The deployment of wildlife fences in Africa serves as a critical intervention to balance the needs of wildlife conservation with human safety and agricultural productivity. This review synthesizes current research and case studies to provide a comprehensive understanding of the implications, benefits, and drawbacks of wildlife fencing in Africa. The information used in this review has been drawn from 47 articles that were selected after a thorough search on Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus. The results indicate that the main reason for fencing is the mitigation of human--wildlife conflicts. The electric fence is the most common type and is prominently used to protect agricultural lands from crop-raiding species, thereby enhancing food security and reducing economic losses for rural communities. Elephants have been mentioned as being the most targeted for wildlife fencing. They also cause the most damage to the fences and pave ways for other species to escape from protected areas. Antelopes and large carnivores are also common targets for wildlife fences. Fences were found to be effective if well maintained through frequent inspections for damage and permeability. Several authors have documented the difficulty in fencing in primates, and burrowers or high-jumper species like the leopard. Fences are also costly to install and maintain, which has great economic implications on the local communities living near wildlife conservation areas. Despite their benefits, wildlife fences also pose ecological challenges, such as habitat fragmentation and restricted animal movement, which necessitate integrated management approaches that include the consideration of wildlife corridors and crossing structures. Our results offer insights for policymakers and conservationists to optimize the use of fences in diverse environmental contexts of the African continent.