Solo Safaris: A Journey Just for You
There’s something truly special about exploring Africa on your own terms. A solo safari isn’t just a holiday - it’s a journey of freedom, discovery, and connection. Whether you’re seeking adventure in the wild, peaceful solitude, or the chance to meet like-minded travellers, Africa offers experiences that are as intimate or as sociable as you choose.
Imagine waking to the distant roar of lions, setting out on a game drive with expert guides who tailor the experience to your interests, and spending your evenings swapping stories around the fire with fellow travellers. At the right lodges, a solo safari feels like staying with old friends, where small groups dine together, guides share their knowledge over sundowners, and warm hospitality makes you feel at home in the heart of the wilderness.
For those craving solitude, Africa delivers that too. Picture yourself gazing out over endless savannahs from a private veranda, soaking in the silence of the desert, or tracking wildlife on foot with only your guide and the rustling bush for company. A private safari experience can be as flexible as you like - whether that’s a dedicated guide, exclusive game drives, or remote lodges where the only footprints in the sand are yours.
And while many think of safari as a couples’ or group experience, the truth is that solo travel in Africa is thriving. With a growing number of lodges and camps welcoming people travelling alone, many offer communal dining, shared game drives, and a warm, inclusive atmosphere. Some even waive single supplements, making a solo safaris more accessible than ever.
To help inspire your journey, we’ve created a collection of Solo Safari holiday itineraries, featuring incredible destinations and experiences handpicked for independent travellers. Whether you’re looking for a sociable safari full of camaraderie, a wild adventure in remote landscapes, or a peaceful retreat into nature, we’ll help you craft the perfect experience - one that’s uniquely yours.
The Ultimate Solo Safaris Collection
Discover the best solo safari experiences in Africa, designed for independent travellers seeking adventure, freedom, and unforgettable moments. Track wild dogs in Botswana’s Okavango, watch the sunrise from a balloon floating over Namibia’s towering dunes, or soak up the rays by the Indian Ocean on Kenya’s white beaches. Whether it’s exploring on foot with expert guides, floating down the Chobe River on a photography boat, or wine tasting in South Africa, every day brings a new discovery. Connect with like-minded travellers at intimate bush camps, or carve out time for quiet reflection in some of Africa’s most breathtaking scenery. However you choose to travel, each of the safaris in our Solo Safari Collection is carefully crafted to ensure a seamless, inspiring journey, and all can be perfectly tailored for you.
Our most recent reviews of solo travel in Africa
Detailed, un-edited reviews from our Africa travellers whose trips we tailored towards solo travel. Click below to read the traveller's full review, and see all the reviews of our Africa holidays here.
Frequently asked questions
Our Guide to Solo Safaris
Travelling solo in Africa is an incredible experience, but you’re likely to have some questions.
Our Solo Safari FAQs cover everything you need to know, from the best destinations and safety considerations to how to make your trip as social or as private as you like. We also answer key questions on travel logistics, costs, and whether a private guide is the right choice for you.
Still have questions? Get in touch - our experts are here to help craft your perfect tailor-made solo safari.
Where’s the best place for a Solo Safari?
Small lodges with a relaxed atmosphere, friendly guiding, and a sense of camaraderie set a positive tone for your entire bush experience.
In our experience, many of the best camps for solo travellers are owner-run, highly personal, and deeply connected to their landscapes and communities. These safari camps invariable offer a warm, inclusive experience, where staff and guides quickly make you feel at home, and shared dining or game drives allow for easy, natural connections with other travellers.
Our current top solo-friendly camps, each offering a unique take on the safari experience:
Mwaleshi Camp – North Luangwa, Zambia:
Deep in the wilds of North Luangwa, Mwaleshi is a true back-to-nature walking camp. No roads, no vehicles—just expert-guided foot safaris through untouched wilderness. With just four thatched chalets, it’s intimate and unpretentious, perfect for those craving solitude with a side of adventure. Communal meals and fireside chats make it easy for solo travellers to feel at home.
Nsolo Bushcamp – South Luangwa, Zambia:
One of South Luangwa’s most charming bushcamps, Nsolo offers elevated, open-fronted rooms that bring the wild right to your doorstep. Wake to lion tracks in the sand outside your chalet and head off on a walking safari with some of Zambia’s finest guides. Evenings are relaxed and sociable, with sundowners and campfire dining under the stars.
Offbeat Mara – Mara North Conservancy, Kenya:
Rustic yet stylish, Offbeat Mara is a small, owner-run camp in the exclusive Mara North Conservancy. With off-road game drives and walking safaris, it’s all about avoiding the crowds and getting closer to wildlife. The camp’s laid-back vibe, communal meals, and friendly guides make it a brilliant choice for sociable solo travellers.
