to go travelling in Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia on my own from mid June - mid Aug?

[Muckogy]

Posting here for traffic.
I'm female and will be travelling alone. I would like to travel across these four countries from mid June to mid August. I would like to take in at least one safari. I will be on a budget as much as possible.
From initial searches it seems all four countries are safe.
I realise Africa is massive and I am flexible about leaving out a country but I am keen to see Namibia.
Anyone been along this route?

My DM, who is in her 70s, travelled alone through Namibia and up to Zambia through Botswana earlier this year. My sister lives in Zambia so she had a bit of a safety net if she'd needed it, but she was fine and had a fantastic experience. I'd say go for it!

I've been to Tanzania and Zambia on one holiday (part of a trip that also included Kenya and Malawi), and Namibia on a different holiday (we combined it with South Africa). They were all fabulous and I'm sure you'll have a great time.

We went quite a few years ago, so I don't have any up to date advice. Have you been on the Lonely Planet website? It's worth posting on the Thorn Tree forum. We always travel independently and dp often posts on there, asking for and offering advice on itineraries etc. He reckons it's very useful.

I Haven't been that route so can't give any advice, other than - go for it!!

I've travelled quite a bit on my own in the past, including Africa & it's an amazing experience

I've been to Tanzania and Zambia. I know it's obvious but please make sure you are up to date with your immunisations - otherwise your travel insurance may not work.

I did a couple of trips in Africa around ten years ago, although I went on my own, I travelled with an overland truck company with a group of about ten people (dragoman - they were excellent back then, but I've no recent experience of them)

I would definitely recommend seeing Africa this way. I know it's not fully authentic travel, but I felt that I got a lot more out of my trips, saw a lot of things and went to some really off the beaten track places that would have been quite difficult for a solo traveller to get to. We did loads of safaris, canoe trips in the Okavango delta, snorkelling with whale sharks in Mozambique. There was plenty of opportunity to go off and do your own thing as well, but having people to chat with and share a beer with on an evening was good too.

I travelled around Zanzibar on my own, stone town is an experience! The beaches were lovely. I only did a small part of both Namibia and Botswana but they felt quite similar to south Africa, in terms of infrastructure. I haven't been to Zambia (apart from crossing the Victoria falls bridge, but I don't think that counts!!!) I enjoyed Tanzania a lot, the Serengeti was amazing but I don't think it would be as easy to travel independently there as in southern Africa.

I also did an over land truck thingie back in the day, as Nanny said; it really helped to get to places since the infrastructure back then was not so good. That being said I met plenty of solo travellers along the way.

Looooved Africa and I managed to do ten countries in three months (the last month doing it on my own). I would love to go back. I really really would!!

I would love to also go to Ethiopia. Never been and there so much to see!

I adored Tanzania and Botswana. I seem to remember that Zambia was a rude shock compared to Zimbabwe - but that probably just shows how long ago I was there!!

GO FOR IT!! I loved it so so much and every day seemed to have a wonderfully bizarre month Python sketch happening around you with you playing a starring role. So confusing and brilliant and funny and just genuinely fantastic. I have so many stories from that trip.

I wonder whether that's the best time of year for a safari. The trees and bushes will be full of leaves, difficult to spot animals. You really want to go earlier in the year, or later (towards November).

Of your list I've only ever been to Namibia. I've travelled to many and varied places, Namibia is amongst the most beautiful. It's vast and empty though. I hope you enjoy your own company and are not scared of the dark!

I would strongly advise against travelling alone. These countries are not safe for independent travel. Please travel with a group. Africa is not a natural playground full of roaming wild life.

How will you be travelling?

In my experience of Africa (frequent solo work trips to parts of southern Africa including a couple of countries on your list) it is essential to have access to or purchase local knowledge and to take sensible precautions. There are dangers you wouldn't necessarily recognise as a lone traveller with no experience of the terrain. For example, even in parts of South Africa I've been warned against driving at night not for the reasons you'd imagine but because of potholes and wandering animals. I've also been in a safari park with people experienced in the bush who recognised dangers (such as a lone and angry male elephant) that on my own I'd have been completely oblivious to. Unless you're with an organised trip of some sorts (and this will require money) even keeping a mobile phone charged may be a challenge (I now take a small solar panel).

I think it is very risky. You should be able to do whatever you like without even having to have this discussion but sadly, lone women can become an easy target and that's the reality of it. It wouldn't matter if you were in the safest country in the world, there are always opportunists with ill intent. This is a big judgement call for you and no one else can make the decision but speak to your family.

Moopsboopsmum - I would strongly advise against travelling alone. These countries are not safe for independent travel. Please travel with a group. Africa is not a natural playground full of roaming wild life.

could you expand on this? which bits of the four countries did you find unsafe?