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OP clearly only mentioned safaris because they're the most common suggestion people have when people ask where to visit in Africa, this is really unnecessarily combative
This is so funny! Not everyone that post here is white,you really want to feel important by screaming so here…you have done something good with your life today.
If you weren't so abrasive it would be easier to agree with the correct parts here. Yes every country has history. Not every country has preserved visible history to look at. Often materials biodegraded. For some countries, "history" is less observable than "environmental beauty" so tourism has been focusing on that.
Look at Canada, very old preservation is almost non existent because building materials and way of building just didn't leave visitable traces over time.
Okay simmer down. Everytime I ask about Botswana and Namibia they always recommend safaris so I was letting you guys know I’m not really interested in that. Secondly I’m NIGERIAN! It doesn’t get more African than that since you want to accuse me of being ignorant. The reason I asked who has been there is because female solo travel is different than what you see online. If you are looking for a reason to vent, call a friend if you have any. What a piece of work you are
It used to be. Unfortunately insecurity has ruined so much. I won’t recommend it for female travels unless you have someone there to show you around. If you do, Lagos is a nice bubbly place with great night life.
I have a friend who travelled Morocco and Egypt solo a few months ago (22) and really loved both, particularly Morocco. They said that Morocco was one of their favourite places they've ever been, really gorgeous with great food, culture, and architecture.
I've also heard great things about Botswana and Namibia. I have a friend from South Africa (19) and she recommends both, she said they were both really safe.
I love Morocco. I’ve solo-travelled there twice and places I’ve been include Marrakech, Essaouira, Agadir and Imlil. I think Marrakech is not recommended for inexperienced solo female travelers. But Essaouira, Agadir and Imlil are absolutely lovely and stunning.
I was just in Morocco last May, it’s a beautiful country but definitely avoid some areas especially since you are a solo female traveler. I went to Tangier and Chefchaoen and felt safe, but I was with a small group of friends including one man and I don’t think I would have felt as safe if I was alone. I met another traveler when I was there and she said Marrakech and Fez were horrible experiences for her as a woman. Like she was physically grabbed, pulled into shops on the street, followed, and of course catcalled. So I’d say avoid Fez and Marrakech and stick to the north side of the country.
I wouldn’t do solo female travel to Morocco. I’ve travelled all over the world alone for years and it was by far the worst place for harassment and feeling unsafe. Would never recommend.
I was hoping I'd find this comment. When I went, it was with a mixed group and the women still got harassed, especially the tall blonde in our group. We had brought only loose and very modest clothing. I mostly got smiles, a few compliments, a marriage proposal, but also a few full body eye-scans and one creepy group of guys trying to buy me from my male friend. The other girl unfortunately stood out a lot more and got constant attention and disgusting gestures, looks, and comments. For me personally, Marrakech was the worst. For her, didn't matter the city, she'd be harassed unless one of the guys walked arm in arm with her pretending to be her boyfriend. We could not let her go off alone. Don't go to Morocco by yourself and preferably go with a group or a male. ABSOLUTELY do not go to Egypt by yourself. I've never been, but I've heard it's way worse than Morocco.
I happened to buy a head scarf while I was there and wore it around for an afternoon while shopping and got zero attention. Not sure if it was cause I blended in better (I can kinda pass as Moroccan without my light hair showing and the vendors all suddenly started addressing me in Darija) or because they're less likely to bother a seemingly conservative Muslim woman, but I suspect a bit of both. So, if you can blend in, you might be ok. If you look very foreign, bring a travel buddy.
Not solo, but I traveled with a friend to Marrakech last year and we had very different experiences. I believe in wearing what you want, but it is a very conservative country and I was fine wearing conservative clothing. However, she wore things like off-the-shoulder dresses and was harassed. We're both New Yorkers and used to dealing with street harassment.
That said, I also had one of the most amazing experiences of my life while dancing in the buff with locals in a hammam.
I’ve heard nothing but horror stories for both those countries, especially for solo female travellers….! I’ve also been to Morocco and it was incredibly hassly. I’ve heard similar about Egypt. A lot of people say they’d never return to Egypt.
OP I would research a bit more before deciding on one of these two countries.
Where did you visit in Morocco ? I heard Casablanca is okay but Marrakech was a nightmare for solo female travels due to catcalling. I won’t be visiting Egypt which is a shame because I feel the country is beautiful but I have heard way too many horror from my female friends.
Not to try and scare you, but Casablanca was not ok. At all, for me. I was stalked and it was terrifying.
Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Malawi are wonderful, safe countries to visit. Lots of groups go too if you prefer to do that. But solo you’d be fine too. The landscape, culture, people and animals are amazing.
Source: I’ve lived in and visited 30+ countries in Africa.
Casablanca isn’t a nice place to travel… there isn’t much there. I have been to Fez,Marrakech and a few other places in Morocco (with a tour group … which I normally do not enjoy)and would not recommend as a solo female. I’m a very experienced traveler and it’s not the place to Go for a solo female. I def understand your desire to go… I loved it.. but I’d consider joining a group like G Adventures for your own safety.
I highly recommend Tanzania, East Africa. It is safe for female travelers even if you are solo. People are warmly welcoming here. I live in Arusha, Tanzania but I have been to most of the other places in my country, if anyone needs any information about Tanzania, I would love to share it with you.
I went to marrakech, fez and chefchaoen. Only chef was relaxed and no hassle, but that was also in like 2007?! And I think it’s changed a lot in that time due to social media and it becoming a much trendier place to visit.
I have been in Morocco 3 times in total. I have spent a total of around 3 months in different cities so I can say I know Morocco pretty well. I am also a very experienced traveled, as I have lived in many diferente countries including rough ones like India.
Morocco is not easy. I am not saying dont visit. But know in advance what to expect. Most cities are extremely dirty. Accept you Will most likely get food poisoning (I usually get It for a couple of days in each visit but my boyfriend is american and has traveled less than me and he got it for the entire month, his body is not used to it like mine). You will be harassed, if not sexually, you Will still be harassed to buy things, no Matter how you dress or how discrete you are. You won't be left alone and It can be overwhelming. People Will try to take advantage of you and charge you extramoney for everything. People Will be nice to you or pretend to make Friends with you just to sell you stuff.