Kicheche Camps – Kenya:
Set in Kenya’s top private conservancies, Kicheche’s small, tented camps offer seriously good wildlife viewing with a relaxed, inclusive atmosphere. Expect exceptional guiding, communal dining, and a warm, family-run feel. With night drives, bush walks, and sundowners in spectacular settings, it’s a fantastic spot for independent travellers looking to connect with nature—and fellow adventurers.
John’s Camp – Mana Pools, Zimbabwe:
If sleeping under canvas on the banks of the Zambezi sounds like your kind of safari, John’s Camp delivers. Superb walking and canoe safaris bring you thrillingly close to elephants, wild dogs, and lions. The friendly, down-to-earth team makes solo travellers feel like part of the family, whether swapping stories around the fire or toasting another spectacular sunset over the river.
Mwamba – South Luangwa, Zambia:
A wild, authentic bushcamp with just four chalets, Mwamba is all about intimate wildlife encounters. The camp’s unique photographic hides get you eye-to-eye with big game, while expert guides and some of South Luangwa’s best predator sightings make for an action-packed stay. Add communal meals and warm hospitality, and solo travellers will feel right at home.
Camp Kalahari – Makgadikgadi, Botswana:
On the edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Camp Kalahari is a laid-back, tented safari camp with adventure at its heart. Join a guided quad bike convoy across the shimmering pans, get up close to habituated meerkats, and be humbled by the phenomenal bush knowledge of the San Bushmen. A relaxed atm
osphere and communal dining make it easy for solo travellers to feel at home.
Mdonya Old River Camp – Ruaha, Tanzania:
Simple, wild, and wonderfully remote, Mdonya Old River Camp is a no-frills bush retreat where wildlife roams freely. Spacious Meru-style tents open straight onto the wilderness, and game drives explore Ruaha’s baobab-studded landscapes. Solo travellers will love the down-to-earth atmosphere, shared meals, and incredible guiding.
Sosian Lodge – Laikipia, Kenya:
For those who love variety and adventure, Sosian Lodge offers horseback safaris, camel treks, wild swimming, and game drives. Set on a beautiful private ranch in Laikipia, this elegant yet relaxed lodge has a sociable feel, with family-style dining and a welcoming, home-from-home vibe—ideal for solo travellers looking for a mix of activity and downtime.
I’m seeking solitude. Can I go on safari without joining a group?
Many lodges offer private guides and vehicles, allowing you to explore at your own rhythm without joining shared game drives. You can also opt to dine alone, enjoying gourmet meals in the seclusion of your tented suite or under the stars.
For those who want a wilderness retreat, some of Africa’s most peaceful lodges allow you to spend afternoons reading by a waterhole, watching wildlife pass by from your terrace, or indulging in in-room massages between gentle birdwatching sessions. Whether you want to immerse yourself in nature or simply unwind in total tranquillity, we’ll ensure your safari is designed around you.
Are there any extra costs for solo travellers?
We do understand that extra costs can be a concern, so we carefully select solo-friendly properties to feature in our Solo Safaris holiday collection. These trips provide excellent value without compromising on experience. Whether you’re looking for a sociable bush camp, a high-end lodge, or a remote retreat, we can guide you to the best options with no unnecessary extra fees to make sure that you get the most out of your safari.
Is it safe to travel alone on safari?
At Expert Africa, we personally visit every lodge we recommend and have been working with many of them for decades. Our long-standing relationships mean we know exactly where solo travellers will feel safe, supported, and well looked after.
All transfers and logistics are arranged in advance, so you’re always in trusted hands. Game drives and activities are led by professional guides, and safari camps have clear safety protocols to ensure guests can fully enjoy their surroundings.
Many solo travellers find that Africa’s hospitality feels like home, with friendly staff and fellow guests creating a warm, inclusive atmosphere. Whether you choose a sociable lodge or a remote retreat, we’ll help plan a safari where you feel both secure and at ease.
Do I need a private guide?
On game drives, you’ll typically share a vehicle with two to five other guests, making it a sociable yet intimate way to explore the wilderness. Many solo travellers find that this shared experience adds to the enjoyment, creating a relaxed atmosphere where you can chat, share the excitement of each wildlife sighting and toast the end of a successful day on safari.
That said, if you prefer a completely private experience, we can arrange a dedicated guide and vehicle just for you. This offers total flexibility in your daily schedule, allowing you to spend as much time as you like at sightings and focus on your specific interests. Naturally, this comes at an additional cost, but it’s an option for those wanting an exclusive safari.
