Solo safari

[Malteser71]

Quick query - has anyone ever done a solo African safari that they can recommend? Husband is 50 next year, I have no interest in safari but I’d like to pay for him to go. Have no idea where to begin!

Thanks

Why not go along with him but just sit by the pool while he goes out in drives, and combine with a short stay by the coast or in an interesting city for another part of the holiday. ?

Because we have two children who also have no interest in going. And no childcare!

No specific suggestion but many of the safari lodges seem set up with communal dining so you end up as part of a group.

Shame the rest of you aren't interested though. It's the most incredible, unique experience and an amazing way to bond as a family.

I’m sure it is, but quite apart from the cost of taking four of us on a holiday we don’t want (we’ve been all over the world, nobody is bothered about safari except my DH) I’m rather scared of the idea and the children have no interest at all.

I’m just wondering if anyone can recommend a tour company

Sorry -not helpful!- don’t know of any tour companies but I don’t think it needs to be specifically a solo one.
Met plenty of solo travellers in Africa it’s not uncommon, and he’ll just join another group or family on the drives.

Have a look at some of the overland or adventure tour companies like Exodus or Dragoman if he's happy to go as part of a group

I can recommend South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. I booked thru Expert Africa.

SLNP has great game density (and not too many visitors ). Zambian guides are reknowned for their training. Walking safaris are a big thing. Season runs from May to November.

Absolutely magical. Lions, hippos, elephants, giraffes, leopards, buffalo, wildebeest, wild dogs...

I came on to recommend group adventure tour companies too. I’ve been on a number of holidays with Explore for similar reasons your husband would be going. I.e. dh not interested in where I wanted to go. I’ve enjoyed them all. Can’t vouch for them on safaris as I haven’t done that, but I do recommend the holidays overall and I met a few people on a recent trip that had done a few of their African safaris and really rated them. There are a number of competitors like Exodus to check out too or - depending on budget - smaller, more specialist operators.

The only thing that would make me a bit wary for a safari is that as you’re travelling in a group you won’t always get the good seat on any transport. I went to Sri Lanka years ago with my dh and did a few safari-type days. Because we were travelling alone, we had a guide and vehicle to ourselves - I saw groups of the sort of size I’m used to with explore (@14 people) and not everyone had the ‘good’ seats. That was one location though - I’d ask about this if going down the group travel route. The reviews on the site tend to pick up any issues like this too.

I can recommend G adventures for an organised trip, they do tours all over the world.

If he’s into photography exodus do group safaris with photographers to coach / teach wildlife photography.

www.exodus.co.uk/wildlife-holidays/safari-holidays

I saw groups of the sort of size I’m used to with explore (@14 people) and not everyone had the ‘good’ seats.

I was similarly wary/put off, hence recommending Zambia where the camps dont do this. Everyone gets a window seat! The camps only have about 8-10 guests and drives are in max of 4 or a family group (unless it's one of the budget camps but even then they appear to limit occupancy on the game drives). Also rarely saw many other vehicles on a game drive - 3 others would be 'busy'

Great, helpful replies, thank
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