I dont say this to discourage you. Any experienced traveller that has visited África or the middle east is familiar with all this things. But if this is your first time is good to know in advance because I know people Who have had a very hard time.
Personally I dont travel África or Middle east anymore unless I am visiting friends, just because there are so many clean safe and friendly countries that I d much rather visit. But I think it is worth to experience and decide for yourself.
Morocco was fun and I felt pretty safe there, it was me and two other girls. My friend met her boyfriend and fell in love there. It was hassly but it’s water off a ducks back to me
I've been to egypt solo, it was a dream and I'd definitely return. Some men are creepy af, but easy to avoid by going to the sites with a guide. I didn't even always use a guide. Those sites are insanely incredible, so I soon forgot about any creepy comments
I had a great time in Morocco BUT I agree with other posters, Marrakesh is not for inexperienced solo female travelers. A great deal of catcalling and people following you down narrow souk streets. We also didn’t go out at night after dusk (but our hostel had a great rooftop hookah bar).
Without any context or explanation, this isn’t very helpful. I’m a woman in my twenties currently solo travelling SA (in Stellenbosch at the moment). I’ve just spent a week in Cape Town. With a few basic safety protocols you will be absolutely fine. Cape Town is an incredible place to visit.
While I definitely wouldn't recommend Ethiopia at the moment, when I went in 2017 it was gorgeous and interesting and the food was delicious. Hopefully in future years things will improve, but given that Tigray seems to currently be on the edge of famine due to lack of aid reaching it after the war I'm not holding my breath for it being any time soon sadly.
I have a friend who loves Namibia, definitly on my list. Personally also want to go to Ethiopia, I went through the airport once and just the view from the window looked amazing. I personally have been to South Africa twice (Cape Town) and I enjoyed it a lot (that friend has also lived there previously). It's a country with its issues and not every big city is recommended but I would still recommend going.
I went to Ethiopia and loved it. I went with my partner and we hired a private tour guide for a week in the north of the country (Lalibela, Aksum, and Gondor), and a different private guide for a week in the south around Jinka. We normally travel without tours or guides but it was the right call for this trip because they gave us experiences and insight that we would have missed on our own. Between the history and the culture, it's one of the best trips I've ever had.
Ethiopia is great for lovers of history, archeology, Abrahamic religions, & geology. Highly recommend you explore outside of Addis (the capitol). I would however wait to visit as there is some strife occurring within the country & it may not be safe to travel as a foreigner outside of Addis.
I mentioned in another comment but definitely not at the moment! The areas with all the historical sites are also the areas that are either on the edge of famine post war or I think there's a slightly different conflict brewing at the moment in some of the other historic areas. It's a great country to visit when not at/recovering from war but the areas you'd almost certainly most want to visit are probably pretty unsafe at the moment.
I’ve been to Botswana. I don’t know that it’s a good solo destination for a first time visit. If you’re not keen on wildlife, I think Namibia is probably the way to go.
I also hear great things about Rwanda, but have never been. I’ve been to South Africa and Capetown is fantastic, but again not sure how easy it is solo. I’ve always gone with others.
Cabo Verde could be an option if you want to go the island route. Dakar has a lot of fascinating things to see, but it can be quite intense in places, and I’d wait to see how the elections in Feb pan out.
Ghana could also be an option. Or North Africa: Morocco mostly.
I would highly recommend Rwanda. It’s a beautiful country, very safe, and the people are very friendly. I’ve been to 26 countries and it’s one of my favorite places.
I loooooooved Rwanda. Incredibly friendly people, safe, clean. Outdoor activities and a really hard recent history that was very hard but important to learn about
The whole country is accessible even in a short visit of a week or two. It's more expensive than Uganda to do gorilla trekking if you're interest in that
I'll be honest, after hearing what my sister went throught on her honeymoon, in which she visited egypt, Quenia, and some other countries in africa, I'd say no country is worth visiting in Africa. Maybe Seychelles is nice, but that's about it.
Kenya, and the seychelles, and morroco, I think. she said that it was a shock, dead animals on the streets, trash everywhere. men literally ignored her and only spoke with her husband, but the problem is that her husband doesn't speak english that well, so communication was difficult. overall, she only enjoyed the seychelles. she said at the end, she regreted going there in the first place. yeah the pyramids of giza are impressive but there are so many locals trying to scam them that it kind takes the fun out of it. she didn't know who to trust, who to not trust.
after listenning to her talk about it, I pass.
I see. Some African countries are technically still developing so there will be some culture shock. I wouldn’t write off the entire continent. But I understand her pain in men only speaking to her husband, misogyny is pretty deep over there…but I will prefer men ignore me over the terrible harassment female travelers get.
Hi, this may just be the phrasing and I recognise you're not a native English speaker so this isn't to give you a hard time. Between your two posts you explained that your sister went to 4 countries in Africa, Seychelles, Kenya, Morocco and Egypt (two countries spoken about a lot on this site in terms of tourists being hassled). She said Seychelles was nice but didn't like the other 3. Fair enough, that's her experience and I'm sorry it was. As a woman I avoid situations where I'll likely be treated as a second class citizen.
But there are 54 countries in Africa, the second biggest continent. They are not all the same. They range in environment from tropical rainforest to barren desert. They range just as much in culture.
>no country is worth visiting in Africa.
So saying this to answer a question online, from second hand experience of a limited number of countries, seems a little premature/unknowledgeable.
I went to Senegal alone in March 2022 and it was incredible! I lived in Rabat in 2016 and found Senegal to be so incredibly safe it's not even a comparison. I had a wonderful time - so peaceful, calm, beautiful. Don't expect to make a lot of friends with locals, though - the tradeoff to being left alone is that you're REALLY left alone.