What’s the best way to get around as a solo traveller?
For most safaris, chartered bush flights are the best option to move between areas, allowing you to cover vast distances quickly and maximise your time in the wilderness. This is how the majority of our travellers get around, regardless of whether they’re solo or travelling in a group. Private charter flights can be costly for one person, but shared scheduled flights makes travel efficient and affordable. On these flights, everyone just pays a seat rate.
Where road or boat transfers are required, you’ll always be met by a trusted driver or guide at the appointed time and location. They will be named and in uniform, and you will be advised in advance of all the arrangements.
So, with Expert Africa’s well-coordinated logistics, you can simply relax and enjoy your safari, knowing everything is taken care of.
Best camps & lodges for Solo Travellers in Africa
Africa has some fantastic safari lodges and camps for solo travellers. We've handpicked the best here, selecting those that offer a genuinely warm atmosphere, great company, and incredible wildlife experiences.
For active explorers, Tafika Camp and its Chikoko Trails bushcamps in Zambia’s South Luangwa offer a truly immersive, off-grid safari experience. With expert-led walking safaris in pristine wilderness and excellent meals served family-style with guides and managers, everyone here shares experiences and feels right at home.
For an empowering experience, Dunia Camp in Tanzania - run entirely by an all-female team - provides exceptional hospitality and fantastic wildlife viewing in the Serengeti. While also in Tanzania, Olakira Migration Camp follows the Great Migration, giving solo travellers front-row seats to one of nature’s greatest spectacles.
Or head to Zambezi Expeditions in Mana Pools, where you can canoe along the Zambezi and track wildlife with first-class guides from a simple mobile camp.
Some of the safari camps have no single supplement for solo travellers, like Kenya’s ranch-like Sosian Lodge and ultra-chic Kwitonda Lodge bordering Rwanda’s gorilla-trekking mountains. Talk to as and we can guide you to the best offers around.
It's also worth looking at our Solo Journeys Holiday Collection which brings together some of these exceptional camps, unforgettable experiences, to create the best selection of independent travel safaris in Africa.
Nkwali
Thanks to excellent guides Nkwali is a great place to stay and explore the wildlife areas of the South Luangwa National Park on the opposite bank of the Luangwa River on solo safari holidays. There are no single supplements at Nkwali, and the game viewing is great!
Lake Manze Camp
Lake Manze is a very informal, single-friendly camp. Solo travellers usually join other guests on safari activities, and everyone dines communally. Low single supplements come as a real bonus at this great value camp.
Nsefu
As a high-quality and intimate bushcamp, Nsefu’s exclusive feel and friendly professional team make everyone feel at home. This social atmosphere and a lack of single supplement make this a great choice for solo travel in Zambia.
Beho Beho
Beho Beho is a very sociable camp: it’s like visiting a family home. You are warmly welcomed by the team and very well looked after. There is no single supplement here.
Tena Tena
Tena Tena is another great Robin Pope Safaris camp in the game-rich Nsefu Sector which has flexible activities and excellent guiding – as well as a very relaxed social feeling. It's a great choice for solo travel in Zambia, especially as it charges no single supplement.
Mdonya Old River Camp
Single travellers will love this friendly, rustic camp for its shared game activities, communal dining and notably low single supplements.
Old Mondoro Bushcamp
Old Mondoro is a small intimate camp with communal meals and activities, making it pleasantly sociable and ideal for solo travellers in Zambia. Only the peak season has a single supplement, keeping the cost down for most of the year.
Chikoko Tree Camp
Walking safaris at Chikoko Tree Camp are with other guests, and well-informed guides. The camp is small and intimate with communal meals, and the low single supplement adds to its attraction for solo travellers in Zambia.
Mwagusi Safari Camp
Ruaha's owner-run Mwagusi Safari Camp is a great choice for solo travellers visiting Tanzania. Plenty of water and open plains mean top wildlife safaris, whilst shared activities, communal meals and a sociable lounge and dining area make it great for single travellers.
Kicheche Bush Camp
With its fun and unpretentious atmosphere and informal group dining, Kicheche Bush Camp is very good for solo safari holidays. Wildlife activities like 4WD game drives are shared with other guests and outside peak season, they charge a relatively low single supplement.
Kicheche Mara
With a comparatively low single supplement, group dining and a sociable atmosphere, Kicheche Mara works well for solo travelers to Kenya. Enjoy a real bush feel and benefit from activities like superb game drives or walking safaris offered here.
