Can you travel to Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin without worrying about a visa Absolutely! These countries offer visa-free entry, making travel within Africa much easier. But what about Ghana That’s a yes too! The Ghanaian government, under President Nana Akufo-Addo, has approved a new visa-free policy, set to take effect by early 2025.
And Kenya Another big yes! In fact, Kenya recently announced a new directive allowing visa-free entry for citizens of nearly all African countries. This open-border policy aims to boost tourism, promote regional integration, facilitate cross-border trade, and support open-skies agreements—just like the initiatives adopted by several other African nations.
While these changes mark significant progress, many African countries still impose strict visa requirements on fellow African nations. This has long hindered free movement, economic collaboration, and deeper integration across the continent. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has described this restriction as one of the biggest contradictions to Africa’s regional integration goals.
AfDB Vice President Nnenna Lily Nwabufo emphasised the need for urgent action, stating: “As we seek to advance the AfCFTA, strengthen regional value chains, and open new opportunities in the dynamic services sector, it is evident that visas, their attendant processes and high costs, are barriers we must dismantle. To achieve “The Africa We Want” as envisioned in the AU Agenda 2063, we must address these barriers with urgency and creativity.”
The good news is that some progress is being made. The Africa Visa Openness Index, which tracks how easily African citizens can travel across the continent, highlights key improvements:
In 28% of country‑to-country travel scenarios within Africa, African citizens do not need a visa to cross the border, a marked improvement over 20% in 2016.
In 2024, 26 African countries — 44% of the continent — offered an evisa for Africans, up from nine African countries — 17% of the continent — in 2016.
17 countries improved their score since last year: two are in the top 10, another three in the top 20.
39 countries have improved their score since 2016. Of the 10 that have most progressed, six are in West Africa, two are in East Africa, and two are in Southern Africa.
Nine top‑20 performers are low‑income countries; three of them are landlocked. Another nine top‑20 performers are lower‑middle-income countries. Lower‑income countries continue to make progress.
Nigeria ranks 6th on the Africa Visa Openness Index, offering a mix of visa-free access and visas on arrival for many African nations. If you’re travelling to Nigeria from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Togo, you won’t need a visa. However, visitors from other African countries—including Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Egypt, Gabon, and Kenya—will require a visa on arrival.
The most visa-friendly African countries include Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin, with Mauritania and Mauritius ranking 9th and 10th respectively.
So, if you’re planning to explore Africa this year, now you know which destinations will welcome you with open arms—no visa headaches included!
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gabe Kalscheur made a handful of big shots for Iowa State, and he helped the Cyclones put together another stellar defensive performance.…
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/dishes-from-sabayon-in-montreal.jpg?id=54228849&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=96%2C0%2C96%2C0"/><br/><br/><p><a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/eat-drink/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Montreal's dining scene</a> is in the national spotlight once again, with a local spot taking the crown as Canada's best new restaurant for 2024. </p><p><a href="https://enroute.aircanada.com/restaurants/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Air Canada's annual Best New Restaurants</a> ranking has placed a cozy, 14-seat <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/we-asked-montrealers-which-restaurants-should-get-a-michelin-star" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Montreal restaurant</a> at number one this year, recognizing its intimate afternoon tea service and elegant dinners that showcase seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.</p><p>Sabayon, led by acclaimed pastry chef Patrice Demers and sommelier Marie-Josée Beaudoin, took the top spot on this prestigious list for 2024. This 14-seat gem is defined by its warm, personal ambiance — you're greeted by the owners themselves, who double as the entire staff, according to Air Canada. </p><p>With Demers working magic in the kitchen and Beaudoin expertly guiding guests through wine pairings, every detail is carefully curated.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwxqM5HLsJ_/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwxqM5HLsJ_/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top" rel="noopener">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Air Canada highlighted the duo's dedication to detail, from Sabayon's intimate afternoon tea service to its innovative dinners. The menu features a seasonal six-course dinner that blurs the line between simplicity and sophistication. Plus, the restaurant's namesake dish — featuring grilled oyster mushrooms, potato purée and a caramelized arlette wafer crowned with a cloud of sabayon sauce — was named Air Canada's Dish of the Year. </p><p>Plus, don't miss the afternoon tea service, available only on Fridays and Saturdays, where Quebec's Camellia Sinensis teas pair with three courses of desserts ranging from brioche to intricate mignardises.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxyHHCvrtx6/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>But Quebec didn't stop there — another standout from the province, Mont-Tremblant's Maison de Soma, claimed the third spot. Known for redefining farm-to-table dining, this restaurant operates from a 600-acre property in the Laurentian Mountains, using ingredients grown and harvested on site to create unforgettable dishes. </p><p>Montreal's Parapluie also earned a spot on the list, landing in sixth place for its refined, playful take on French bistro dining in the Mile End.</p><p>Air Canada's Best New Restaurants list, now in its 23rd year, is considered a definitive guide to Canada's dynamic food scene. This year, it was compiled by award-winning cookbook author and culinary journalist Tara O'Brady, who visited all 30 restaurants in 16 cities from the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/montreal-restaurants-canadas-best-new-restaurants-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">longlist released in September</a> to assess them on culinary vision, quality of ingredients and overall dining experience.</p><p>Here is the full list of Canada's top 10 new restaurants for 2024:</p><ol><li><strong>Sabayon (Montreal)</strong></li><li>Mhel (Toronto, ON)</li><li><strong>Maison de Soma (Mont-Tremblant)</strong></li><li>Takja BBQ House (Toronto, ON)</li><li>Café Malabar (Victoria, BC)</li><li><strong>Parapluie (Montreal)</strong></li><li>Bar Prima (Toronto, ON)</li><li>Fat Rabbit (St. Catharines, ON)</li><li>Gary’s (Vancouver, BC)</li><li>Crumb Queen/Andy's Lunch (Winnipeg, MB)</li></ol><p>This year's list showcases standout dining from seven cities across four provinces, proving that Canada's culinary excellence extends far beyond major hubs — although Sabayon's top ranking proves Montreal might still be king in Canada's food landscape.</p><p><span></span><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>
