First solo trip? You’re in good company
Marli is 33 and runs events for two pubs on Australia’s coast. She had never travelled alone, not even a weekend in Bali. Then some regulars at her bar found us online and asked her every Wednesday whether she’d booked yet. Her partner told her, “Do something for yourself. You deserve it.” Now she’s doing our 42-day Cape Town to Nairobi trip through eight countries.
Her worries will sound familiar:
“My mum was very worried.” Once Marli showed her it was a guided tour with a set itinerary, her mum relaxed. She even joked about coming along.
“Everyone asks, ‘Who are you going with?'” On a group tour, the answer is a truck full of people who’ll be friends by day four or five.
“I’m a planner, but on holiday I don’t want to make the decisions.” Your guide takes care of the route, the parks, the border crossings and the timing.
“I couldn’t pay it all at once.” Paying in deposits made the trip possible for her.
Her plan for when she gets back? “Tell people to go to Africa. Book the trip. Just do it.”
I’ve never travelled alone before. Is an Africa tour a good first solo trip?
It’s one of the easiest ways to start. Your guide handles transfers, routes and logistics, so you’re never working things out on your own. Many of our solo travellers are on their first big trip abroad.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. You secure your place with a deposit and pay the balance before you travel. (Please add your actual deposit terms here.)
Will I get time to myself on a group tour?
Yes. There’s free time in most towns, and on accommodated tours you’ll have your own room if you pay the single supplement. You’re as sociable as you want to be.
Why a small group is the best way to do a solo safari in Africa
Planning a solo safari in Africa alone means juggling transfers, park permits, border crossings and self-drive routes. You’d also be paying single rates for everything. On a small group tour, all of that is handled. Your guide drives, navigates, knows the parks and gets you to the waterhole at sunrise when the lions are still there.
You also get what solo travellers often miss most: people to share it with. By day three the group has usually become a travel family. You’ll swap stories around the fire, have someone to photograph your first elephant, and make friendships that often outlast the trip.
Who travels solo with us?
A lot of people. Most of our solo travellers are aged somewhere between their late 20s and early 60s. They come from the UK, Europe, North America, Australia and beyond. Some are taking a career break, some are ticking off a lifelong dream, and some simply didn’t want to wait for friends to be free. What they share is curiosity and a sense of adventure.
How rooming and tents work for solo travellers
If you select a camping tour then you’re automatically paired with a same-gender tent partner at no extra cost. If you’d rather have your own tent, you can book one for a small fee.
Alternatively for Accommodated and small group tours; you’ll share a twin room with another solo traveller of the same gender. You can also pay the single supplement for a private room. The supplement varies by tour and is shown on each tour page.
Solo safari trips by destination
South Africa is the easiest place in Africa to start travelling solo. Combine Cape Town and the Garden Route with a Kruger safari, or head into Eswatini. You get good roads, great food and big-five game viewing.
Namibia is one of Africa’s most welcoming countries for women travelling alone. It’s calm, sparsely populated and has some of the most dramatic landscapes on earth: Sossusvlei’s dunes, the Skeleton Coast and Etosha’s floodlit waterholes. Travelling in a guided group takes care of the long distances and remote stretches, which are the hardest parts to do alone. Read our guide to [solo female overlanding in Africa]. [Link: Namibia tours]
Take a mokoro through the Okavango Delta, see elephant herds on the Chobe and feel the spray of the Falls. It’s a solo safari highlight you’d struggle to arrange on your own. [Link: Botswana tours]
Visit the Masai Mara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, with gorilla trekking in Uganda. If you want an epic solo trip, our Nairobi to Cape Town overlands cover it all in one journey. [Link: East Africa tours]
Solo travel Africa FAQs
Is Africa safe for solo travellers?
Yes, when you travel with an experienced operator. Your guide knows the areas, manages transfers and border crossings, and is with the group throughout. That removes most of the risks solo travellers worry about.
Is a safari good for solo travellers?
A group safari is one of the best solo trips there is. You share vehicles, meals and campfires, so you’re sociable when you want to be, with no pressure when you don’t.
Do I have to pay a single supplement?
No. On camping tours you’ll be paired with a same-gender tent partner at no extra cost, and on accommodated tours you’ll share a twin room. A private tent or room is available for a optional supplement.
Is Namibia safe for solo female travellers?
Namibia is one of Africa’s calmest and friendliest destinations. Many women join our Namibia tours solo, and travelling with a guide takes care of the long, remote drives.
What’s the age range on your tours?
Most tours welcome travellers from 18 up to 65+. Groups are usually a mix of ages and nationalities.
What’s the best solo trip for a first-time visitor to Africa?
A South Africa or Namibia trip of 8 to 14 days is a great place to start. For something bigger, look at our Namibia–Botswana–Victoria Falls routes.
