Africa – Going Solo
by Madeleine Long
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Last year, when I least expected it, the lead actor in an Australian tour of Moulin Rouge, asked if she could rent my apartment for 10 weeks while she was performing in Perth. With gay abandon for my management consultancy, which I felt could be operated from anywhere in the world, I jumped at the opportunity and began visualising my solo adventure.
I set the parameters that the trip had to include: destinations that I hadn’t discovered before; were safe enough for a single 60-something female - but not be too predictable or risk-free; little physical discomfort ie: not too cold, 3-4 star accommodation, no risk of major disease etc; the scope to meet interesting people when and if I wanted to, and; to immerse myself into traditional cultures.
The ancient Egyptian tradition of paper making using Papyrus
Past travels though India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran had given me travel courage and unique lifelong memories. These, together with my more ‘sedate’ travels to Italy, Greece, Malta, Turkey, SE Asia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, France, UK, USA and UAE gave me confidence to travel solo.
This trip needed to be different from my others. I called my Instagram ‘Eat, Pray, Laugh,’ which reflected my headspace pre-trip. Recently divorced, I yearned to get away and have for time to experiment with new exotic food, self-reflect and to reconnect with my belly-laughter.
The friendly staff at Kruger NP
With intense research and endless possibilities, I decided on a safari in Kruger National Park, a cruise down the Nile and a visit to the Pyramids, an overland tour though Morrocco, an exploration of three cities in Spain (Madrid, San Sebastian and Barcelona), and finally, a few chill-out weeks in Bali and the Gili Islands.
Rather than give a blow-by-blow account of the highlights of each location I visited, I’d rather give my general insights as a mature, solo, female traveller to these wonderful places visited during February to April 2023.
- I felt happy, energised, carefree, confident, lonely at times, fortunate and unstressed - despite the many travel decisions I had to make on the go.
- Glad that I booked and planned most of the journey myself but relieved that I joined an Intrepid bus tour for the 2-week overland bus ride. It made me feel safe, in good company, able to plunge into the culture including food, economy, social, politics and religion without fear of mis-stepping.
- Disappointed that I couldn’t connect with as many people as I would have liked because most EVERYBODY hides behind their mobile phone!!!
- Amazed at how fantastic my 4-night Historia Boutique Hotel Nile cruise was. It’s so worth paying extra for this experience. I booked it through Memphis Tours. It started in Aswan and ended in Luxor.
- Surprised by the number of comments I received from other travellers not only about my courage to travel solo, but about ‘why’ I wanted to do it on my own. I loved most of my trip and feel grateful for the opportunity. But I’m now ready to discover more of the world, this time with my new partner!
Jamming with the boys in Morrocco
Want to do a trip like this?
Madeleine planned most of this journey herself. Here are some places to start your own research.
Tours
Who Madeleine travelled with
Where to stay
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