Solo Travel on Safari

Going on safari alone can be one of the most rewarding ways to experience the bush: you set your own priorities, immerse yourself fully in the wildlife, and often find the shared vehicles and communal camp life surprisingly sociable. Solo travellers are common on safari, and the structure of a guided trip makes it a safe, welcoming way to travel by yourself. This guide covers the practicalities of the solo safari — safety, meeting fellow travellers, the single supplement that catches people out, and how to choose a trip that suits going alone. Whether you're a seasoned solo adventurer or trying it for the first time, safari is one of the easier and more sociable places to do it.

Key things to know

• ➜Solo safari travel is safe and common within guided trips
• ➜Group departures and shared vehicles are naturally sociable
• ➜Watch for the single supplement on accommodation
• ➜Some operators offer solo-friendly trips or waive the supplement
• ➜You set the pace and priorities entirely your own way
• ➜Choose sociable camps if you want company, remote ones for solitude

Is solo safari safe and sociable?

Within the structure of a guided safari, going solo is safe and straightforward. You're rarely truly alone — you travel with a guide, stay in staffed camps, and are looked after throughout. The usual safari safety rules apply to everyone regardless of who they're with, and a reputable operator handles the logistics that might otherwise feel daunting alone.

It's also more sociable than many expect. Shared game-drive vehicles, communal meals and evenings around the fire naturally throw you together with fellow travellers, and the shared thrill of wildlife sightings is a great leveller and conversation-starter. Many solo travellers form easy friendships on safari, or equally can enjoy their own company — the setting accommodates both, and there's no awkwardness in travelling by yourself.

• ➜Guided trips mean you're never truly alone or unsupported
• ➜The same safety rules apply to everyone
• ➜Shared vehicles and meals make it naturally sociable
• ➜Easy to make friends — or enjoy your own company

Managing the single supplement

The one practical snag for solo travellers is the single supplement — an extra charge because camps price rooms on the assumption of two sharing. On expensive safaris this can add up significantly, and it's the main reason going solo costs more per person than travelling as a pair.

There are ways around it. Some operators run scheduled group departures where solo travellers can share a room with another single of the same sex, avoiding the supplement, or offer trips with reduced or waived single supplements — often in shoulder seasons. Ask specifically about solo-friendly options when booking, and weigh a group departure against a private trip. Joining a small group is often the most cost-effective and sociable way to safari alone.

• ➜The single supplement is the main extra cost of going solo
• ➜Group departures may let you share a room and avoid it
• ➜Some operators reduce or waive it, especially in shoulder seasons
• ➜Ask specifically about solo-friendly trips when booking

Choosing the right solo trip

The best solo safari depends on what you want from it. If you're after company and easy friendships, choose a scheduled small-group departure and sociable camps with communal dining — you'll have built-in companions and shared vehicles. If you crave solitude and reflection, a more private or remote arrangement lets you soak up the bush on your own terms.

Either way, a good guide becomes an even bigger asset when travelling alone, both as a font of knowledge and as company on drives. Be clear with your operator about your priorities — budget, sociability, pace — so they can match you to the right trip. Solo safari rewards travellers who know what they want from the experience, and the bush is remarkably accommodating of both the gregarious and the contemplative.

References & further reading

1. Sinclair, A. R. E., et al. (Eds.) (2015). Serengeti IV. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
2. Estes, R. D. (2012). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals. Berkeley: University of California Press.
3. Kingdon, J. (2015). The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals (2nd ed.). London: Bloomsbury.
4. IUCN (2024). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Version 2024-1. www.iucnredlist.org.