A solo safari in Zimbabwe

In February 2024 I embarked on a journey with Wilderness to the Zimbabwean bush, alone. I would be living in the bush in solitude, capturing life with my camera, far beyond my established territory. 

But I was not a cheetah. I was a guineafowl. Running around in excitement, mildly panicking. Not knowing what to expect. I feared being alone. I feared the feeling of loneliness. I feared people would look at me strangely for being by myself. I feared that I would have a terrible time even though I was spending it in some of Zimbabwe’s most beautiful camps and wild areas. 

My medical bag was filled with every kind of medicine I might need. It took up half my backpack. I printed out the address of the German embassy and I took three phones with me, just in case one broke, got lost or stolen. Now, having returned from my solo safari I can happily say I still have all my phones and they are filled with so many new amazing contacts, the one for the embassy having never been used. 

I was afraid of so many unpleasant hypothetical situations, that gladly never turned into reality. And all those fears and struggles were exchanged with amazing experiences and lovely stories.

What I did discover on my solo safari is that while I might have been alone, I was never lonely. The Wilderness camps in Hwange were the perfect place to build meaningful connections. At communal dinners I got to meet other travellers. More solo travellers than expected. I even met a woman who was travelling to Hwange for the thirtieth time, by herself. But I also met groups from all over the world; couples, families, seniors, photographers, Zimbabwean locals. I got invited to lunches and tea setups, to game drives and activities. I got asked about my life story and my job. I learned how to eat sadza, a thick African maize meal porridge. I learnt how to pronounce words in Shona or Ndebele. I shared lots of laughs with the Wilderness teams. 

I saw the most incredible wildlife, and even though I was not sharing it with my family or friends, I always had the most dedicated guides with me, who would share that excitement with me. We followed prides of lions, elephant herds and giraffes. I learned about birds, insects, snakes and mammals, and how to imitate hyena and lion sounds, as well as how to identify animal tracks. I filled my camera with an endless number of images. 

Every day the bush offered new and exciting experiences. Every day the Wilderness team made sure I would have the most memorable time. There was simply no chance to think about all the fears I once had. And along that way, friendships were made, connections established and a love for the bush and for solitude was awakened. Somewhere along the way I did not realise that I had turned into a cheetah.

Let me help allay some of your fears about travelling alone, using my own experiences of my safari in Zimbabwe.

The Wilderness camps have dedicated staff who will help you if there are any medical issues. They also have malaria testing kits, medication and first aid kits. The staff is prepared to assist you as soon as issues arise. And I was surprised to learn that there are medical centres even in remote areas, as well as pharmacies that offer common medications and feminine hygiene products. Furthermore, Wilderness has a 24-hour response service that will get you to the nearest hospital should the need arise. 

The one thing I can say about Zimbabweans, and especially the Wilderness staff, is that they are the most kind and respectful people I have ever met. I never had an unpleasant situation during my trip. Everyone I met was a lovely soul. I never had a situation in which I felt threatened. I came as a stranger and left as family. You never have to fear your safety as a solo female traveller with Wilderness. You are in the best hands. 

Internet is available in all camps so you can stay connected with loved ones back home. But as I realised, it is sometimes nice not to be available for anyone and to just connect with nature, instead of a router.