I study the underlying drivers of urbanization in Africa of different types of settlements along the whole rural-urban gradient. I will examine these underlying drivers based on the spatial and socioeconomic characteristics and three different scales: people, locations (individual settlements), and localities (pixels). Through fieldwork, sequence analysis, spatial pattern analysis, and model building, I will explore how, where, and when human settlements change. In this manner, I aim to get a better insight into the environmental opportunities and challenges that come with the urbanization process.