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Pallet Delivery to and from Africa
Pallet2Ship arranges pallet delivery to and from destinations across Africa by air and sea freight. Whether you are exporting goods from the UK to South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, or anywhere else in Africa, importing into the UK from African suppliers, or shipping machinery, automotive parts, or commercial goods to and from the continent, our platform lets you compare services, see prices instantly, and book in minutes. Get started at pallet2ship.co.uk.
We work with DHL, FedEx, and UPS for air freight, and with Maersk plus established global shipping partners for sea freight via LCL (shared container) and FCL (full container) services. Air freight to Africa typically takes 3-7 working days. Sea freight typically takes 3-6 weeks depending on the port pair and routing.
We deliver across the region — featured destination pages include South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, and Zimbabwe. We also arrange shipments to other African destinations including Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritius, and other locations across the continent. Note that Egypt sits under our Middle East destinations. If your destination isn't shown on the destination grid, simply enter it in the quote tool or contact our team.
Air Freight to Africa
Air freight is the fastest option for shipments between the UK and Africa. It offers transit times of 3-7 working days and is suitable for standard pallets, urgent shipments, and high-value goods.
Standard air freight through DHL handles pallets up to 160 cm in height. FedEx accepts pallets up to 178 cm on selected routes — enter your exact dimensions in the quote tool and the system will show which carriers and services are available.
Air freight services include express air freight for the fastest transit and economy air freight for cost-sensitive shipments. Major African gateways with good UK connections include Johannesburg (JNB), Nairobi (NBO), Lagos (LOS), Casablanca (CMN), and Accra (ACC). See our Air Freight page for details.`
Sea Freight to Africa
Sea freight is the most cost-effective option for heavy, bulky, or non-urgent shipments to and from Africa. Major ports with regular UK services include Durban and Cape Town (South Africa), Mombasa (Kenya, with CFS depots in Nairobi), Lagos and Lekki (Nigeria), Tema (Ghana), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Casablanca and Tangier Med (Morocco), and Port Louis (Mauritius).
LCL (Less than Container Load) lets you share container space and pay only for the volume you use. FCL (Full Container Load) gives you a dedicated 20ft, 40ft, or 40ft high cube container. FCL typically becomes more economical when your shipment exceeds approximately 13-15 CBM.
Delivery options include door-to-door, door-to-port, port-to-door, and port-to-port. For some destinations, only port-to-port or door-to-port may be available — confirm at booking. Transit times typically range from 3-6 weeks depending on the port pair and shipping line. See our Sea Freight page and FCL & LCL page for details.
Sea Freight to Landlocked African Countries
Pallet2Ship arranges sea freight to landlocked African countries through transshipment via major coastal ports. Common routings include:
- Zimbabwe — typically via Durban (South Africa) or Beira (Mozambique)
- Zambia — typically via Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) or Durban
- Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi — typically via Mombasa (Kenya)
- Ethiopia — typically via Djibouti
- Botswana — typically via Durban or Walvis Bay (Namibia)
- Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger — typically via Tema (Ghana) or Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire)
Transshipment adds transit time but provides genuine sea freight access for inland destinations where direct routing is not available. Landlocked destinations via transshipment typically take 5-7 weeks. For specific landlocked destinations, request a custom quote — our team will confirm the routing and timing.
Final Delivery in Africa
Once freight arrives in the destination country, final delivery to the consignee's address is handled through local carrier networks or dedicated transport depending on shipment size and destination. Deliveries can be to business or residential addresses. Business deliveries are typically kerbside or loading bay. Residential deliveries are available but may have different access requirements depending on the carrier, location, and pallet size.
A local telephone number for the consignee is required for most African destinations — local depots will not call UK telephone numbers. Final-mile transit times can vary significantly depending on local infrastructure, distance from the port of entry, and customs clearance times. Major cities are typically faster than rural or remote regions.
ISPM-15 Across Africa
ISPM-15 regulations apply across Africa. South Africa, Kenya, and most other African countries enforce strictly. All wooden pallets, crates, and dunnage must be heat-treated and carry the ISPM-15 stamp. Non-compliant wood packaging may be rejected at the border, causing delays, additional costs, and potential destruction of the packaging at the shipper's expense.
South Africa may require additional treatment or inspection for some wood packaging depending on the shipment and packaging type. Plastic pallets do not require treatment.
See our ISPM-15 guide.
Customs & Documentation
All shipments between the UK and Africa require customs documentation. When you book through Pallet2Ship, our system generates the Commercial Invoice during the booking process. You will need commodity codes (HS codes) for each product, EORI numbers, the relevant Incoterms, and Importer of Record details for the destination country.
Most Pallet2Ship exports to Africa operate under DAP (Delivered at Place) — the seller arranges delivery, and the receiver handles import customs clearance, duties, and taxes in the destination country.
- South Africa has well-established customs processes and is one of the easiest African destinations for UK trade. SARS (South African Revenue Service) administers customs. Importers must hold a valid Customs Code (registered with SARS). Documentation must be accurate and complete.
- Kenya has strict customs procedures administered by KRA (Kenya Revenue Authority). Importers must be registered for KRA PIN. Pre-shipment inspection (PVoC — Pre-Export Verification of Conformity) applies to certain regulated product categories.
- Nigeria has complex customs procedures administered by NCS (Nigeria Customs Service). Importers must complete a Form M and obtain a SONCAP certificate (Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme) for regulated goods. Documentation must be precise.
- Morocco has clear customs processes administered by ADII (Administration des Douanes et Impôts Indirects). Documentation may be required in French alongside English.
- Zimbabwe and other landlocked countries require additional transit documentation when freight passes through coastal countries. Our team can advise on the specific routing and documentation.
- Documentation language: English is widely accepted across Anglophone Africa. French is required or strongly preferred in Francophone countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon, and others). Portuguese applies in Mozambique and Angola.
For guidance on customs requirements, see our Export & Import guide, Commodity Codes guide, EORI guide, and Incoterms guide. If you need alternative terms such as CIF or DDP, contact our team. We can explain options but do not provide legal or tax advice.
Who Ships to Africa?
Manufacturers exporting industrial components and machinery, mining and oil-and-gas equipment suppliers, agricultural and food technology companies, automotive parts importers and exporters, construction companies shipping building materials, e-commerce businesses serving African markets, NGOs and aid organisations shipping equipment and supplies, engineering firms sending machinery for installation, and businesses importing goods from African suppliers — particularly textiles, agricultural products, and minerals — into the UK.
Countries We Deliver Pallets to and from Africa
Kenya
Morocco
South Africa
Zimbabwe
These countries have dedicated pages with detailed shipping information. However, Pallet2Ship arranges freight services across the entire continent, including Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritius, and other African destinations not shown above. Note that Egypt sits under our Middle East page rather than Africa.
Use the quote tool above for any destination. If it is not in the system, contact our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
about our shipping services to Africa
Quotes & Pricing
Coverage & Destinations
Transit Times & Freight Services
Customs & Documentation
ISPM-15 & Packing
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Insurance & Protection
Booking & Practical Considerations
Why Businesses Use Pallet2Ship for African Freight
- Instant online quotes — compare air and sea freight options and book in minutes
- Coverage across Africa — including transshipment to landlocked destinations
- DHL, FedEx, and UPS for air freight — sea freight via Maersk and established global shipping partners
- Door-to-door, door-to-port, and port-to-door options available depending on route
- Customs documentation generated automatically during booking
- Country-specific guidance for South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and other regulated markets
- Insurance available for goods valued between £100 and £50,000
- Real-time tracking on most services
- UK-based operations team available Monday-Friday, 09:00-17:30