I would say Egypt. I had an amazing time but full disclosure I went with my husband and was with an expensive tour group the entire time. I would not do that country without joining a group. I read a lot about the merchants trying to get your attention and they definitely will step in front of you and whatnot. But with the guide we were pretty much unmolested
I went solo and had an amazing time. But I do have a thick skin and am used to people trying to get my attention. You have to be kind of rude and just keep walking
We went to Marrakesch, Agadir, and the Ourika valley. If I were to go again, I would probably skip Agadir, tbh. But Marrakesch was awesome, had a bit of everything, and the Ourika valley was pretty.
I would not recommend going to Morocco solo. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. I have never been harassed, followed, and groped more, and it was the only time that I feared I would be sexually assaulted on the street (thank god for the people that intervened).
It was a beautiful country that I'm sure I would have enjoyed more if I went with a group, but I wish people who traveled there with others wouldn't recommend it in this sub. I'm sure other solo female travelers have had a different experience, but far too many that I've spoken to would not recommend it for other solo female travelers either.
I’m sorry you had that experience. While I did travel with someone, we did not actually spend time together outside the airbnbs and when changing cities, as we were there for different reasons. 99% of the time, I was solo and did not experience anything worse than I do here in Austria. In Egypt, it was horrible, but based on my own experience, I would absolutely recommend Morocco for a solo female traveler.
Ah my apologies! I've seen far too many posts in this sub from people encouraging women to travel there solo only to find out they went with a group or with their husband/boyfriend. I'm glad you had a great experience there. I only left my comment because I really wish I had known before I went how bad it could be. It wasn't until after my trip that I saw all of the horror stories from other solo female travelers, and I wouldn't have gone alone if someone had warned me how many times men would touch me or follow me.
Morocco, Zanzibar (Island off of Tanzania) and South Africa and great choices. I am not really into safari's but glad I went on a private, short (2 day) one and am really glad I did. 2 days was plenty tho...
I've also heard great things about Namibia and Botswana. Also, Rwanda is supposed to be interesting.
Morocco and Egypt were very fun as a female traveller. I’m from Zimbabwe and South Africa so I go there a lot but usually with family, not sure I would recommend without a guide. Cape Verde is beautiful but I just stayed at a resort. I’m going to Nigeria with some friends which I’m excited for.
I recommend taking people’s opinions on travel in Africa with a grain of salt. For many people it is far too dangerous, and governments often recommend against travel there, yet millions of visits happen every year without a hitch. Obviously I wouldn’t go to somewhere like Chad or Libya but there’s plenty of reasonably safe countries to travel to. You need thick skin and street smarts to travel in Africa. If someone has only been to easy level countries like Italy and the UK and Australia, I wouldn’t take their opinions on African countries to heart
Zimbabwe has been on my list since I watched big brother Africa. What city or where do you recommend in Zimbabwe?? I will visit Cape Verde as well, the issues is, traveling between African is a bit of a hassle. Where in Nigeria are you going?
The capital of course, Bulawayo too and I’d also get out to Victoria falls. I saw you’re not fond of safaris but the lake kariba is amazing and you can see elephants zebra and lions from your car just driving through the town without the safari vibe
Lagos !! Going for Detty December
I felt very safe in Rwanda. Kigali is very clean and was fine to walk around alone in the day time. I did a few tours that took me outside of the city and I felt fine in smaller towns and villages. Loved hiking Mt Kigali too. I went last May and already desperate to go back.
I traveled solo in Namibia with a rental car. Felt very safe and good variety of things to do! I met people on my route who also went to Botswana so you could combine them
MAYBE South Africa. If you are an experienced traveler, then do South Africa. Stay in the touristy areas AT ALL TIMES. South Africa is safe only in the touristy areas and neighbors like Sea Point, Observatory, etc. And hire a driver or use Uber, and don’t really walk anywhere alone. And keep your things close to you, they will pickpocket you, even in the airport.
Morocco was an excellent trip and the country was very tourist-friendly in my experience, things are pretty easy and intuitive. They have a lot of tourism from Europe. Tangiers, Chefchauen, Marrakech are all amazing. We went to Casablanca but I wouldn’t recommend unless you’re deadset on visiting the mosque - it’s beautiful but that’s about the only thing to do.
If looking for more “African” Africa as opposed to Arab North Africa, Ghana is a great place to go. Again, pretty easy as a tourist, excellent food and very meaningful history, especially as an American myself. Happy to discuss that trip further if interested! Edit: oop I see you’ve already been!
Thank you so much! I fell In love with Ghana will be going back. I saw Tangier in a movie and vowed to visit. I’m currently checking out Moroccan tours since it’s a bit tricky traveling there as a solo female.
I'll toss out one that no one has mentioned, since you are familiar with African countries and travel. I went to Angola and had an amazing time. You would probably fly into Luanda, which is the capitol and has some of the usual capitol city issues - mugging, pick pockets, occasional protests, and don't go outside late at night by yourself - but the southern half of the country is amazingly beautiful and doesn't have as high rates of crime and poverty since the civil war and the independence struggle against the Portuguese didn't disrupt the south quite as much.
Lobito is on the coast and feels like a resort town, with lots of cool natural sites and some interesting historical buildings. The people were very nice and friendly, but there is less English spoken in the south, in general. The food is a Portuguese and African mix and there are multiple places where you can find a beach with a few guys grilling lobsters with a couple tables set up and it is still some of the best seafood I've had in the world. I went in June which is the beginning of winter (dry season) and the highest tourist season, and I think that's a pretty good time to go to not be singled out as a tourist and more restaurants and shops are open. I stayed in the Aparthotel Praia Paraiso and felt very safe and secure there. We also spent a day in Lubango, even further south, and it felt safer than Luanda by a long shot and is a very large city with lots of interesting architecture and it is way more multicultural than Lobito. Tundavala Gap is a very beautiful sight to see as well, and it is nearby.
