Updated: 12/05/19 | December 5th, 2019
Years ago, my buddy Zach backpacked from Cape town to Egypt. It was him, a little backpack, as well as nothing else.
He hitchhiked, rode in the back of buses as well as trucks, slept in ultra-cheap accommodation, as well as ate only regional food. I was fascinated by the stories he told me of his adventure. Africa is always seen as a frightening location to travel alone, with risk as well as theft lurking around every corner for the unsuspecting traveler.
But there are a great deal of people who travel the continent alone, people like Helen. Helen is a 33-year-old English lady who spent months volunteering as well as traveling around Africa on her own. Today, she shares exactly how she did it as well as exactly how you can do it too.
Nomadic Matt: tell everybody about yourself.
Helen: My name is Helen, I’m 33 as well as originally from Liverpool in the UK. In 2009 I made a life-changing decision to backpack around the world, starting in Africa. It was one of the very best years of my life, as well as since then some great chances have come my method — but then I believe you make your own destiny!
I now divide my time between my travel blog Helen in Wonderlust as well as my task supporting social entrepreneurs in business. Last year I was working as a tour guide in Zambia as well as Malawi.
What influenced your trip?
I’m a huge fan of the TV documentary shows with David Attenborough as well as Tribe with Bruce Parry. In the program, Bruce lives with remote tribes for a month at a time.
I likewise grew up watching films like The Goonies, Indiana Jones, as well as Romancing the Stone, however I was always a bit bit scared of really going on adventures of my own.
Then my grandmother, who I truly admired for her adventurous spirit, ended up being truly ill. It truly devastated me as well as made me believe about what I had been doing with my own life.
So I began to save money as well as then I was made redundant from work. I decided it was the perfect time to take fee of my future as well as go on the adventures I’d always dreamed of.
Did you feel overwhelmed when you were planning?
There were so many times when I was so overwhelmed! From choosing where to go to choosing which business to choose, whatever seemed daunting at first! I did as much research study as I might as well as plotted a fundamental path as well as then booked a few things so I had a fundamental structure, particularly for the very first leg of my trip.
Once I’d done that I felt a whole great deal much better as well as whatever began to autumn into place. when you’re really on the move, things tend to get a bit easier as well as you relax into your travels.
Where did you go on your trip?
I started off with a volunteering job in Zambia called the book Bus. I spent a month there, before getting the Tazara Train across to Tanzania, where I spent a month volunteering for an orphanage that runs a great deal of outreach programs in the Bagamoyo region on the east coast.
After that I took the bus up north to climb Kilimanjaro. after that I took an overland truck with Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, as well as down to South Africa, where I did a self-drive along the garden Route.
What drove you to check out Africa?
Everyone believed I was crazy to be starting off my trip in Africa. I assumption it’s not the obvious destination for your very first solo venture. however I discovered Africa to be interesting as well as beautiful; it was a bit of an enigma.
The media portrayal of Africa is seldom positive, as well as the history of the location is just mind-blowing, so I wished to go as well as see it for myself. A few of my buddies had spent their post-university days checking out Europe, Thailand, as well as Australia, however I didn’t understand anyone who had been backpacking around Africa.
I likewise like wildlife as well as sunsets so Africa seemed the most obvious choice.
Was it difficult being a solo female in Africa?
To be honest, no. There are tons of preconceptions about what traveling in Africa is like, as well as about Africa in general. however in reality, it’s really not that frightening at all.
Don’t get me wrong — there are locations that I may not necessarily go to, however that’s not since I’m a lady or that I am alone. It’s more to do with the truth that there may be political unrest in the area or something like that. Africa is vast as well as there are many methods to travel safely as well as quickly as a woman.
What security advice would you provide to others?
Africa can be a extremely risk-free location to travel, if you take a few fundamental precautions. First, take your malaria medication as well as get all of the appropriate vaccinations. drink bottled water, bring antibacterial hand gel, as well as laundry your hands. the most typical cause of illness is people not washing their hands properly around food.
Whilst most Africans are extremely gentle, honest as well as respectful, just like anywhere else in the world where there is a great deal of poverty, you requirement to be cautious with your possessions as well as not make yourself a target. Don’t keep big amounts of money in your primary wallet.
I always bring the bulk of my money about my person, either in my bag or a hidden money belt, as well as then keep a little amount of money in my wallet to pay for fundamental things.
Don’t walk around alone after dark: try to stay with a group or take a taxi. Your hotel or hostel will be able to suggest a reliable taxi driver to take you around town. I frequently get a couple of taxi numbers whilst I’m in a location as well as just utilize them. On one more transfer note, wear your seatbelt when available!
Was it difficult to get around on regional transport?
Local transfer is not also set up as in other parts of the world such as Southeast Asia, however it’s still relatively simple to get from A to B.
There are a number of huge bus business that run between many of the primary destinations, however they’re not as frequent, so be prepared that the bus you want to get may be full or only runs on specific days, so enable for that in your plans.
The train I took from Zambia to Tanzania only runs on a Tuesday in that direction, as well as the train shown up 24 hours later than expected. But, there is a typical saying, “T.I.A.: This is Africa,” as well as if you’re gotten ready for it, then it can be a genuine adventure.
