Published: 17.10.2026
The .africa zone takes its name from the continent of Africa, and it suits projects that have a real connection to the continent or to its people. Businesses that trade across African markets, tourism operators, development groups, media outlets and educational projects often look at a name in this zone. Because it names a whole continent rather than one country, it is not tied to a single national identity. Use the availability form just below this text to see whether your name in .africa is still available.
Check if a .africa domain is available .africa Check
A short history
The .africa extension is a geographic generic ending named after the continent. Its use is broad: a company based in one city and a regional network working in several countries can both find that the name describes their work. The zone is better known inside Africa than outside it, so a site with this ending usually earns recognition through the quality and clarity of the projects it describes.
Who runs it
The zone is run by a registry operator that publishes the rules for registration and keeps the central database. Registrars sell names to customers and send the orders to the registry. Because the name refers to a continent, the operator's current terms are worth reading in full before you order, since they set out who may register and how the name may be used.
Rules in practice
- Holder terms: the operator's current policy sets out who may register, so check it before you order.
- Contact details: the holder data has to be exact, and the registrar can ask you to check it.
- Name format: letters, digits and hyphens only, with a limit of 63 characters for each label.
- Renewal: keep the expiry date in view and make sure renewal notices reach a monitored address.
Who uses .africa
- Companies that trade with customers and partners in several African countries.
- Tourism operators, travel guides and heritage projects that present the continent to visitors.
- Development, education and health initiatives that work on projects linked to the continent.
- Media outlets, researchers and conference organisers who cover African topics.
Strengths
- The name states the subject at once, so visitors know the site is connected to the continent.
- A continental name can suit a project that operates in more than one country, where a national ending might feel too narrow.
- The name is short and reads well on a presentation slide, a tour brochure or a project report.
Things to keep in mind
- A continental name can be read in more than one way, so explain the purpose of the site clearly on the homepage.
- Visitors who think of one particular country may expect a national ending, so consider whether you need one as well.
- Content about several countries needs care with facts, names and local details, and should be checked by people who know each place.
- Projects that work across borders should check the local rules that apply in each location where they operate.
Tips before you register
- Check whether the name is also available in .com and in the national endings of the countries where you work.
- Enter the organisation name and address exactly as they appear in your official records.
- Offer the site in the languages your readers use, such as English, French, Arabic or Portuguese, where that suits the audience.
- Publish a clear about page that explains the project, its partners and the places where it operates.
- Protect the registrar account with two-factor authentication, and give a second trusted person access.
Frequently asked questions
Does a .africa name have to be used only by African organisations? The ending is linked to the continent, but any conditions depend on the operator's current policy. Check the terms before you order.
Can a website in .africa be written in several languages? Yes. The ending does not fix the language, so you can publish each language version under the same name.
Does a .africa domain help a site appear in search results for African topics? It can help people see the subject, but accurate content, local relevance and good links carry more weight.
