Can a girl fresh out of high school travel Africa overland for a year? Alone?

by Grace
(Ohio, USA)

Soon I'll be graduating from high school. For a long time I've dreamed about traveling in Africa. When I was twelve I visited Ghana, but only for a short time. I've recently realized that what I really want to do is see Africa, get in depth with Africa. My route would be overland from Jo'burg, South Africa, traveling in a wide arc to Mauritania, spending about a month in each country. While on route I *might* travel through Sudan and Chad, but I haven't decided yet.

And yet, more and more when I express this dream to people their response is, "Alone? Why don't you just volunteer?". But my motivation in visiting Africa isn't to bringing my own culture and way of life there, but in being exposed and introduced to the varying and fascinating ways of life that define the African continent.

So, is it possible? I will be eighteen years old. Please give me your honest opinion. Thanks so much for your time!

Answer: You asked me to be honest so here goes. As you'll know from reading my site, I'm very keen on solo travel and myself traveled solo for the first time at 15 (which, thinking back, was too young - I was fine but I was lucky).

You sound extraordinarily mature for your age, so that is a definite plus. However, Africa is one of the hardest - if not THE hardest - place to travel, for a number of reasons. The numbing poverty of some parts of the continent may not be something you're used to. Safety factors, such as poorly-maintained vehicles and awful driving, means your chances of an accident are higher than they might be at home. Going from country to country can be daunting, and even seasoned travelers may find it difficult. I crossed Africa and while it was brilliant, it wasn't easy.

At 18, in all honesty, I couldn't recommend crossing Africa solo. It's a continent for the seasoned traveler, in my opinion. Others may well disagree. I'd start with something easier, like Europe or Southeast Asia, if you want to travel solo for any length of time. Get your 'sea legs', then head for Africa.

All that said, if you feel ready to face such a major trip, then try to team up with people. You don't need to travel with the same person everywhere, but make sure you've got a travel mate you can share moments of frustration with. They're not hard to find.

The first thing I'd do is check out the best travel forums online and see who's going where. You should have no trouble finding someone to share that first leg with. Once you're on the road, stay in hostels where you'll meet plenty of other young travelers. I never failed to find someone to travel with this way.

For safety's sake, as a new traveler, I'd stay away from countries with distinct security risks or where foreigners have recently been kidnapped. Make sure you check out your government's travel advisories (you'll find the link at the bottom of my dangerous places page).

And don't forget: keeping in touch is one of the most important things you'll do on the road to let your loved ones know you're safe.

So, in a nutshell... I would not recommend travel across Africa solo if you're not an experienced traveler. I would opt for a small tour to get to the know a bit of the continent first, say a few weeks of overlanding to get your feet wet. Then at least you'd have an idea of what to expect. Or, if you're really keen on solo travel, start with an easier destination. Much as I love Africa, travel there is more challenging than in most other regions of the world.

If you really want to go it alone, then I'd make sure to find travel companions along the way. You'll still be traveling solo, but at least you'll have people around you. Of course the usual safety recommendations apply when you're looking for a travel partner!

A final option - homestays or couch surfing. The advantage of this is staying with someone local, who'll be able to show you the ropes and help you steer clear of danger, since they'll know their surroundings well. Just make sure you check them out thoroughly first. Families are best and again, make sure your own family knows exactly how and where to find you.

Please come back here and post about your decision and how and why you made it - we'd love to hear!

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