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Best Airbnb Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa (2026)

Based on Airbtics data from September 2025 to August 2026, this page ranks the best Airbnb markets in Sub-Saharan Africa by Market Grade. The grade compares short-term rental yield, year-over-year revenue growth, and occupancy (demand), then adjusts for local regulation. The table also shows listing count, average daily rate, and annual revenue for every market.

Markets on this page are ranked by the Airbtics Market Grade, not by the number of listings. The grade compares each market with the other markets in this ranking on three measures, then adjusts for local short-term rental regulation.

  1. Yield: Annual short-term rental revenue divided by property price. A higher yield ranks higher.
  2. Growth: Year-over-year change in revenue. Faster revenue growth ranks higher.
  3. Demand: Average occupancy rate over the last 12 months. Higher occupancy ranks higher.

Stricter short-term rental regulation lowers the letter grade. Occupancy, average daily rate, and annual revenue are shown for every market. Exact yield and revenue growth are published for the three highest-graded markets. For every other market those two figures are in Market Explorer. The rankboard plots the same markets by occupancy and average daily rate, and the table under the chart lists those values in text.

Learn more about how we collect the data and accuracy

Last updated: 16th October, 2026

Sub-Saharan Africa Short-Term Rental Market Overview (September 2025 to August 2026)

National averages across all Sub-Saharan Africa markets
Average Occupancy Rate i
49.30%
Average Annual Revenue i
$15,508
Average Daily Rate (ADR) i
$81
YoY Supply Growth i
55.95%
YoY Revenue Change i
4.43%

Top 33 Sub-Saharan Africa Cities for Airbnb in 2026

Tick the markets you like to track their revenue, occupancy, and ADR in your Airbtics watchlist. Free to start, up to 10 markets.

Position Market Grade Market Name Regulation No of Listings Avg. Occupancy Rate Avg. Daily Rate Revenue Short-term Rental Yield Revenue Growth
1BCity Bowl
Lenient
4,98569% 🚀$99$25,36515.2%+12.8%
2BMossel Bay
Lenient
1,12747%$101$17,66317.8%+14.3%
3BPlettenberg Bay
Lenient
1,01954%$144$28,73316.4%+16.4%
4B+Cape Town
Lenient
18,88466%$103$25,177Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
5B+Knysna
Lenient
99050%$122$22,707Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
6CReunion island
Lenient
7,19169% 🚀$109$28,154Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
7CAccra
Lenient
3,55845%$84$14,007Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
8CSandton
Lenient
2,46550%$65$12,118Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
9CDolphin Coast
Lenient
1,74553%$142$27,956Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
10CMombasa
Lenient
1,66037%$49$6,737Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
11CJohannesburg
Lenient
1,61348%$53$9,520Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
12CHarare
Lenient
1,28944%$65$10,634Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
13CMidrand
Lenient
1,14544%$62$10,152Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
14CSeychelles
Lenient
1,01564%$156$37,259Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
15CWindhoek
Lenient
54249%$58$10,549Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
16CWatamu
Lenient
49848%$119$21,113Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
17C+Mauritius
Lenient
5,19863%$103$24,037Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
18C+Mpumalanga
Lenient
2,52543%$84$13,483Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
19C+Pretoria
Lenient
1,88247%$58$10,223Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
20C+Blouberg
Lenient
1,80263%$92$21,443Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
21C+Lagos
Lenient
1,73741%$77$11,703Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
22C+Port Elizabeth
Lenient
1,38248%$58$10,435Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
23C+Madagascar
Lenient
1,08246%$57$9,738Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
24C+Jeffreys Bay
Lenient
63547%$92$16,106Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
25DNairobi
Lenient
6,53543%$44$7,006Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
26DDurban
Lenient
1,61745%$66$11,144Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
27DKampala
Lenient
1,60041%$40$6,066Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
28DDar Es Salaam
Lenient
1,41940%$51$7,596Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
29DBloemfontein
Lenient
64746%$44$7,619Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
30D+Zanzibar City
Lenient
1,90045%$78$13,016Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
31E+Dakar
Lenient
2,12049%$58$10,573Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
32E+Mbour
Lenient
94245%$95$15,812Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
33E+Abidjan
Lenient
27938%$56$7,943Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer

Data Seen By

BiggerPockets
Trustpilot

Market Explorer

Filter markets by occupancy, price, and yield

Filter Sub-Saharan Africa by occupancy, ADR, yield, rent gap, and property price, then compare markets side by side.