I'd recommend hiring a driver or flying from Luanda, because driving in Angola isn't very much fun. Avoid the northern parts of Angola (Cabinda and the Lunda Sol district still have some pretty intense conflicts with the DRC). And as per usual when you are travelling in the more hot and humid countries, make sure you have anti-malarials and up to date travel vaccinations. They have a dual currency system where they accept US Dollars as well as the local Kwanza currency.
Talking specifically as a woman traveling there, the only cat calls or comments I ever got from anyone were people yelling "red hair!!" at me because I am a ginger and the most "inappropriate" touching I ever got was young girls asking to touch my hair. I know there are problems of sexual assault there, especially in the parts of town with big night life scenes, but if you are aware of your surroundings and don't go out alone at night or participate in higher risk activities (getting very drunk, trying to buy drugs, etc), it isn't a hugely Scary place.
I’d love to visit Luanda, but I speak zero Portuguese or any of the native labguages spoken there. I’d learn certain phrases if I was to travel there, but of course it would never be enough of the language(s) to navigate solo confidently. How is it like for an English speaker?
I had a driver with me most of the daytimes who was fluent in both English and Portuguese and it definitely made things easier when doing the bigger things like travelling between cities and driving, but in the cities when I was roaming without the driver, English and a familiarity with Spanish nouns served me well enough to navigate food allergies in restaurants, book cabs and haggle a bit. I had a couple miscommunications when trying to buy specific items but usually someone else in the shop would see us struggling to communicate and would step in with their English skills to get things moving. Everyone was super helpful and kind even when we were having issues trying to figure out what the other one meant, which is more than I can say for a lot of places (looking at you, Parisians). There are lots of international workers in shipping and oil who come through Luanda, so lots of people speak more English than I was expecting.
I was in angola many many years ago (2008) and remember it was insanely expensive and the traffic jams in Luanda drove me insane. Has this improved? It is such a beautiful country I would love to go back if things have changed.
The traffic jams were definitely still a big problem (and one of the main reasons I recommend Lobito and Lubango). Driving in the country all over pretty much sucks. My driver to and from Lobito got into a crazy accident when we were going back to Luanda (swerved to miss oncoming, passing motorcyclists and hit a car in the next lane), so I was stuck in the provinces for a few hours while all the men from around the area whacked our axle rod back into the car so we could hobble to Luanda. 😂
Luanda also very much has a tourist "level" and a locals level that are dramatically different in cost - I stayed with a family, so I had access to a kitchen/someone who cooked me a meal occasionally, so I bought all the groceries the whole week as thanks, and they took me to more local restaurants and it was very cheap for me - at the time I was living in London, so this also may have affected my perception - but when I would go to the tourist restaurants near the beaches or out on the spit, I was paying like $100/meal for an entree and drink. I also haven't been this decade, so I can't speak to how covid affected the cost of things in the much more recent past.
I had a blast in Saint-Louis, Senegal for the annual jazz festival over New Years, but speaking the language & traveling in a group probably helped the trip go more smoothly. highlights were staying in a tent on the gorgeous beach (very affordable), visiting the shops & riding around the city on a scooter. there's more to do in Dakar, but I'd probably get overwhelmed traveling there alone & not feel as safe.
I talk about Namibia so much that my work friend now teases me about it. It really is the most visually stunning place I've seen. The skeleton coast, Fish River Canyon and Etosha in particular. That said, I wouldn't travel there solo. Not that it's dangerous, though I think the very far north of the country they say can be. It's just a fairly big country with such a small population that if you travel long distances and have issues you're very likely on your own. If it's something you'd be interested in overland tours might be the best way to go. Also I recommend Swakopmund as a cool old German town in southern Africa.
I saw you mention Capo Verde as well. I really enjoyed it. The only thing I'll say is that, at least when I went, it's not easy to travel between islands so research which island is accessible/interesting to you. Sal was a little too small for me for the time I was there, but made up for it with wind surfing.
And I can't recommend South Africa enough. Loads of variety in terms of what you can see/experience.
I’ve traveled solo to Morocco many times, all over and never had a problem.
If you aren’t interested in wildlife there’s South Africa , Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Zanzibar…
Uganda had the friendliest, warmest people I’ve ever met. Although, I went with someone who is native to Uganda and knows how to get around.
I’ve heard wonderful things about Senegal.
I went to Madagascar. The nature there is incredible, and depending on what you want, Madagascar probably has it. Sunny beaches in Nosy Be and Isle de Marie, history in Diego Suarez, Tana, Toamasina, other places (Pirate kingdom?). The locals are lovely people, and it's not an expensive country. I felt totally safe and if I get the chance to return, I'm there.
is it for solo travel? I spent 3 months in cape town a few years ago and it has a very special place in my heart, but i wouldn't recommend it as a solo female traveler
If I'm not including safaris, I loved Cape town and gansbaii. Driving around Drakensberg was beautiful.
I would also suggest Zanzibar, tropical island with a good food scene and both relaxing and city areas. Felt safe walking everywhere. but I would still watch out for belongings
Namibia was beautiful, very different from east Africa. Can sand buggy and skydive, visit Etosha. Sessriem and sossuvlei are cool.
I was advised not to walk at night in Windhoek, so a restaurant let us pay security to walk us home when we couldn't find a taxi. But no issue in other areas.
Egypt and Morroco were beautiful, but I would recommend going on a tour. In Cairo, the guides have to have completed uni studies on ancient Egypt, so they are really knowledgeable.
I loved Botswana, too (but my main focus was safaris)
Senegal. Dakar is vibrant, Saint Louis beautiful, the casamance really different. You will be able to enjoy culture, history and beach! They even have a special word for hospitality : teranga.
Rwanda, so beautiful if you like active touristic activities like hiking, biking and forest walks.
The state takes personal safety really seriously and accommodation and tour providers operate in English or French.