Local minibuses can likewise be a great method to get around if you don’t mind being crammed into a little space. At the end of my last trip to Africa, I had a few days spare in Lilongwe, Malawi, so I decided to take a trip to South Luangwa national Park in Zambia, which is about eight hours away by car. The safari business only ran four-day trips, as well as I only had three days.
So I negotiated a discount rate as well as told them I would make my own method back.
When I shown up [back] at the camp, I made my method to the bar as well as asked around for regional transfer options. The barman stated he would kind something out for me as well as sure enough, on the day of my departure, I was chosen up by a regional minibus that took me close to the Malawi border.
From there, I got a taxi, walked with customs, got one more taxi to the next minibus stand as well as then one more minibus all the method back to Lilongwe.
It took a bit longer — maybe 12 hours, as well as wasn’t rather as comfortable — but it was inexpensive as well as I had absolutely no issues. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
You volunteered a great deal in Africa. exactly how did you discover reliable business to volunteer with?
I’ve really been truly lucky with the business I’ve volunteered with, they’ve all been great. I had two months to spare before doing my Kilimanjaro trek, so I started looking around for placements. I saw an advert for the book Bus on a task site, as well as they are a UK-based company.
After exchanging numerous emails, I understood that they would be fantastic to volunteer for. I likewise sponsor a bit woman in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, so I wished to discover somewhere to volunteer near her so I might visit, as well as with a bit of Web research, I came across the Baobab Home.
The house is run by Terri Place, an American as well as her hubby Caito, who is Tanzanian. I liked the look of the work they were doing, as well as asked if I might come along to assist out!
My third volunteering assignment was in 2011 at Soft Power education in Uganda, with whom I’d spent a day assisting out in 2009, so I understood they were a great company.
My primary piece of advice would be to get in touch with previous volunteers, which is quickly done by Facebook these days, or look for suggestions from blog writers or on the internet forums. I can suggest a great deal of great volunteering jobs that I’ve come across on my travels.
What advice would you have for people trying to backpack alone around Africa?
If you’re worried about going for the very first time, joining an overland truck is a fantastic method to see the continent. You won’t have as much flexibility as you would if you were traveling totally independently, however transfer as well as food is taken care of, as well as there are lots of chances to get out as well as about as well as see the genuine Africa.
Joining a volunteering job can be a fantastic method to get utilized to backpacking alone. costs a month in Livingstone, Zambia, working with the regional people as well as being an active member of the neighborhood truly assisted me settle in to Africa, as well as I was well gotten ready for all of the solo travel I did.
If you do choose to go it alone, I’d suggest booking lodging for your very first few nights. most great guesthouses will be able to assist youbook your onward travel.
Check the visa demands for the countries you are going to. most enable you to get entry at the borders, however it’s finest to inspect beforehand. You will requirement a yellow fever certificate for many African countries.
Always take a mix of dollars in different denominations, that are dated post-2002. Some currencies are only offered in country, however visas can be bought with dollars. Traveler’s checks can be difficult to change, so I’ll leave it as much as you whether you take them. A Visa card is much more commonly accepted than any type of other card.
Be flexible, make sure your routine isn’t as well tight, as well as expect the unexpected. If you can accept that, then you will have an unforgettable adventure.
Oh, as well as be prepared that you will autumn in like with this continent.
***
A great deal of people view Africa as this monolithic place, but it is a gigantic continent with a great deal of variety. You can’t lump everything together. There are many risk-free areas as well as many, many dangerous areas.
I liked my time in Africa. I satisfied some amazing, friendly, as well as useful locals as well as never when felt hazardous where I was.
Helen’s story (as well as my buddy Zach’s experience) shows that while there perhaps be touts, scams, as well as petty crime, if you keep your wits about you as well as utilize some typical sense, you can safely backpack around the continent of Africa.
Just like any type of other location in the world.
If you want to checked out more about Helen’s adventures, inspect out her blog, Helen in Wonderlust.
Become the next Success Story
One of my preferred parts about this task is hearing people’s travel stories. They influence me, however more importantly, they likewise influence you. I travel a specific way, however there are many methods to fund your trips as well as travel the world.
I hope these stories show you that there is more than one method to travel as well as that it is within your grasp to reach your travel goals. right here are more examples of people who provided up living a typical life to check out the world:
Two San Diegans dominate Their fears as well as Go around the World
Why Trish offered whatever She had to Travel
Olivia as well as Manny stop the workstation to comply with Their Passion
How Jessica as well as Her boyfriend worked Their method around the World
We all come from different places, however all of us have one thing in common: all of us want to travel more.
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Book Your Trip: Logistical tips as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a inexpensive flight by utilizing Skyscanner. It’s my preferred browse engine since it searches websites as well as airlines around the globe so you always understand no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilize Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses as well as hotels.
Don’t fail to remember travel Insurance
Travel insurance coverage will protect you against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. It’s comprehensive security in situation anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to utilize it many times in the past. My preferred business that offer the very best service as well as value are:
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Insure My trip (for those over 70)
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