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Find the Best Airbnb Markets with Our Interactive Tool

Use our interactive Market Explorer to find the best places to start an Airbnb in Sub-Saharan Africa. 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.

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Why Invest in Airbnb Sub-Saharan Africa in 2026?

The highest-graded short-term rental markets in Sub-Saharan Africa are City Bowl, Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay. The table ranks every tracked market by Airbtics Market Grade. Occupancy, average daily rate, annual revenue, yield, and revenue growth are the figures behind that grade.

Top 3 Airbnb markets in Sub-Saharan Africa by Market Grade

These are the three highest-graded Airbnb markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. Market Grade compares yield, revenue growth, and occupancy (demand) with the other markets on this page, then adjusts for short-term rental regulation. The chart repeats those three percentiles in text so the ranking is readable without the graphic.

Rank 1 — City Bowl (Grade B)

City Bowl is rank 1 of 33 markets in this Sub-Saharan Africa ranking by Airbtics Market Grade B, with 15.2% short-term rental yield, 69.0% occupancy, and +12.8% year-over-year revenue growth.

Compared with the other markets on this page, City Bowl ranks top 44% for yield, top 8% for growth, and top 3% for demand. The market shows an average daily rate of $99, annual revenue of $25,365, a rent gap of 3068.5%, 4,985 active listings, lenient short-term rental regulation, and a typical 2-bedroom property price of $250,000.

  • Market gradeB
  • Yield15.2%
  • Revenue growth+12.8%
  • Occupancy69.0%
  • Average daily rate$99
  • Annual revenue$25,365
  • Rent gap3068.5%
  • Active listings4,985
  • 2-bedroom price$250,000
  • RegulationLenient
top 44%Yieldtop 8%Growthtop 3%Demand

Percentile versus other Sub-Saharan Africa markets on this page. Farther from the center is stronger.

  • Yield: top 44%
  • Growth: top 8%
  • Demand: top 3%

Rank 2 — Mossel Bay (Grade B)

Mossel Bay is rank 2 of 33 markets in this Sub-Saharan Africa ranking by Airbtics Market Grade B, with 17.8% short-term rental yield, 47.0% occupancy, and +14.3% year-over-year revenue growth.

Compared with the other markets on this page, Mossel Bay ranks top 35% for yield, top 5% for growth, and top 50% for demand. The market shows an average daily rate of $101, annual revenue of $17,663, a rent gap of 2718.8%, 1,127 active listings, lenient short-term rental regulation, and a typical 2-bedroom property price of $95,000.

  • Market gradeB
  • Yield17.8%
  • Revenue growth+14.3%
  • Occupancy47.0%
  • Average daily rate$101
  • Annual revenue$17,663
  • Rent gap2718.8%
  • Active listings1,127
  • 2-bedroom price$95,000
  • RegulationLenient
top 35%Yieldtop 5%Growthtop 50%Demand

Percentile versus other Sub-Saharan Africa markets on this page. Farther from the center is stronger.

  • Yield: top 35%
  • Growth: top 5%
  • Demand: top 50%

Rank 3 — Plettenberg Bay (Grade B)

Plettenberg Bay is rank 3 of 33 markets in this Sub-Saharan Africa ranking by Airbtics Market Grade B, with 16.4% short-term rental yield, 54.0% occupancy, and +16.4% year-over-year revenue growth.

Compared with the other markets on this page, Plettenberg Bay ranks top 38% for yield, top 2% for growth, and top 20% for demand. The market shows an average daily rate of $144, annual revenue of $28,733, a rent gap of 3187.6%, 1,019 active listings, lenient short-term rental regulation, and a typical 2-bedroom property price of $150,000.

