Solo traveling has its important and derailing factors. Just planning the trip will be quite strenuous. Firstly, the idea of moving alone across continents comes with a great sense of insecurity and fear of uncertainty enough to put you off. However, looking at East Africa safari there is no major challenges you will encounter concerning travel security. All you need is to perfect your safari planning to get the best fitting services. In this guide we have gathered some of the major consideration you should take whenever you are planning a solo travel in East Africa.
# Get the right Destination management firm/tour guide
For a solo traveler there is no need wagering with the tour company you choose for your safari. Over the past 10 years there have been an increase in rogue and unregulated tour companies. You can’t afford to stomach frustrations from an unprofessional tour guide, poorly serviced vehicle, or fraud at a point you are travelling alone. Check reviews of the firm you are considering before booking.
Importantly, your tour guide driver will be your sole companion during the trip. Sometimes during your trip, you may feel the need to have him/ her accompanying you during activities like bush walk, boat rides, beach walk etc. Ensure that the driver you get from your operator is not only experienced but also an affable person.
# Get the right hotel/camp
Most hotels in East Africa are charged with the rates of a room shared by two adults. When booking your solo tour ensure that the hotel you book into offers single supplement. This will save you from paying double rate to acquire a room for exclusive use. You should also ensure the hotel you choose fits your budget plan.
Notably, its important that you book at a facility that is close location to the destination you are seeking to visit. Where possible book into facilities that are situated inside the park you are visiting.
# If you are a sociable person join a group
Solo travel can be very expensive. East Africa destinations tend to be quite expensive when compared to world’s premium destinations. Your solo travel will further dig into your pocket when you are on a private safari since you will have to singlehandedly take the transfer cost. However, you can avoid this by choosing to join other travelers in a group safari. Importantly, overland group safaris are mostly available only in the premium destinations since its easier to find travelers to fill at least 6 seats per safari. If you are seeking to join group travel in multiple destination, we therefore recommend that you go for air safari and join group tours in the camp/ lodge you will be staying.
# Go for communal dining to spend
Possibly the biggest fear is you eating alone after spending long hours in the wilderness with just your driver/ safari guide. In this case we recommend that you go for a camp/ lodge that has a common dining table. You can as well join a group for bush dinner/ breakfast.
# Avoid deserted beaches
Though East Africa beaches are quite secure most beach resorts have not been able to clear off unauthorized individuals in their beachfronts. This poses serious security threat, most common being encounters with unregulated beach guides commonly known as ‘beach boys’. This group of guides are poorly trained and primitive. They tend to nag soliciting for job and could at some point turn violent. When walking alone in a beach these guides can take advantage of your vulnerability.
# Go for destinations in southern Tanzania, Northern Kenya if you are looking for a solitary stay in the wilderness
If you are travelling in search of solitude places to unwind and put body and soul together away from the sights of humanity, we recommend that you avoid the ever crowded premium destinations like Masai Mara, Amboseli, Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Instead go for destinations in remote northern kenya and southern Tanzania for a more natural and exclusive make out. Such destinations include: Lake turkana and central Island, Saiwa swamp, lake Elementaita, ruaha national park, seleous national park and Mikumi national park.
How much does a solo travel cost
Solo travel can be as costly or cheap as you wish. Importantly, when pricing your safari, you look at both the amount being paid and the value of money. Some of the considerations you should take include:
- Your tour agent planning skills. He or she must be able to identify places you are likely to incur unnecessary costs and advice accordingly. For instance, different hotel offers rooms in either double rates only, with single supplement or single rates. Where you can’t get the latter go for a single supplement.
- A flying safari gives a greater value of money than overland safaris. Even though Air transfer is regarded to be more costly than road based transfers, the difference is narrower when it comes to solo travelling. Flying will give you an opportunity to get more quality game drives in an open sided safari vehicle bound in the lodge/ hotel you booked into. This would come as a private or group safari whichever way you wish. Opting for air transfer also make movement between destination faster and therefore saving more time for game drives. Again, most tour companies offer overland group travels in just a few destinations with the program following a visit to a single route not adjustable to fit your need. With Air transfers you will be able to hop between destinations and join groups on arrival.
- Whenever you are joining a group ensure you get a window seat. Avoid being placed on the middle seats in a vehicle during group travels. This directly affects your experience during game drives. A good group package has a maximum 7 seats person with each member of the group allocated a window seat. Sometimes these low quality group tours comes with a tempting low pricing especially if you want to keep the budget low. Do not shy away from asking details about the number of seats per vehicle if the tour company you are booking with doesn’t elaborate this in their package.