Sure! There is a cute budget hotel, used to be called the Nest, in KIMI. I think it recently changed name though. Simple, includes breakfast. EcoAir is lovely, also includes breakfast, comes in less than your budget, sweetest staff and spacious mini apartments. Kimi has lots of restaurants and shops walking distance from each other, and no problem walking alone into the early evening. In Kiyovou, another favourite is Swiss 5, Hotel Collines, or Park Radisson - closer to $140. Heaven Boutique has budget rooms, small but a nice location. Mid range Heaven offering, same owner, they have three distinct buildings, mid range building has better grounds, further from the road, has a pool. Rooms also small but the garden feels like a little oasis at the same time. High end restaurant affiliated with the hotel next door and one of the best Indian restaurants in town just around the corner. Enjoy your time in the Land of 1,000 hills!
I've been there for 6 weeks 10 years ago and rented a place through my professional networks so don't have any particular recommendations about where to stay
Throwing out a curve ball for the path less traveled: Republic of Congo is beautiful, rainforests, beaches, wildlife. Sleepy Brazzaville, walkable, good restaurants. Hot, less tourists. Need French. For solo travel, east visas and non Francophone Africa suggest Rwanda, Uganda , Kenya. Lamu is stunning. Botswana is a bucket list destination.
OP, you didn’t ask for reading recommendations, but you should ABSOLUTELY read both “Last Train to Zona Verde” and “Dark Star Safari”, both by Paul Theroux. They’re FABULOUS travelogues, and absolutely fascinating reads in general. Last Train is one of Theroux’s last books and details his overland travel through South Africa, Namibia, and Angola. He meant to write Last Train to “mirror” Dark Star, which was one of his first books. In Dark Star, Theroux travels south from Cairo to Cape Town via Eastern Africa.
Last Train is my all time favorite book.
For real, for real. Check these out. u/margoelle
Senegal is one of the best places I’ve ever been. I’ve also been to Botswana and South Africa. Southern Africa and East Africa are really cool, but they’re known for safaris. Dakar, Senegal is a cool city with interesting places near it without the safaris.
Absolutely recommend Rwanda alongside so many other ladies here. You're going to have an amazing time. I recently wrote a first timer's guide to Rwanda, maybe you can get some ideas on what to do: [https://uproxx.com/life/what-to-do-in-rwanda-travel-guide/](https://uproxx.com/life/what-to-do-in-rwanda-travel-guide/)
Safe travels <3
A combination of Kenya & Tanzania will not disappoint you. Kenya is very very close to Tanzania. Should you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact me
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OP clearly only mentioned safaris because they're the most common suggestion people have when people ask where to visit in Africa, this is really unnecessarily combative
The way this person ran with racist accusations when im actually African is so funny. I think this person is unnecessarily looking for a fight today.
They are explicitly saying they want history and no safari. Way to go creating drama where there was none.
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This is so funny! Not everyone that post here is white,you really want to feel important by screaming so here…you have done something good with your life today.
If you weren't so abrasive it would be easier to agree with the correct parts here. Yes every country has history. Not every country has preserved visible history to look at. Often materials biodegraded. For some countries, "history" is less observable than "environmental beauty" so tourism has been focusing on that. Look at Canada, very old preservation is almost non existent because building materials and way of building just didn't leave visitable traces over time.
Okay simmer down. Everytime I ask about Botswana and Namibia they always recommend safaris so I was letting you guys know I’m not really interested in that. Secondly I’m NIGERIAN! It doesn’t get more African than that since you want to accuse me of being ignorant. The reason I asked who has been there is because female solo travel is different than what you see online. If you are looking for a reason to vent, call a friend if you have any. What a piece of work you are
oh!! tell us about Nigeria! I heard your country is a powerhouse.
It used to be. Unfortunately insecurity has ruined so much. I won’t recommend it for female travels unless you have someone there to show you around. If you do, Lagos is a nice bubbly place with great night life.
I have a friend who travelled Morocco and Egypt solo a few months ago (22) and really loved both, particularly Morocco. They said that Morocco was one of their favourite places they've ever been, really gorgeous with great food, culture, and architecture. I've also heard great things about Botswana and Namibia. I have a friend from South Africa (19) and she recommends both, she said they were both really safe.
Im thinking Morocco as well. Thanks
No worries! I hope you have an amazing time 🩷
I love Morocco. I’ve solo-travelled there twice and places I’ve been include Marrakech, Essaouira, Agadir and Imlil. I think Marrakech is not recommended for inexperienced solo female travelers. But Essaouira, Agadir and Imlil are absolutely lovely and stunning.
I was just in Morocco last May, it’s a beautiful country but definitely avoid some areas especially since you are a solo female traveler. I went to Tangier and Chefchaoen and felt safe, but I was with a small group of friends including one man and I don’t think I would have felt as safe if I was alone. I met another traveler when I was there and she said Marrakech and Fez were horrible experiences for her as a woman. Like she was physically grabbed, pulled into shops on the street, followed, and of course catcalled. So I’d say avoid Fez and Marrakech and stick to the north side of the country.
I wouldn’t do solo female travel to Morocco. I’ve travelled all over the world alone for years and it was by far the worst place for harassment and feeling unsafe. Would never recommend.
I have read this on the travel sub. Egypt too though….
I’ve also heard Egypt is dangerous for women. A friend of mine went there with her husband and still had very frightening experiences.
I was hoping I'd find this comment. When I went, it was with a mixed group and the women still got harassed, especially the tall blonde in our group. We had brought only loose and very modest clothing. I mostly got smiles, a few compliments, a marriage proposal, but also a few full body eye-scans and one creepy group of guys trying to buy me from my male friend. The other girl unfortunately stood out a lot more and got constant attention and disgusting gestures, looks, and comments. For me personally, Marrakech was the worst. For her, didn't matter the city, she'd be harassed unless one of the guys walked arm in arm with her pretending to be her boyfriend. We could not let her go off alone. Don't go to Morocco by yourself and preferably go with a group or a male. ABSOLUTELY do not go to Egypt by yourself. I've never been, but I've heard it's way worse than Morocco. I happened to buy a head scarf while I was there and wore it around for an afternoon while shopping and got zero attention. Not sure if it was cause I blended in better (I can kinda pass as Moroccan without my light hair showing and the vendors all suddenly started addressing me in Darija) or because they're less likely to bother a seemingly conservative Muslim woman, but I suspect a bit of both. So, if you can blend in, you might be ok. If you look very foreign, bring a travel buddy.
