Solo Travel

Solo Travel

By: Lion World Travel

Is travel to Africa on your bucket list, but not on your partner’s? Do you and your partner take vacations at different times? Do you like to travel with your friends, but prefer to stay in your own room?

Solo travel offers new opportunities and fantastic experiences. There is nothing quite as energizing as a trip to Africa, to go to the places you want to visit, meet new people, experience new cultures, try the local cuisine, go on a safari, and return with memories of a lifetime.  

“Single passengers make up a fair amount of the leisure travel to Africa, and they tend to be a forgotten demographic,” says Lucille Sive, (CEO TTC Africa). “Passengers traveling on their own should not be penalized. We want to change that by serving our clients better by offering some of our incredible deals that have either no single supplement fee, or a significantly reduced single supplement fee.“ 

Photo Courtesy of Lucille Sive

Here is a list of travel tips that can help you on your next solo adventure: 

  • When you check your bags make certain that the airline baggage tag on your luggage is labelled with the airport code for the right destination before the bag is put on the conveyor belt.  
  • Use a Bluetooth or GPS tracker for your luggage. 
  • Request an airport Meet and Greet. A local representative will welcome you on arrival at your first point of entry into the country. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have and get some initial tips and information. 
  • Location is of utmost importance. Book a hotel that is in close proximity to shopping and restaurants. 
  • Always leave your cash and valuables in your hotel room safe, or if you are at a safari lodge with no safes, have the lodge manager store your valuables for you. 
  • Be street savvy. Always be prepared with cash, and a map or guidebook so that you are self-sufficient.  
  • If you need to withdraw cash from an ATM, do so during daylight hours and be aware of who is loitering around you. 
  • Stay connected. Make it a habit to update family and friends back home about your itinerary.  
  • Try to meet other travelers with small conversation starters like “Where are you traveling from?” 

Lion World Travel has tried to make solo travel within everyone’s reach by offering a great selection of itineraries where no or low single supplement is applied.  

If you’ve been putting off a trip because you’re waiting for someone to travel with, it’s time to just go. In Africa a smile or greeting from the locals is a common sign of friendliness.  The warm people, exceptional wildlife, and breathtaking scenery will be your welcome. Relax and enjoy Africa – it is a great place to travel, even – or especially – on your own.  

About Lion World Travel:  
Lion World Travel is the leading tour operator from North America specializing in group and individual tours to Southern and East Africa and is a member of the renowned TTC , which also includes: Trafalgar Tours, Contiki, Brendan Vacations, Insight Vacations, The Red Carnation Hotel Collection and Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection. Clients continue to benefit from Lion World Travels’ destination knowledge, expertise, and emphasis on customer service. With their Africa Specialists all having first-hand knowledge of Africa, Lion World Travel confidently assists clients in creating an African adventure that fits their interests and budget. Extraordinary service, affordable luxury and value for money are what keep clients coming back to Lion World Travel. 

5 Reasons to Join a Walking Tour as a Solo Traveler

5 Reasons to Join a Walking Tour as a Solo Traveler

By Matt Thompson, Brand Manager for Country Walkers

1. Meet Like-Minded People

When you choose to experience the world on foot, you’re making a conscious decision to travel authentically. Your traveling companions will share your passion for experiencing a destination up close, at a slower pace that allows you to really connect with the local culture. Whether you’re spending time together on the trail, in a cooking class led by a local, or over a delicious meal at the end of the day, you’ll find many opportunities to create meaningful bonds. You may start out as a solo traveler, but you’ll end up with whole group of newfound friends. Many of our guests form lifelong friendships on tour, and choose to travel together again on subsequent adventures.

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2. Don’t Worry About Planning

Traveling on your own can mean not having anyone to share the burden of travel planning with. Rather than spend your time researching and booking hotels, transportation, and attractions, join a walking tour that handles all the details for you. You can simply show up at the airport and then relax in the knowledge that you have an expertly planned itinerary awaiting you. You’ll avoid the headaches that often come in the planning stages weeks and months before a trip, and return truly refreshed and invigorated.

3. Travel Your Own Way

Striking out on your own allows you to make spur-of-the-moment decisions independent of concern for a traveling partner’s desires. Do you want to skip the day’s walk and enjoy the spa instead? Go ahead! Feeling energetic and want to choose the extra walking option? You don’t have to check in with your companion to see how they’re feeling first! Linger at an art gallery, relax quietly on the beach with a good book, skip attractions that don’t interest you—you can travel according to your own wishes and whims. Walk at your own pace, and make your own unique discoveries along the way.

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4. Just Be Yourself

At home, we often fall into roles designated by others or by ourselves. Whether the role is “mother,” “boss,” “husband,” or one of countless others, travel allows you to shed your usual day-to-day and be whoever you want to be. Give yourself opportunities to enjoy your own company and rediscover your own personal joys—from a solitary moment on a peaceful stretch of the trail to an engaging conversation with a traveling companion over a glass of wine at the end of the day.

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5. Venture Outside of Your Comfort Zone

Traveling far from home in an unfamiliar culture where you don’t speak the language can be daunting. By joining a walking tour, you’ll have guides who are familiar with the lay of the land. You won’t need to worry about negotiating taxi rates in a foreign tongue or getting lost in an unknown city. Your guides will also provide insight and perspective that you wouldn’t have access to on your own, allowing you to connect with your destination on a deeper level. Walking tours make it easier to venture to destinations you might not be comfortable traveling to on your own.

 

Country Walkers began with a simple idea: explore the world actively, passionately, and with a commitment to authentically engaging with local cultures. With this guiding principle, the company launched in 1979 from an old barn in Vermont and soon expanded from local to international destinations. Today, Country Walkers is recognized as one of the leading providers of walking adventures worldwide. Matt Thompson serves as Brand Manager and has been with the company for five years.