( CNN ) -- President Barack Obama flies across the Atlantic on Wednesday for a trip that takes him to Senegal , South Africa and Tanzania , his second visit to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office . The trip aims to bolster investment opportunities for U.S. businesses , address development issues such as food security and health , and promote democracy . It comes as China aggressively engages the continent . The Asian nation is pouring billions of dollars into Africa , running oil and mining firms , and replaced the United States in 2009 as the largest trading partner . Obama 's predecessor , George W. Bush , will be in Africa at the same time . Bush has made multiple visits to Africa since leaving office , and will be in Zambia next week , where he 's working with his global health initiative to renovate a cervical cancer screening and treatment center . While the 44th and 43rd president are not scheduled to meet , first lady Michelle Obama and her predecessor , Laura Bush , will attend the African First Ladies Summit in Tanzania on July 2 . Obama 's trip is being overshadowed by the declining health of South Africa 's revered former president , Nelson Mandela , who is in critical condition at a Pretoria hospital . Mandela , who emerged from prison after 27 years to lead South Africa out of its dark days of apartheid , is considered the father of modern day South Africa . Obama will be in Senegal Thursday and Friday . He arrives in South Africa on Saturday , where he will spend the weekend taking part in a host of activities , including meeting with the nation 's leaders and visiting Robben Island , where Mandela spent a majority of his prison term . He will spend Monday and Tuesday in Tanzania , and is expected back in Washington on July 3 . The president made a brief trip to Ghana during his first term in July 2009 . CNN 's Kevin Bohn and Ashley Killough contributed to this report .
His trip will take him to Senegal , South Africa and Ghana . It aims to bolster economic opportunities and promote democracy . It is his second visit to sub - Saharan Africa as President . He visited Ghana during his first term in July 2009 .