Solo Safaris in Africa

Overview

A safari is one of the easier trips to take on your own. The days have a natural shape, you are met on arrival, and your guide is with you from the first morning. Most people find they are alone far less than they expected, and exactly as much as they want to be.

We plan every solo trip one to one. Tell us how you like to travel and we will suggest a route, a pace and places to stay that fit you, not a group average.

Who it suits

• First-time visitors to Africa who want someone local handling the logistics.
• Travellers with a particular interest, such as primates, birds or photography, who do not want to compromise on time in the field.
• People adding a few safari days to a work trip, a volunteer placement or a visit to friends.
• Anyone who simply prefers their own company and a flexible day.

Private or shared

There are two ways to do it. On a private safari the vehicle and guide are yours, so the day runs on your clock: stay an hour with a leopard, skip a stop, start before sunrise. It costs more per person than travelling as a pair, because nobody shares the vehicle with you.

The alternative is to share. Some activities are shared by nature: gorilla and chimpanzee treks go out in small groups led by park rangers, and boat trips take several guests. If you would like to share a vehicle too, ask us what we can arrange for your dates. We will always tell you plainly which parts of a trip are private and which are not.

Where to go

Uganda and Rwanda are good choices for a first solo trip. Distances are manageable, the primate treks give each day a clear goal, and evenings at smaller lodges tend to be sociable. Kenya and Tanzania suit travellers who want long days on open plains. If you have more time, a route through two countries works well alone, because your guide handles the border and the paperwork.

Feeling safe and looked after

You are met at the airport and driven by the same guide throughout wherever the route allows. We choose places to stay that we know, we share your full itinerary and contacts before you fly, and our team in Kampala can be reached on WhatsApp while you travel. If something needs to change mid-trip, you deal with one person who already knows your plans.

Planning your solo trip

A few things help us get it right the first time:

• Your dates, and how fixed they are.
• Whether you would rather have the vehicle to yourself or are happy to share.
• How active you want to be: forest treks are steep and can take several hours.
• The kind of place you like to sleep, from simple camps to comfortable lodges.

Send us those and we will come back with a route and a price for one, with no obligation.