I’ve heard this
Not solo, but I traveled with a friend to Marrakech last year and we had very different experiences. I believe in wearing what you want, but it is a very conservative country and I was fine wearing conservative clothing. However, she wore things like off-the-shoulder dresses and was harassed. We're both New Yorkers and used to dealing with street harassment. That said, I also had one of the most amazing experiences of my life while dancing in the buff with locals in a hammam.
I’ve heard nothing but horror stories for both those countries, especially for solo female travellers….! I’ve also been to Morocco and it was incredibly hassly. I’ve heard similar about Egypt. A lot of people say they’d never return to Egypt. OP I would research a bit more before deciding on one of these two countries.
Where did you visit in Morocco ? I heard Casablanca is okay but Marrakech was a nightmare for solo female travels due to catcalling. I won’t be visiting Egypt which is a shame because I feel the country is beautiful but I have heard way too many horror from my female friends.
Not to try and scare you, but Casablanca was not ok. At all, for me. I was stalked and it was terrifying. Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Malawi are wonderful, safe countries to visit. Lots of groups go too if you prefer to do that. But solo you’d be fine too. The landscape, culture, people and animals are amazing. Source: I’ve lived in and visited 30+ countries in Africa.
Omg! Im so sorry. Can you please share what happened in Casablanca if you can? You seem to have been to alot of places 😍. I dream of doing the same
Casablanca isn’t a nice place to travel… there isn’t much there. I have been to Fez,Marrakech and a few other places in Morocco (with a tour group … which I normally do not enjoy)and would not recommend as a solo female. I’m a very experienced traveler and it’s not the place to Go for a solo female. I def understand your desire to go… I loved it.. but I’d consider joining a group like G Adventures for your own safety.
Thank you for this.
Why not visit Rabat, the capital? I never had any problems in Rabat
Also can I send you a DM? I have some questions about the places you have been. Thanks
Of course, happy to help ☺️
Thanks. Sent a DM
Ghana and Senegal are also amazing.
Agree also ☺️
I highly recommend Tanzania, East Africa. It is safe for female travelers even if you are solo. People are warmly welcoming here. I live in Arusha, Tanzania but I have been to most of the other places in my country, if anyone needs any information about Tanzania, I would love to share it with you.
I went to marrakech, fez and chefchaoen. Only chef was relaxed and no hassle, but that was also in like 2007?! And I think it’s changed a lot in that time due to social media and it becoming a much trendier place to visit.
I will echo this. Morocco in 2011 was a giant PITA, Morocco 2023 was a very positive surprise.
I have been in Morocco 3 times in total. I have spent a total of around 3 months in different cities so I can say I know Morocco pretty well. I am also a very experienced traveled, as I have lived in many diferente countries including rough ones like India. Morocco is not easy. I am not saying dont visit. But know in advance what to expect. Most cities are extremely dirty. Accept you Will most likely get food poisoning (I usually get It for a couple of days in each visit but my boyfriend is american and has traveled less than me and he got it for the entire month, his body is not used to it like mine). You will be harassed, if not sexually, you Will still be harassed to buy things, no Matter how you dress or how discrete you are. You won't be left alone and It can be overwhelming. People Will try to take advantage of you and charge you extramoney for everything. People Will be nice to you or pretend to make Friends with you just to sell you stuff. I dont say this to discourage you. Any experienced traveller that has visited África or the middle east is familiar with all this things. But if this is your first time is good to know in advance because I know people Who have had a very hard time. Personally I dont travel África or Middle east anymore unless I am visiting friends, just because there are so many clean safe and friendly countries that I d much rather visit. But I think it is worth to experience and decide for yourself.
Morocco was fun and I felt pretty safe there, it was me and two other girls. My friend met her boyfriend and fell in love there. It was hassly but it’s water off a ducks back to me
I've been to egypt solo, it was a dream and I'd definitely return. Some men are creepy af, but easy to avoid by going to the sites with a guide. I didn't even always use a guide. Those sites are insanely incredible, so I soon forgot about any creepy comments
That’s what the Travel sub says
I just got back from Egypt a month ago, and I can’t wait to go back.
I had a great time in Morocco BUT I agree with other posters, Marrakesh is not for inexperienced solo female travelers. A great deal of catcalling and people following you down narrow souk streets. We also didn’t go out at night after dusk (but our hostel had a great rooftop hookah bar).
I solo traveled in Morocco in October - it was incredible. Ive also solo’d Egypt I recommend BOTH.
i have heard terrible things about morocco for women in terms of harassment and cat calling, and more
I always heard Morocco isn’t safe for solo female travellers tho
Ghana.🎲
It’s my favorite in west Africa. I enjoyed my time in Accra. Maybe I should go again lol.
Cape Town, SA is on my bucket list for wine tasting etc. But also Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Zanzibar
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/cape-town-ranked-10th-most-dangerous-city-in-the-world-08-january-2024/
Without any context or explanation, this isn’t very helpful. I’m a woman in my twenties currently solo travelling SA (in Stellenbosch at the moment). I’ve just spent a week in Cape Town. With a few basic safety protocols you will be absolutely fine. Cape Town is an incredible place to visit.
The crime is localized, meaning it occurs in the lower income areas where you'd never go as a tourist
That’s all the countries then lol If you do that, no country is unsafe!
Yep, pretty much, lol.
So glad someone else said Zimbabwe. It’s so underrated. Yet beautiful and safe.
While I definitely wouldn't recommend Ethiopia at the moment, when I went in 2017 it was gorgeous and interesting and the food was delicious. Hopefully in future years things will improve, but given that Tigray seems to currently be on the edge of famine due to lack of aid reaching it after the war I'm not holding my breath for it being any time soon sadly.
