Solo Safari Travel: Everything except Lonely

If you thought going on safari by yourself was unusual, think again: solo safari travel now makes up some 10% of business for several operators. It’s a growing trend, and the safari industry has responded by making solo travel easier and more affordable than before.

The intimate camp atmosphere, like-minded fellow travellers and the friendly professionalism of safari guides and staff all mean the one thing you won’t experience on a solo safari is loneliness. There’s always so much to see and do and talk about that you won’t have time for it. But there are several things to consider as a solo traveller – and these will certainly affect your safari experience.

Solo travellers, read on.

Being a single traveller can be a bit daunting. There are airports to deal with and transport to arrange – and of course, the big question: is it safe?

The answer, provided you book with a safari company, is yes. You’ll be met at every airport and assisted onto the next stage of the journey; pre-arranged transfers take you to your accommodation, and a guard accompanies you on your walk back to your suite at night. You’ll also have a 24/7 emergency number, and many travel planners set up a whatsapp group with their clients for real-time communication.

And then there’s the being solo part of it: is it easy for fit in?

It’s super-easy: you’ll be in a small group during an overland safari, or at safari camps with a relaxed, communal atmosphere. Meet and chat with fellow travellers at the bar, the lounge or the fireplace – and there’s always a window seat on your game drive vehicle. You tend to stay with the same small group for a day or two, enough time to interact and who knows, you might even make friends!

One thing about being solo: you’ll need to think about why you are going on safari: birding? Wildlife photography? Interaction with the local communities? If you have something specific in mind, it will pay to hire a private guide and you can go at your own pace.

Accommodation – type and price: it’s important!

As a solo traveller you’ll need to ask yourself whether you’d be more comfortable in a small camp with half a dozen tented suites, or a 20 to 30-room safari lodge, or a 300-room hotel. Lots of safari accommodation is family-friendly; are you happy with children running around or do you think you’d prefer something a little more intimate – be honest! And what about dining – a shared table, a single table or solo at your suite?

Then there’s what used to be the dreaded curse for solo travellers: the Single Supplement. These days, scores of lodges across Africa don’t even charge a single supplement; others might add an extra 10% of the total cost. And single supplements can also be waived or lowered according to season.

The best of these deals, which advantage the solo traveller, are obviously offered in low season but then the solo traveller runs into a potential problem: some safari activities (guided walks and balloon rides for example) plus charter flights depend on a minimum of two passengers: you don’t really want to pay for an extra seat on the aeroplane! Mid season to peak season means there will nearly always be enough other people to share the load, so to speak, but now you may incur a single supplement.

Bottom line – a solo traveller needs a professional travel advisor for this one: they’ll know, for example, which accommodation from Kenya to Cape Town has no single supplement and which airline has no minimum passenger requirements on charter flights.

And if the point of going solo was to be solo?

Perfect: you’ll have all the time you need to read, sleep, catch up, think and reflect. Hire a private guide, make up your own activity schedule, and enjoy a meal for one on your private deck. After all, it’s your holiday.