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Solo travel in Tanzania: going on safari or climbing Mt Kilimanjaro alone

To go on safari you have to go as a couple and you have to be head over heels in love. Plus you have to wear matching khaki-beige safari hats and multi-purpose trousers with at least ten pockets – Of course, we’re kidding.

Going solo on safari is becoming more and more popular, almost 10% of our guests are solo travellers. And we love it!

For many going on a safari or climbing Mt Kilimanjaro is a once in a lifetime dream come true, an experience that may change the way you see the world. Not everyone nursing this dream has a partner, friend or family who share it. We believe, you shouldn’t miss out, just because your boyfriend does.

Two hikers on a group climb of Kilimanjaro on their first day on the Machame Route

Join a small group tour

Many solo travellers join an overland tour; a group of about twenty people travelling in a bus-like truck often across multiple African countries. And while this is a great budget friendly option, the sometimes-rowdy summer-camp atmosphere is not for everyone. Join a small group tour instead and share your 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser with a maximum of six other travellers and your group’s private guide. The advantages are many:

• Costs for vehicle and guide are shared, making it less expensive than a private safari.
• Once two guests have booked a safari for the scheduled date, the safari will definitely depart. That means it only takes one other person and your group safari is confirmed.
• If you go on a group camping safari, you can share your tent with someone of the same sex and save on that single-supplement.
• You can share your thoughts and excitement about all the new experiences with your newly made friends.
• No lonely dinners with book and phone, as you will eat together as a group.

Worried you’ll be the only one solo amongst six cooing lovebirds? Couples joining a group tour are aware that they are not in for the most intimate honeymoon but enjoy sharing their experience with others and meeting new people.

A guide explaining to a traveller, their safari vehicle in the background

Climbing Kilimanjaro solo

Climbing Kilimanjaro is a very special experience and one of these once-in-a-lifetime dreams you may not share with your partner. But just because your fiancé doesn’t see the fun in not showering for six days, doesn’t mean you have to miss out.

In fact, almost half of all our guests travelling alone joined a Mt Meru or Kilimanjaro group climb. On the mountain, you build a very special bond with your fellow climbers and crew. You motivate each other, look out for each other and get to know each other during those long hours putting one foot in front of the other. After only a few hours, you won’t be a solo traveller, but simply part of a team who all share the same goal – getting to the mountain top and safely back down again.

Go on your own private safari with your private guide

Not everyone travelling alone is looking for company. You may be purposefully looking for a solo safari, just because you enjoy travelling alone and want to be as flexible as possible.

On your private safari, it’ll be just you and your safari guide. We believe, a safari is only as good as the guide who accompanies you. And this will become all the more apparent when you travel solo with your own private guide.

You’ll be spending many hours together on the road and in the national parks. A great opportunity to not only learn about flora and fauna of Tanzania, but to hear about everyday life first-hand from your local guide.

Travelling alone should never keep you from travelling Tanzania. Be open, be curious, be street-savvy and take a break from the world as you know it. Let’s go!

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