  • Market gradeB
  • Yield16.4%
  • Revenue growth+16.4%
  • Occupancy54.0%
  • Average daily rate$144
  • Annual revenue$28,733
  • Rent gap3187.6%
  • Active listings1,019
  • 2-bedroom price$150,000
  • RegulationLenient
top 38%Yieldtop 2%Growthtop 20%Demand

Percentile versus other Sub-Saharan Africa markets on this page. Farther from the center is stronger.

  • Yield: top 38%
  • Growth: top 2%
  • Demand: top 20%

Market Rankboard: Sub-Saharan Africa

Each dot is a vacation rental market in Sub-Saharan Africa, plotted by occupancy rate (x-axis) and average daily rate (ADR) (y-axis). Dashed lines mark the national median.

Sub-Saharan Africa Airbnb markets rankboard scatter chart showing occupancy rate versus average daily rate (ADR)
Occupancy rate and average daily rate for each Sub-Saharan Africa market plotted in the chart above, in Market Grade order.
MarketOccupancy rateAverage daily rate
City Bowl69.0%$99
Mossel Bay47.0%$101
Plettenberg Bay54.0%$144
Cape Town66.0%$103
Knysna50.0%$122
Reunion island69.0%$109
Accra45.0%$84
Sandton50.0%$65
Dolphin Coast53.0%$142
Mombasa37.0%$49
Johannesburg48.0%$53
Harare44.0%$65
Midrand44.0%$62
Seychelles64.0%$156
Windhoek49.0%$58
Watamu48.0%$119
Mauritius63.0%$103
Mpumalanga43.0%$84
Pretoria47.0%$58
Blouberg63.0%$92
Lagos41.0%$77
Port Elizabeth48.0%$58
Madagascar46.0%$57
Jeffreys Bay47.0%$92
Nairobi43.0%$44
Durban45.0%$66
Kampala41.0%$40
Dar Es Salaam40.0%$51
Bloemfontein46.0%$44
Zanzibar City45.0%$78
Dakar49.0%$58
Mbour45.0%$95
Abidjan38.0%$56

Compare property prices, short-term rental yield, rent gap, annual revenue, and supply growth in the Airbtics Market Explorer watchlist.

See all Airbnb markets in Sub-Saharan Africa

Browse all 33 markets we track in Sub-Saharan Africa. Each link opens the market's Airbnb revenue and performance data page.

Sub-Saharan Africa Airbnb market FAQs

  • What are the best Airbnb markets in Sub-Saharan Africa?

    Airbtics ranks short-term rental markets in Sub-Saharan Africa by Market Grade. The grade compares yield (annual revenue divided by property price), year-over-year revenue growth, and occupancy, then adjusts for regulation. The highest-graded market in this dataset is City Bowl. The main table lists markets in that order; use the Market Explorer to filter by budget, regulations, and more.

  • How many Airbnb markets does Airbtics track in Sub-Saharan Africa?

    We currently analyze 33 active short-term rental markets in Sub-Saharan Africa with listing supply, median occupancy, ADR, and revenue estimates.

  • What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in Sub-Saharan Africa?

    The national average occupancy rate across tracked markets is 49.30% (LTM). Rates differ by city. Use the rankboard on this page, or open a market page for that city's numbers.

  • How do I compare Airbnb markets in Sub-Saharan Africa?

    Use the occupancy vs ADR rankboard on this page for a quick view, or open the Market Explorer to compare markets side by side, change chart axes, export to Excel, and save markets to a watchlist.

  • How can I estimate Airbnb income in Sub-Saharan Africa?

    Use our Airbnb income calculator to estimate revenue for a specific address, or open any market link below for median revenue and occupancy benchmarks.




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For trends, supply, and year-over-year changes, see the 2025 short-term rental report for Sub-Saharan Africa.