Big Lagoon Camp
Walking safaris at Big Lagoon Camp are with a small group of other guests, led by well-informed guides who are keen to share their knowledge. The camp is small and intimate, and the low single supplement adds to its attraction for solo travellers in Zambia.
Chiawa Camp
Chiawa is never cheap, but it has no single supplement, making it a relatively affordable option for solo travel in Zambia. A combination of communal meals and incredibly friendly staff also means solo travellers shouldn't lack for company.
Kicheche Laikipia
Kicheche Laikipia is the most luxurious tented camp of the handful of places to stay in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in central Laikipia.
Luangwa River Camp
Meals and activities are communal at Luangwa River Camp, but secluded chalets provide quiet spots to watch elephants crossing the river. As with all Robin Pope Safari’s lodges there is no single supplement, making it perfect for solo travellers in Zambia.
Olakira Camp
Olakira Camp can be an inspired choice for solo travel in Tanzania. You'll share your safaris with other guests, and a top safari guide, and everyone dines communally so it's very friendly.
Kicheche Valley
Experience fantastic day and night game drives on a solo safari holiday at Kenya’s Kicheche Valley Camp. The single supplement here is relatively low, so solo travellers can enjoy a safari holiday at a cost not much higher than anyone else.
Mwaleshi Camp
Set in beautiful surroundings, in the remote North Luangwa, Mwaleshi Camp focuses purely on walking safaris; it’s one of Africa’s top walking camps with very high guiding standards! It is a great choice for a solo traveller holiday and charges only a low single supplement.
Weinberg Hotel
With excellent facilities and amenities on a private estate not far from the centre of Windhoek, including a well-maintained gym, a state-of-the-art spa and five restaurants, The Weinberg would make a good choice for solo travellers in Namibia.
Nsolo Bushcamp
Single travellers who love walking might want to include Nsolo into their solo safari holidays in Zambia. It's small and personal, and combines well as part of a camp-to-camp walking safari with its sister camps. Ask if we can waive the single supplement for solo travellers.
Oyster Bay
The Oyster Bay Hotel is a great choice for solo travellers in Tanzania. It’s a very stylish, but equally informal, home-from-home, with communal dining hosted by an attentive team. You can expect a particularly warm welcome at Dar’s best hotel.
Dunia Camp
Dunia is one of the Serengeti's better camps for a solo safari holiday in Tanzania. You can fly here, sharing the camp's safari activities and communal dining; and its single supplement is fairly low.
Offbeat Mara
Surrounded by the bush, Offbeat Mara offers a great wildlife holiday experience within the Mara North Conservancy. Travelling alone on safari here allows you to enjoy your privacy or the lively group atmosphere all year round without worrying about single supplement.
Laikipia Wilderness
Laikipia Wilderness is one of the few camps in Laikipia not to charge a single person supplement all year round and its focus on wildlife and immersion in the bush makes it a great choice for a safari enthusiast travelling on their own.
Nxabega Tented Camp
There is quite an individual focus at the &Beyond camps, including Nxabega, and they usually have a relaxed approach to activities – including 4WD safaris, bush walks and motorboat trips – ideal for sharing the amazing wildlife with like-minded solo travellers in Botswana.
Luwi Bushcamp
Fantastic walking safaris, group dining and special wildlife hide at Luwi Bushcamp create a personal and intimate atmosphere. The camp is very remote and rustic, and charmingly appealing to solo travellers in Zambia. Ask us if we can waive the single supplement.
Lemala Ngorongoro
Located in the fantastic Ngorongoro Crater, Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp is an excellent choice for solo travel. Wildlife safaris reveal a large density of game, including very relaxed predators, and the low single supplement makes the camp affordable for single travellers.
Robin Pope bush-camp
Solo travellers sometimes include a night in the Robin Pope Safaris’ bush-camp as part of an adventurous holiday. This very intimate experience leads you deep into the bush where you sleep out around a campfire – and remarkably there’s no single-person supplement.
Robin Pope mobile
Staying at an RPS mobile safari camp, as part of a walking safari, is a very social experience. With busy days, groups or no more than six like-minded travellers and no single-person supplements, these trips are perfect for solo travellers.
Chobe Under Canvas
Chobe Under Canvas is a luxurious, adventurous mobile camp within one of Botswana’s prime game areas. It’s a single-friendly social camp with travellers eating at a communal table. Holidays here won’t be lonely!
Anabezi Luxury Camp
Anabezi Luxury Tented Camp doesn’t charge a single-room supplement, making it a more affordable option for solo travellers in Zambia than some other camps. Dining is at individual tables, but the friendly team make you feel most welcome and you can choose to dine with a member of staff.