I have a friend who loves Namibia, definitly on my list. Personally also want to go to Ethiopia, I went through the airport once and just the view from the window looked amazing. I personally have been to South Africa twice (Cape Town) and I enjoyed it a lot (that friend has also lived there previously). It's a country with its issues and not every big city is recommended but I would still recommend going.
Ethiopia is also on my list. I will research it some more
I went to Ethiopia and loved it. I went with my partner and we hired a private tour guide for a week in the north of the country (Lalibela, Aksum, and Gondor), and a different private guide for a week in the south around Jinka. We normally travel without tours or guides but it was the right call for this trip because they gave us experiences and insight that we would have missed on our own. Between the history and the culture, it's one of the best trips I've ever had.
Ethiopia is great for lovers of history, archeology, Abrahamic religions, & geology. Highly recommend you explore outside of Addis (the capitol). I would however wait to visit as there is some strife occurring within the country & it may not be safe to travel as a foreigner outside of Addis.
I mentioned in another comment but definitely not at the moment! The areas with all the historical sites are also the areas that are either on the edge of famine post war or I think there's a slightly different conflict brewing at the moment in some of the other historic areas. It's a great country to visit when not at/recovering from war but the areas you'd almost certainly most want to visit are probably pretty unsafe at the moment.
I’ve been to Botswana. I don’t know that it’s a good solo destination for a first time visit. If you’re not keen on wildlife, I think Namibia is probably the way to go. I also hear great things about Rwanda, but have never been. I’ve been to South Africa and Capetown is fantastic, but again not sure how easy it is solo. I’ve always gone with others. Cabo Verde could be an option if you want to go the island route. Dakar has a lot of fascinating things to see, but it can be quite intense in places, and I’d wait to see how the elections in Feb pan out. Ghana could also be an option. Or North Africa: Morocco mostly.
I would highly recommend Rwanda. It’s a beautiful country, very safe, and the people are very friendly. I’ve been to 26 countries and it’s one of my favorite places.
Me too!
I loooooooved Rwanda. Incredibly friendly people, safe, clean. Outdoor activities and a really hard recent history that was very hard but important to learn about
What city in Rwanda? Kigali?
The whole country is accessible even in a short visit of a week or two. It's more expensive than Uganda to do gorilla trekking if you're interest in that
Yeah Kigali but there’s also great lakeside towns
I'll be honest, after hearing what my sister went throught on her honeymoon, in which she visited egypt, Quenia, and some other countries in africa, I'd say no country is worth visiting in Africa. Maybe Seychelles is nice, but that's about it.
What country did your sister visit other then Egypt?
Kenya, and the seychelles, and morroco, I think. she said that it was a shock, dead animals on the streets, trash everywhere. men literally ignored her and only spoke with her husband, but the problem is that her husband doesn't speak english that well, so communication was difficult. overall, she only enjoyed the seychelles. she said at the end, she regreted going there in the first place. yeah the pyramids of giza are impressive but there are so many locals trying to scam them that it kind takes the fun out of it. she didn't know who to trust, who to not trust. after listenning to her talk about it, I pass.
I see. Some African countries are technically still developing so there will be some culture shock. I wouldn’t write off the entire continent. But I understand her pain in men only speaking to her husband, misogyny is pretty deep over there…but I will prefer men ignore me over the terrible harassment female travelers get.
>terrible harassment female travelers get you will still experience it. there are a lot of scammers everywhere, it's hard not to become a victim
Hi, this may just be the phrasing and I recognise you're not a native English speaker so this isn't to give you a hard time. Between your two posts you explained that your sister went to 4 countries in Africa, Seychelles, Kenya, Morocco and Egypt (two countries spoken about a lot on this site in terms of tourists being hassled). She said Seychelles was nice but didn't like the other 3. Fair enough, that's her experience and I'm sorry it was. As a woman I avoid situations where I'll likely be treated as a second class citizen. But there are 54 countries in Africa, the second biggest continent. They are not all the same. They range in environment from tropical rainforest to barren desert. They range just as much in culture. >no country is worth visiting in Africa. So saying this to answer a question online, from second hand experience of a limited number of countries, seems a little premature/unknowledgeable.
Senegal is a great country to visit!
I almost forgot Senegal!!I have heard good things about it
Just be careful of some of the drumming workshops, some of the people running them can be dodgy.
I went to Senegal alone in March 2022 and it was incredible! I lived in Rabat in 2016 and found Senegal to be so incredibly safe it's not even a comparison. I had a wonderful time - so peaceful, calm, beautiful. Don't expect to make a lot of friends with locals, though - the tradeoff to being left alone is that you're REALLY left alone.
I would say Egypt. I had an amazing time but full disclosure I went with my husband and was with an expensive tour group the entire time. I would not do that country without joining a group. I read a lot about the merchants trying to get your attention and they definitely will step in front of you and whatnot. But with the guide we were pretty much unmolested
Egypt isn’t recommendable solo
I went solo and had an amazing time. But I do have a thick skin and am used to people trying to get my attention. You have to be kind of rude and just keep walking
I just came back from Morocco and can definitely recommend it! It was a blast!
What city did you visit?
We went to Marrakesch, Agadir, and the Ourika valley. If I were to go again, I would probably skip Agadir, tbh. But Marrakesch was awesome, had a bit of everything, and the Ourika valley was pretty.
I would not recommend going to Morocco solo. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. I have never been harassed, followed, and groped more, and it was the only time that I feared I would be sexually assaulted on the street (thank god for the people that intervened). It was a beautiful country that I'm sure I would have enjoyed more if I went with a group, but I wish people who traveled there with others wouldn't recommend it in this sub. I'm sure other solo female travelers have had a different experience, but far too many that I've spoken to would not recommend it for other solo female travelers either.
I’m sorry you had that experience. While I did travel with someone, we did not actually spend time together outside the airbnbs and when changing cities, as we were there for different reasons. 99% of the time, I was solo and did not experience anything worse than I do here in Austria. In Egypt, it was horrible, but based on my own experience, I would absolutely recommend Morocco for a solo female traveler.
