Budget
Affordable & Mid-Range Airbnb Markets: $500,000 & Below
| Position | Market Name | Regulation | No of Listings | Avg. Occupancy Rate | Avg. Daily Rate | Revenue | Short-term Rental Yield | Rent Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mpumalanga | Lenient | 2,545 | 43% | $78 | $12,424 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 2 | Pretoria | Lenient | 1,800 | 48% | $50 | $8,968 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 3 | Johannesburg | Lenient | 1,427 | 50% | $43 | $8,030 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 4 | Lagos | Lenient | 1,387 | 45% | $67 | $11,185 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 5 | Dar es salaam | Lenient | 1,179 | 48% | $49 | $8,720 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 6 | Madagascar | Lenient | 898 | 46% | $52 | $8,875 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 7 | Windhoek | Lenient | 520 | 54% | $49 | $9,814 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 8 | Durban | Lenient | 417 | 43% | $79 | $12,684 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 9 | Nairobi | Lenient | 5,204 | 46% | $44 | $7,478 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 10 | Knysna | Lenient | 1,041 | 53% | $103 | $20,189 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 11 | Cape town | Lenient | 19,678 | 71% | $90 | $23,594 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 12 | Sandton | Lenient | 2,309 | 52% | $55 | $10,647 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 13 | Dolphin coast | Lenient | 1,835 | 52% | $133 | $25,594 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 14 | Hermanus | Lenient | 804 | 58% | $133 | $28,572 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 15 | Zanzibar | Lenient | 385 | 40% | $50 | $7,399 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
Emerging vs Established Airbnb Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa
Top 10 Emerging Short-Term Rental Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa
| Position | Market Name | Regulation | No of Listings | Avg. Occupancy Rate | Avg. Daily Rate | Revenue | Short-term Rental Yield | Rent Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dar es salaam | Lenient | 1,179 | 48% | $49 | $8,720 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 2 | Lagos | Lenient | 1,387 | 45% | $67 | $11,185 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 3 | Madagascar | Lenient | 898 | 46% | $52 | $8,875 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 4 | Windhoek | Lenient | 520 | 54% | $49 | $9,814 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 5 | Nairobi | Lenient | 5,204 | 46% | $44 | $7,478 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 6 | Zanzibar | Lenient | 385 | 40% | $50 | $7,399 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 7 | Sandton | Lenient | 2,309 | 52% | $55 | $10,647 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 8 | Durban | Lenient | 417 | 43% | $79 | $12,684 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 9 | Johannesburg | Lenient | 1,427 | 50% | $43 | $8,030 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 10 | Cape town | Lenient | 19,678 | 71% | $90 | $23,594 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
Top Established Short-Term Rental Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa
10 Best Places for Airbnb Arbitrage in Sub-Saharan Africa
| Position | Market Name | Regulation | No of Listings | Avg. Occupancy Rate | Avg. Daily Rate | Revenue | Short-term Rental Yield | Rent Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hermanus | Lenient | 804 | 58% | $133 | $28,572 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 2 | Cape town | Lenient | 19,678 | 71% | $90 | $23,594 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 3 | Knysna | Lenient | 1,041 | 53% | $103 | $20,189 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 4 | Mpumalanga | Lenient | 2,545 | 43% | $78 | $12,424 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 5 | Madagascar | Lenient | 898 | 46% | $52 | $8,875 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 6 | Windhoek | Lenient | 520 | 54% | $49 | $9,814 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 7 | Johannesburg | Lenient | 1,427 | 50% | $43 | $8,030 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 8 | Dolphin coast | Lenient | 1,835 | 52% | $133 | $25,594 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 9 | Dar es salaam | Lenient | 1,179 | 48% | $49 | $8,720 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
| 10 | Durban | Lenient | 417 | 43% | $79 | $12,684 | 12.3% | 34.5% |
- For short-term rental market analysis, visit our Airbnb Analytics app.
Estimate Your Airbnb Income in Sub-Saharan Africa
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