Travelling to Africa on your own can feel like a big step.
Perhaps an African safari has been on your wish list for years, but you have been waiting for a partner, friend or family member who shares the same dream. Or perhaps you simply enjoy travelling independently and are wondering whether Africa is a destination that works well for solo travellers.
The good news is that a safari can actually be one of the easiest and most rewarding holidays to take on your own.
Unlike many independent holidays, where you need to navigate unfamiliar cities, arrange transport and work out what to do each day, a well planned African safari has a lot of structure built into it. Airport transfers, light aircraft flights, accommodation and safari activities are generally arranged in advance. Guides and camp staff know when you are arriving and, in many cases, you will be met from the moment you land.
You may be travelling to Africa solo, but that certainly does not mean you need to spend your safari alone.
Is Africa a good destination for solo travellers?
Very much so, particularly if your safari is carefully planned.
One of the lovely things about a safari is that the experience naturally brings people together. At many camps and lodges you will join other guests on game drives, boat safaris, guided walks or other activities.
After a morning in the bush, you might find yourself chatting over breakfast about the leopard you saw before sunrise. In the evening there may be sundowners around the campfire followed by dinner with other guests.
Conversation comes easily because everyone already has something in common: Africa.
At the same time, there is no pressure to be constantly sociable. You still have your own room or tent and plenty of opportunities to relax quietly, read a book, enjoy the view from your deck or simply listen to the sounds of the bush.
It can be a wonderful balance between independence and companionship.
Will I feel lonely on safari?
This is one of the biggest concerns we hear from people considering travelling alone.
For many solo travellers, the reality is very different from what they imagined.
Safari camps tend to be relatively small and personal, so you quickly become familiar with your guides, camp managers and other guests, particularly when staying for several nights.
If you would prefer to travel with others from the outset, joining a small group departure can be a great option. You travel with the same group and guide for much of the safari, sharing experiences along the way and often forming a lovely sense of camaraderie.
Alternatively, if you prefer a tailor made or FIT itinerary, you can still enjoy plenty of company. At many safari camps and lodges, game drives and other activities are shared with fellow guests, so even though you may be travelling independently between destinations, you are often exploring the bush with others once you arrive.
Game drives are commonly shared, so you may spend several hours each day with the same small group of people. There is something quite bonding about watching a pride of lions together, waiting patiently for a leopard to emerge from a tree, or laughing as an elephant decides that the road belongs to him.
Many camps also encourage communal dining, although this varies from property to property. If you would prefer to eat privately, that can usually be arranged.
If the social side of travelling alone concerns you, we can also select camps that we know have a particularly warm and inclusive atmosphere.
What happens when I arrive in Africa?
This is another area that can seem daunting.
How will I find my driver?
What happens at a bush airstrip in the middle of Botswana or Kenya?
Will somebody actually be there waiting for me?
On a well organised safari, these details are arranged before you leave home.
Depending on your itinerary, you may be met at the international airport and transferred to your hotel. The following day you might be collected for your road safari or transferred to a domestic airport for a light aircraft flight into the bush.
At remote safari airstrips, the process is often wonderfully informal. Your guide will normally be waiting nearby with the safari vehicle and, within minutes, your transfer to camp can become your first game drive.
Rather than having to work everything out yourself, there is usually someone expecting you at each stage of your journey. This structured approach is one of the reasons safari travel can work so well for people travelling alone.
Is it safe to travel solo on safari in Africa?
Safety is understandably an important consideration for anyone travelling alone.
Africa is an enormous and diverse continent, so there is no single answer that applies everywhere. However, a professionally arranged safari is very different from arriving somewhere and simply travelling around independently without a plan.
We carefully consider how you move from one place to another, where you stay and who is looking after you along the way.
Airport transfers can be prearranged. Safari camps know when you are due to arrive. Experienced guides accompany you on activities, and local representatives are available when required.
Of course, the normal sensible precautions you would take anywhere in the world still apply, particularly when spending time in larger towns and cities.
The important difference is that you do not need to navigate the whole journey alone.
One of our own guests, Pam, had dreamed of an African safari for years but was nervous about travelling solo. She eventually travelled with us to Botswana and afterwards told us she had felt safe throughout her trip. Her favourite experience was mobile camping, sleeping in the African bush surrounded by the sounds of wildlife.
What is a single supplement?
Unfortunately, this is the less exciting part of solo travel.
Most safari accommodation is priced on the basis of two people sharing a room or tent. If only one person occupies that room, some camps charge an additional amount known as a single supplement.
The amount varies considerably.
