Luxury African Safaris for Singles, Single Seniors, Women
The number of people planning to travel alone throughout Africa is growing. We are cognizant of the fact that a safari, when factoring in airfare, transportation, activity fees, and other associated costs, can constitute a somewhat costly vacation. This is particularly true if you are traveling alone and are consequently subject to a single supplement cost for your lodging.
Africa is becoming an increasingly popular destination for lone travellers. When you include in the cost of long-haul flights, transfers, and activities, a safari may quickly become a prohibitively expensive holiday. Especially if you’re travelling alone and your lodging costs are more than average due to the single supplement rate.
Top Takeaways for Solo Safari Travellers
- Group departures make it affordable: Joining scheduled tours reduces costs and provides instant community.
- No single supplement options exist: Some lodges waive extra fees for solo guests, especially in shoulder or low season.
- Expert planning ensures safety and ease: Booking with a reputable safari specialist means transfers, logistics, and accommodations are tailored for solo comfort.
- Solo travel is empowering and flexible: A safari offers the rare chance to explore at your own pace, reconnect with nature, and meet like-minded adventurers.
- Low season = high value: Traveling outside peak months can mean better rates, fewer crowds, and more intimate wildlife encounters.
What is a Single Supplement for Solo Travellers?
Two people sharing a tent or room is the standard calculation for safari lodging rates. Your meals, lodging and operating expenses, and a fraction of staff salary are all part of the total. The safari lodge is also part of the equation.
Some hotels and lodges charge a “per person” tariff plus a single supplement to cover their expenses, rather than charging the entire lodging rate—which might be quite expensive for a solo tourist. This additional charge for individuals travelling alone might range from 25% to 75% of the ‘per person’ cost.
What is Single Occupancy on Safari?
With the exception of family accommodations, most tents and rooms may accommodate two people sharing. Safari rooms can accommodate either one or two visitors at a time, with the former being known as double occupancy and the latter as single occupancy. The room often has a queen or king-sized bed, though that doesn’t always imply there is just one bed.
When one person uses a tent or accommodation that could have accommodated two people, it is considered single occupancy on safari. The expense of a “empty bed” can be covered by charging a nominal fee to a camp or lodge that caters to lone travellers.
Can You Go on Safari Alone?
In a heartbeat! Since 2020, we have been personalising tours of Africa for singles, assisting them in building memories that will last a lifetime. Keep reading to find out everything you need know about travelling around Africa by yourself…
Top Tips For Planning Africa Tours For Singles
For a wide variety of clients from across the globe, our team of seasoned Africa Safari Experts has created thousands of unique itineraries. For those traveling alone to Africa, this is our top recommendation:
1. Book in Advance:
Many lodges and campgrounds only cover one room or tent when they waive the single supplement payment. Your chances of getting that room to yourself increase the earlier you start making plans.
2. Choose Your Season:
During the low season, sometimes known as the Green Season, when demand is lower and prices are lower, solitary travelers have a much better chance of finding affordable safaris. One of the many benefits of Green Season is the increased variety of options available to solo travelers.
3. Opt for a Tailor-Made Itinerary:
You won’t find that all safari accommodations are suitable for lone travelers. For this reason, it is helpful to collaborate with a travel agency that has frequent, personal experience with safaris and an established network of reliable vendors. If you’re planning a solo safari with Kabira Safaris & Tours Africa, your dedicated Africa Safari Expert will be able to recommend the best hotels and camps, arrange for hassle-free transfers, and suggest exciting activities.
4. Be Upfront About Your Expectations:
So that they can create the ideal itinerary for you, inform your travel agency of your preferences. Take into account the following:
- Would you like to eat in silence or in a group? In terms of dinner companions, would you like some say?
- Would you want to go independently or join a group on a scheduled departure tour?
- Will you be capturing a particular wildlife event or trying to discover a particularly noteworthy bird on your safari?
- Do you value cultural exchanges and hot-air balloon rides?
- Are you more comfortable in an adult-only setting or would you rather be among younger children?
- In the same vein, are you more comfortable in a more formal setting when you’re around newlyweds, or is it irrelevant?
- Which type of lodging appeals to you more: large, impersonal hotels or cozy, independent spots?
Best Tips For Travelling Solo In Africa
1. Safety:
Every aspect of your vacation is handled by a full-service partner like Kabira Safaris & Tours Africa. Everything from flights to activities to lodgings to transportation and more. Someone will be waiting for you at every turn thanks to the meet-and-greet services and transfers arranged by a full-service travel agency.
Let your loved ones know where you’ll be going and when you expect them to check in by sharing your travel schedule with them.
If you’re going on a solo safari with Kabira Safaris & Tours Africa, you can call their direct line at any time, day or night, for advise or assistance.
It is prudent to take the same safety measures while traveling alone in Africa as you would when traveling domestically. We have compiled our best travel advice for being safe in Africa for your perusal.
2. Activities:
You can do a lot of things alone or with a group. Group activities, such as wine tours, boat cruises, or guided city tours, are great ways to meet other travelers.
A trip to Victoria Falls is perfect for the more daring visitor. In addition to going to the local markets or a traditional village, some popular activities include a thrilling microlight flight over the waterfall and group white-water rafting expeditions.
Why not just go on a safari by yourself? Of course! Participating in group outings, such as game drives and guided walks, would come naturally to you. Most people who travel alone go on safaris for one of three reasons: to see animals, to relax and unwind, or to meet interesting people. You might easily lose yourself in making new friends or find a quiet place to oneself.
3. Timing:
To get the most bang for your buck, plan your trip around the middle to high season. Take safari charter flights as an example; the minimum number of passengers required to operate the aircraft is two. Traveling during off-season as a solitary traveler may need purchasing an additional seat on the aircraft. With so many people taking trips during peak season, the likelihood of this occurring decreases.
However, if you are traveling alone and can get by without charter planes, you can save a lot of money on a safari during the off season. You can have the woods to yourself and the lodging fees are cheap.
Safety African Safari Destinations for Singles
Safety is a priority for independent travellers, and at Kabira Safaris we only work with tried-and-tested African safari destinations that are secure, welcoming, and completely solo traveller-friendly.
- South Africa – Well-developed tourism infrastructure and gentle solo safari intro for first-timers
- Botswana – Consistently excellent luxury lodges, faultless service, and round-the-clock security
- Tanzania & Kenya – Friendly, welcoming camps ideal for sociable solo adventurers looking to connect
- Zambia & Namibia – Safe, off-the-beaten-track destinations for remoteness and solitude
