I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude. -Henry David Thoreau
Finding comfort and pleasure in one’s own company is one of the hardest yet most rewarding and important lessons we learn. Traveling alone allows you to immerse yourself in your own inner peace, be the person that you want to be, try new and unexpected things, and be fully aware of your own interests as opposed to those of others. Step away from the blaring sounds of daily life and responsibilities, and listen to the whispers of Africa as you rediscover how much you enjoy spending time with yourself.
Be the traveller that you have always envied: Travelling solo is a journey of self-discovery and self-experimentation. You have no role to fill, and you are unburdened by predisposed assumptions about what you may or may not enjoy. It doesn’t matter if in high school you were scared of heights and have been labelled ever since. If you step onto the bridge between Victoria Falls and Zambia and want to dive into the open air that hangs between the cavernous gorge, then do it (once we have hooked you up to the bungee cable). If you decide that you actually find game drives painfully boring and would much rather stretch out by the pool with a book, no one is going to judge you or tell you that you need to make the most of this opportunity. It is your holiday, and yours alone, do with it what you like. Leave behind your know-all friend (we all have one) and talk to our guides. Let them enrich your mind with their stories of the camp and environment. Drink in the new knowledge and let it roam through your mind as move from place to place.
Being solitary is being alone well: being alone luxuriously immersed in doings of your own choice, aware of the fullness of your own presence rather than of the absence of others. Because solitude is an achievement. -Alice Koller
Capitalise on this time to yourself: Treat yourself to the solitude offered by alone activities. Go to the spa and feast on the treatments, let our masseuses work away the tension you carry on your shoulders or in your neck. Go everyday, twice a day, its not as though people are waiting for you. Eat lunch with the characters of your favourite novel, and stare at the stars for luxurious uninterrupted periods of time. Wake up in the morning and let the only thing on your mind be whatever you feel like doing that day.
Language… has created the word “loneliness” to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word “solitude” to express the glory of being alone. -Paul Johannes Tillich
Master the art of packing light: Follow this link to find of all you need to know about back pack essentials, but for the most part we have got you covered. Make this trip baggage free in more ways than one. Our camps are equipped with a laundromats, libraries, and views so exquisite that they will keep you captivated for hours on end. Packing a small holdall will make it easier to keep track of your belongings, and also eliminate the need to wait for luggage at the airport if you manage to take your bag as a carry on. Let yourself be pleasantly suprsed by how little clutter you actually need to have an enjoyable experience.
Don’t confuse solitude with loneliness: When in Africa, one is never truly alone. All of the things about loneliness that scare people are softened by her soft touch. The wildlife calls fill any unwanted silence, nights can’t be lonely when millions of stars spill across the sky above you, the gentle breeze warmly embrasses you and the atmosphere is so tranquil that stress and anxieties are banished into the abyss. When you spend time with yourself you truly discover what you like and what you want out of each experience. The decisions you make are not coerced by other people’s opinions or beliefs, they are yours to realise and explore.
Children love to be alone because alone is where they know themselves, and where they dream. –Roger Rosenblatt
Familiarize yourself with local cultural etiquette (COMING IN OUR NEXT BLOG!): One of the main advantages of travelling by yourself is that you open yourself up to meeting new people. Different destinations create different characters, some of which you will have the privilege of befriending on your travels. In order to avoid any incidental offense, it is important to remain culturally aware. Click here for a basic guide to cultural awareness while travelling through Africa. Travelling alone fosters self discovery and self worth, you deserve to give it a try. We will foster your own “Eat, Pray, Love” experience.