Some camps charge a percentage of the normal rate, while others have specific single room prices. There are also properties that waive single supplements during certain seasons or allow a limited number of solo travellers without charging an additional amount.
This is where careful planning can make a real difference.
Rather than choosing your itinerary first and simply accepting whatever solo costs are attached to it, we can look at properties, travel dates and safari styles that offer better value for someone travelling alone.
Travelling outside the busiest peak periods can sometimes help too.
Private safari or small group safari?
Both can work extremely well for a solo traveller. It really depends on what you want from your trip.
A small group safari
A scheduled small group safari can be a great choice if you enjoy meeting people.
You travel with the same small group, usually with a guide who accompanies you for much of the safari. Meals and activities are naturally shared and there is often a lovely sense of camaraderie by the end of the trip.
It can also offer excellent value because some of the transport and guiding costs are shared between the group.
This does not mean joining a huge coach tour. There are excellent small group safari options across East and Southern Africa where group sizes remain relatively intimate.
A tailor made safari
If you would prefer greater independence, we can build an itinerary specifically around you.
You choose where you want to go, how long you want to travel and the experiences that matter most to you.
In Southern Africa, for example, you might fly between several small camps and join other guests for activities at each property. This gives you the freedom of travelling independently without feeling isolated.
In East Africa, the structure can be slightly different as many safaris use a private vehicle and guide for part or all of the journey. This can provide wonderful flexibility, although the costs need to be considered carefully when there is only one traveller.
There is no right or wrong approach.
For some people, the ideal safari is a small group journey from beginning to end. For others, it might be a combination, perhaps joining a scheduled safari for one section and travelling independently for another.
Which African safari destinations are good for solo travellers?
Solo travellers can enjoy fantastic safari experiences right across East and Southern Africa. Rather than there being one destination that is especially suited to travelling alone, it is often more about choosing the right style of safari and the right camps.
Smaller properties with shared game drives, relaxed communal areas and friendly hosting can make it very easy to meet other travellers, while guided safaris and small group departures can also be a great option if you would like a little more company along the way.
With thoughtful planning, there are plenty of wonderful options for solo travellers, whether you are looking for a first safari, a more adventurous journey, or simply the freedom to travel at your own pace.
What about solo female travellers?
We regularly speak with women who would love to visit Africa but are unsure about travelling alone.
The same principles apply: good planning matters.
We look carefully at arrival times, airport transfers, accommodation and how you will move between destinations. We also make sure you know who to contact should you need assistance while travelling.
There is no need to prove anything by doing everything independently.
Having your transfers organised, being met at airports and travelling with experienced local guides does not take away from the adventure. It simply allows you to relax and enjoy it.
For many women, the biggest surprise is how quickly the initial nervousness disappears once the safari begins.
One of the advantages of travelling alone: the safari is entirely yours
There is another side to solo travel that is often overlooked.
You do not have to compromise.
If you love elephants, you can build your safari around places known for exceptional elephant viewing.
If seeing mountain gorillas has been a lifelong dream, you can go.
If you would happily sit beside a waterhole for hours watching wildlife come and go, there is nobody beside you asking when it is time to leave.
You can choose the destinations, accommodation style, pace and experiences that appeal to you.
Travelling alone can provide an extraordinary sense of freedom.
A few tips for planning your first solo safari
Start planning early, particularly if you want to travel during peak wildlife seasons. Solo friendly rooms and places on small group departures can be limited.
Be open about your concerns. If you are nervous about eating alone, flying in a small aircraft, travelling between airports or arriving somewhere after dark, tell us. These details help us design the right safari for you.
Do not choose on price alone. A camp that costs slightly more but offers shared activities, friendly hosting and an inclusive atmosphere may provide a far better solo experience.
Think about your preferred balance between company and independence. Some travellers love joining a small group. Others enjoy meeting people at camps but prefer to travel between destinations independently.
And perhaps most importantly, do not keep postponing Africa simply because nobody else is ready to go with you.
You do not need to wait for someone else
If Africa has been sitting on your wish list for years, travelling solo may be the very thing that finally makes it happen.
A safari gives you the freedom to travel independently while still having experienced people around you. Your arrangements can be organised in advance, your guides are there to share their knowledge, and the safari experience itself naturally introduces you to people from all over the world.
You can spend your days surrounded by wildlife and your evenings swapping stories around a campfire, then retreat to your own space whenever you choose.
For the right traveller, that is a pretty wonderful combination.
At African Safaris Ltd, we arrange both tailor made safaris and selected small group departures throughout East and Southern Africa. We can talk through the destinations and safari styles that work particularly well for solo travellers, including ways to keep single supplements under control.
