BootsnAll Travel Community

I am in the beginning (as in just started even remotely contemplating it) stages of planning a trip to Africa. I'm white girl from Canada and am wondering what people would reccomend. I've travelled alone in South and Central America and a bit in Europe with little problems but Africa frightens me (I watch too much news) I don't know if I should go with a company like Acacia or go it alone. Money is definately an issue. Any info is great. My only must is somehow fitting in Madagascar.

Plenty of bright white gals do it every month without issue. Africa's a big continent which varies from trouble spot to war zone to pleasant downtown (sometimes by only a few miles), so it's hard to give you an all clear to travel solo throughout the land as a whole.

If you're sticking to those areas most often explored by folks here, the short answer is "you'll be fine." In those areas, folks will stare (they stare at Black westerners too) and tell you you're fat (with a smile) if you aren't built like Kate Moss, but few areas are any more or less dangerous then their western urban equivalents.

Plenty of folks on BnA right now who either just got back or are just about to head back again. Many are single women and their narratives are very informative.

Hope that helps.

Traveling alone in Africa isn't as scary as you might think. People stare and approach you all the time but I never felt like I was in danger. Yes, being a woman you might get the extra long stare or the man trying to assist you a little more than he would me.

While in Ethiopia I saw a petite Japanese girl all by herself armed with only her sun dress, sun hat and a camera. You can do it.

during the time i was alone in tanzania and nairobi, i felt no more intimidated by other people than i did in other places (i'm asian). i did get a lot more stares than usual, but i knew they were just stares. what parts of africa are you going to besides madagascar?

I wouldn't do it as a single female, I'm from Africa (zimbabwe) and love it....but I don't trust it. I'd do it as a single male, with lots of African experience but not as a single female with no experience. Go with friends or possibly try overland trucking.....

You'll definitely meet up with fellow travellers en route, so you won't have to do it all alone...

I've done it a long time ago, and by far most of the people I met were friendly. I still remember some of the conversations I had with people in the street, riding in the back of vans or during long train rides.

The same precautions apply as anywhere else if you're a single female traveller. Overall, I experienced a great deal more hassle in Islamic countries (it would be good to hook up with somebody there), but a lot of respect (!) and hospitality south of the Central African Republic. I was a lot younger back then, and a lot of people were downright fatherly or motherly towards me

Obviously move with care when crossing trouble zones and always listen to the local grapevine.

I travelled out in Africa back in 2004. i went from South Africa to Uganda ina mix of baz bus, organised camping tour and independent travel. I will say I prob had the best time travelling independently. Along the way i met gorgeous mainly European girls who were travelling independently. I will say they had some experience of having worked out there so maybe had some knowledge and confidence to do it. I wouldnt think that Southern Africa would be much difference safety-wise than South America.

Im heading out to Africa in the next month and will try to find people to hook up with - maybe you should try the same. Hostels are always good places to meet people anyway.

good luck

Hi, if you are planning Southern Africa, i would say YES!!!! There are areas to watch out for, but if you have any sence you will be fine. Southern Africa has on the whole a fairly good infrastructure for backpacking. (ie Hostels & busses) (Wondering when BnA will put Botswana hostels on ) If you need any advise or help, please give me a shout... Enjoy!!!

I'm currently in Africa traveling it by myself. I'm a single female, mid-30s. I have met quite a number of women traveling solo.

So far I've been in Tanzania, but have spent the bulk of my time in Uganda. It is a very safe place to travel alone. Read my blog for more examples.

I am also a white female, mid 30's who is travelling alone in Africa. I have spent most of the time in SA which is a good place to start to get the lay of the land but you will meet all kinds of people as you go -some local, some travellers. Yes, it can be a challenge and sometimes scary or frustrating, but then also surprisingly easy.

There are also a lot of great places along the well trodden backpacker route that are very friendly and cool where you will meet the most amazing characters. Places like Livingstone, Zam. or Maun Botswana. Every once in a while I sort of panic when I don't know where I am going to spend the night but you figure it out and move on.

Also, having seen enough of those overland truck inhabitants, I feel so relieved that I am not on one. To each their own but it just seems to me that you don't really get to see the whole story of a place or have the chance to find happy accidents along the way which so far have been the best parts of my trip.

There are PLENTY of SWFs out there travelling so don't be afraid!

Thank you all for the fantastic advice. It is all pretty much what I wanted to hear.
I was thinking of going with a company for the first little while, to get my feet wet, but now I think I want to volunteer for the first month of my trip. Does anyone have any info on that?
Not to be rude, but don't waste your time if you're going to recommend a religious organization. I don't want to be one of god's army.
Thanks again for all your help!

Almost everyone I met in Uganda was there volunteering for some group or another. Softpower is one. THere are a gazillion NGOs there, an internet search should turn up something...

I would be very cautious. I was traveling alone (male 62 than) two years ago. I was subjected to a scam that was very scary. I wondered if anybody will ever find me when kept hostage by four male criminals for over an hour.
What ever you do, do not ever travel alone in a car (said to be a taxi) especially in the back. Criminal in those countries appear to be friendly to gain your trust.
I would not recommend traveling alone. Although rarely something happens, you don’t want to be in a position such as I was subjected to.
BTW, this happened to me while in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

I am not sure when you plan to go. I am trying to form a group for December ’07 safari and other destinations.


If you go alone, please be careful.

Every time I hear a story like this the entire continent of Africa moves further down on my "must visit" list. (Though I have been to northern Africa twice)

Although I would like to visit South Africa some day, the whole middle of the continent will be visited sometime after I visit Mars.

The scam above can occur on any continent. And there was a notable case mentioned on this forum where something very similar happened in La Paz. And having been to both Dar and La Paz, it would be just as reasonable for someone to forego travel to Bolivia as to Tanzania, then. There are many reasons people could choose NOT to travel to Africa, but a belief that Africa is any less safe than another continent should not be one of them.

quote:

Originally posted by Continental Op:
Plenty of bright white gals do it every month without issue

This is plenty true. And there are also plenty of not-so-bright white gals traveling solo, who've managed to get through Africa without issue as well.

quote:

There are many reasons people could choose NOT to travel to Africa, but a belief that Africa is any less safe than another continent should not be one of them.

So true. And if you ever catch me starting a thread entitled "Nigeria: is it safe?", feel free to slap me.

Girlfriend... I couldn't do it alone, but you could be braver than me. Is there anyone that can go with you. Seriously, Africa alone...eek.

I read about the scam that happened in La Paz a few months before I went to Bolivia alone, and figured I simply had to be cautious. I went and had no problems at all. I called taxis froms hostels and resturants and never once felt threatened.
Is this how I should approach Africa travel as well?

I'm thinking about traveling africa alone as well. i was looking into the African Contrast Tour.

Im a 27 year old female from California - Asian American.

http://www.bootsnall.com/adventures/trips-815/african-contrasts.html

the 3/16/08 date.

Has anyone had any experiences with the adventure tours offered?

Alana E. - maybe we could meet up if you are planning to travel around that time or even do the tour together...