Best of Articles, Hotels, Africa
Best Cards For Hotels in Africa
Updated on Tue, 17 Feb 2026
Africa offers a wide range of lodging, from luxury safari tents to beachfront resorts and business hotels in major cities. When it comes to using points on the continent, flexibility matters more than brand loyalty. Outside of a handful of high-end safari redemptions, the best strategy is to lean on free night certificates and programs with broad footprints to minimize cash costs. The following cards give you the best options to make the most of your African adventure.
Our Rankings
1 | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
In Africa, availability matters more than squeezing out maximum cents per point. We rank the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card #1 because Marriott has the largest footprint on the continent, particularly in major cities, and is more likely than most brands to have options in smaller markets. If you’re heading to Africa for a safari, Marriott also has a presence in select safari-adjacent areas. While these stays can require a lot of points, Bonvoy is one of the few programs that lets you book certain safari properties with points. The 85k free night certificate can stretch far in this region, and complimentary Platinum Elite status can provide meaningful value where elite competition is lower. If you prefer a lower annual fee, the Boundless is a strong middle-ground option, while the Bold works for those who want to avoid an annual fee altogether.
Honorable Mentions
2 | Citi Strata Elite
The Strata Elite is another strong option if you’re heading to Africa. The $300 annual hotel credit through the Citi portal can stretch far in a region where many hotel cash rates are relatively affordable, making it an easy win. Citi partners with Accor, which has a massive footprint across North and West Africa and offers fixed-value redemptions that function like a discount. Choice also has a meaningful presence in parts of southern Africa, and Wyndham’s scattered footprint can provide value when its locations align with your itinerary. You won’t find all three options everywhere, but having multiple hotel partners to choose from earns the Strata Elite a high spot on this list.
Honorable Mentions
3 | Hilton Honors Surpass
Hilton doesn’t have the same footprint as Marriott in Africa, but it maintains a strong presence in major hub cities and certain safari gateway markets. The Surpass is Hilton’s lower annual fee option, and while it doesn’t include a free night certificate, complimentary Gold status provides free breakfast and space-available upgrades. The quarterly $50 Hilton credits can add incremental value as well. When booking with points, the fifth night free benefit becomes especially useful for longer stays. If you want a free night certificate or higher-tier perks like Diamond status, the Aspire is the better upgrade option.
Honorable Mentions
4 | Capital One Venture X
The Capital One Venture X earns a spot on this list because of its flexibility. It shares strong hotel transfer partners with Citi, including Accor, Choice, and Wyndham, though the Choice transfer rate is less favorable than Citi’s. The real advantage is the options you'll have with this card. You can use the large signup bonus to erase any travel purchase at a 1:1 rate, which expands your choices in a region where independent hotels are common and chain coverage can be inconsistent. The annual $300 portal travel credit can also stretch far in Africa, where hotel prices are often lower, helping reduce out-of-pocket costs even when points redemptions don’t make sense.
5 | IHG One Rewards Premier
IHG has a solid presence in business-heavy cities across Africa, and the IHG Premier is a low-risk card with a modest annual fee. The 40k point free night certificate easily offsets that fee and can go far in this region. If you’re staying in one place for several nights, the fourth night free on award bookings adds even more value. You’ll also receive Platinum Elite status, which doesn’t guarantee major perks but can provide early check-in, late checkout, and occasional room upgrades. This is a practical card for an Africa trip. The downside is that award pricing can be high relative to local cash rates, so we wouldn’t recommend transferring Chase or Bilt points beyond small top-ups.
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