Encounter Mara
This camp does not apply a single supplement outside of high season, so Encounter Mara becomes great value for a solo traveller wanting to focus on the excellent wildlife of the Mara ecosystem, in the privacy of the Maasai-owned Naboisho Conservancy.
Potato Bush Camp
Potato Bush offers a very personal experience in the Lower Zambezi. Activities and meals are shared making the camp very sociable, and there is no single supplement, making Potato Bush a more affordable option for solo travellers in Zambia than many other camps.
Pom Pom Camp
Pom Pom Camp does not charge a single supplement in the green season, This, along with communal dining, make the small camp an ideal option for solo travellers on safari in Botswana.
Tangulia Mara
Tangulia is a small camp with an intimate, friendly atmosphere. There is no single person supplement except during Jul-Sep and Christmas, so you can enjoy the communal game drives and meals without having to pay extra for travelling solo.
Sosian
Sosian has a lot to offer. Besides game drives tracking wild dogs and other wildlife on Laikipia’s high plains, guests really enjoy the guided walks. As an added bonus, it’s also one of few lodges which levies no single supplement on solo travellers.
Klein's Camp
Klein’s Camp makes a wonderful base for a solo traveller – with amazing views from the lodge, excellent safari activities, a private game-viewing area and high standards of care. Klein’s generally low single supplement and friendly atmosphere add to its attraction.
Basecamp Eagle View
With its low rates, Eagle View offers excellent-value and is one of the most economical options for solo travel in the Maasai Mara. The shared activities and welcoming, communal atmosphere mean you’re never left on your own unless you so choose.
Ol Pejeta Bush Camp
Ol Pejeta doesn’t apply a single supplement outside of high season, so this camp is great value for a solo traveller looking for a range of activities and wildlife in the Laikipia region – where camps tend to be costlier than the average across Kenya.
Musango Safari Camp
Musango Safari Lodge is unusual among Zimbabwe’s safari lodges in that it doesn’t charge single supplements. This, coupled with social dining arrangements and friendly hosts, makes it a good stop for solo travellers who want to enjoy Lake Kariba.
Xaranna
Solo travellers on holiday will love Xaranna’s policy of no single supplements. It’s a place for exploring waterways by mokoro, perhaps for chatting to like-minded people on a 4WD game drive and for enjoying spectacular birdlife when you’re on a solo safari holiday.
John's Camp
John's Camp doesn't charge single supplements and both meals and activities are taken as a group with other guests. This makes it an affordable and sociable option for solo travellers visiting Zimbabwe's Mana Pools National Park.
Kwitonda Lodge
Kwitonda definitely isn’t a low-cost option but, with no single supplement, it’s a more affordable option for high-end solo travel in Rwanda.
Solo Safaris across Africa
Explore Africa’s top destinations for solo travellers! Experience incredible walking safaris in Zambia’s South Luangwa, track gorillas in Rwanda’s misty Volcanoes National Park, or take a fly-in safari to Namibia’s Namibia’s vast open landscapes for stunning scenery and wildlife encounters. Canoe past elephants in Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park, or head to Kenya’s coast for world-class diving and snorkelling in crystal-clear waters. Whether you seek solitude, adventure, or shared experiences, our Solo Safari Collection offers handpicked journeys across Africa’s most inspiring destinations. Let us help you craft the perfect independent adventure!
Africa - Curated Holiday Collections for Your Interests
Africa - Curated Holiday Collections for Your Interests Discover our Holiday Collections, designed for travellers with passion! Love wildlife safaris? Keen to learn to dive in the Indian Ocean? Or an avid birdwatcher? We've got the trips!
Looking for inspiration on where to travel next?
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Inspire me
I’m social. Will I meet other travellers?
Safari itself is a natural ice-breaker. The shared excitement of scanning the bush for wildlife, then spotting a leopard draped over a tree branch or witnessing the adrenaline rush of a hunt, creates an instant bond.
Days invariably end with sundowners somewhere improbably scenic, and are followed by laughter-filled, communal dinners at a lamp-lit table under the stars, where you can swap stories over delicious food and fine wine. Nightly campfires become storytelling circles, with guides and guests exchanging tales of past adventures and hopes for the next day’s sightings. They are inviting places where you are free to stay as little or as long as you wish.
In all of our Solo Safari camps and lodges, the genuine warmth of the entire staff ensures solo travellers always feel welcome and included, with plenty of opportunities to chat, relax, and enjoy the camaraderie of the whole safari experience.