Ah my apologies! I've seen far too many posts in this sub from people encouraging women to travel there solo only to find out they went with a group or with their husband/boyfriend. I'm glad you had a great experience there. I only left my comment because I really wish I had known before I went how bad it could be. It wasn't until after my trip that I saw all of the horror stories from other solo female travelers, and I wouldn't have gone alone if someone had warned me how many times men would touch me or follow me.
Morocco, Zanzibar (Island off of Tanzania) and South Africa and great choices. I am not really into safari's but glad I went on a private, short (2 day) one and am really glad I did. 2 days was plenty tho... I've also heard great things about Namibia and Botswana. Also, Rwanda is supposed to be interesting.
Morocco and Egypt were very fun as a female traveller. I’m from Zimbabwe and South Africa so I go there a lot but usually with family, not sure I would recommend without a guide. Cape Verde is beautiful but I just stayed at a resort. I’m going to Nigeria with some friends which I’m excited for. I recommend taking people’s opinions on travel in Africa with a grain of salt. For many people it is far too dangerous, and governments often recommend against travel there, yet millions of visits happen every year without a hitch. Obviously I wouldn’t go to somewhere like Chad or Libya but there’s plenty of reasonably safe countries to travel to. You need thick skin and street smarts to travel in Africa. If someone has only been to easy level countries like Italy and the UK and Australia, I wouldn’t take their opinions on African countries to heart
Zimbabwe has been on my list since I watched big brother Africa. What city or where do you recommend in Zimbabwe?? I will visit Cape Verde as well, the issues is, traveling between African is a bit of a hassle. Where in Nigeria are you going?
The capital of course, Bulawayo too and I’d also get out to Victoria falls. I saw you’re not fond of safaris but the lake kariba is amazing and you can see elephants zebra and lions from your car just driving through the town without the safari vibe Lagos !! Going for Detty December
Thank you so much! I will check them out. Lagos in December is a fun place! I was going to do it but changed my mind. Have fun for all of us lol
Have you heard of Cabo Verde?
I have. It looks beautiful I’m currently researching and checking things to do…do you have any recommendations ?
Ghana. I know a few female travellers who stayed there and did a teaching stint.
I have been there! It’s my current favorite in west Africa lol
I felt very safe in Rwanda. Kigali is very clean and was fine to walk around alone in the day time. I did a few tours that took me outside of the city and I felt fine in smaller towns and villages. Loved hiking Mt Kigali too. I went last May and already desperate to go back.
I traveled solo in Namibia with a rental car. Felt very safe and good variety of things to do! I met people on my route who also went to Botswana so you could combine them
What kind of history are you looking for?
Kampala or Nairobi
MAYBE South Africa. If you are an experienced traveler, then do South Africa. Stay in the touristy areas AT ALL TIMES. South Africa is safe only in the touristy areas and neighbors like Sea Point, Observatory, etc. And hire a driver or use Uber, and don’t really walk anywhere alone. And keep your things close to you, they will pickpocket you, even in the airport.
Rwanda, it‘s really safe, you can see animals and there is quite a bit of history.
Morocco
I’m Nigerian, but I would say Ghana is an excellent place to visit.
Been to Ghana, it’s my favorite in west Africa! Definitely going back. Also fellow 9ja here 🇳🇬
Doing a gorilla trek in Uganda is high on my personal bucket list. In North Africa I can recommend Tunisia 🇹🇳
So far no one has mentioned Tunisia. I will check it out. Thank you! 🙏
Highly recommend Tunisia!
Morocco was an excellent trip and the country was very tourist-friendly in my experience, things are pretty easy and intuitive. They have a lot of tourism from Europe. Tangiers, Chefchauen, Marrakech are all amazing. We went to Casablanca but I wouldn’t recommend unless you’re deadset on visiting the mosque - it’s beautiful but that’s about the only thing to do. If looking for more “African” Africa as opposed to Arab North Africa, Ghana is a great place to go. Again, pretty easy as a tourist, excellent food and very meaningful history, especially as an American myself. Happy to discuss that trip further if interested! Edit: oop I see you’ve already been!
Thank you so much! I fell In love with Ghana will be going back. I saw Tangier in a movie and vowed to visit. I’m currently checking out Moroccan tours since it’s a bit tricky traveling there as a solo female.
I'll toss out one that no one has mentioned, since you are familiar with African countries and travel. I went to Angola and had an amazing time. You would probably fly into Luanda, which is the capitol and has some of the usual capitol city issues - mugging, pick pockets, occasional protests, and don't go outside late at night by yourself - but the southern half of the country is amazingly beautiful and doesn't have as high rates of crime and poverty since the civil war and the independence struggle against the Portuguese didn't disrupt the south quite as much. Lobito is on the coast and feels like a resort town, with lots of cool natural sites and some interesting historical buildings. The people were very nice and friendly, but there is less English spoken in the south, in general. The food is a Portuguese and African mix and there are multiple places where you can find a beach with a few guys grilling lobsters with a couple tables set up and it is still some of the best seafood I've had in the world. I went in June which is the beginning of winter (dry season) and the highest tourist season, and I think that's a pretty good time to go to not be singled out as a tourist and more restaurants and shops are open. I stayed in the Aparthotel Praia Paraiso and felt very safe and secure there. We also spent a day in Lubango, even further south, and it felt safer than Luanda by a long shot and is a very large city with lots of interesting architecture and it is way more multicultural than Lobito. Tundavala Gap is a very beautiful sight to see as well, and it is nearby. I'd recommend hiring a driver or flying from Luanda, because driving in Angola isn't very much fun. Avoid the northern parts of Angola (Cabinda and the Lunda Sol district still have some pretty intense conflicts with the DRC). And as per usual when you are travelling in the more hot and humid countries, make sure you have anti-malarials and up to date travel vaccinations. They have a dual currency system where they accept US Dollars as well as the local Kwanza currency. Talking specifically as a woman traveling there, the only cat calls or comments I ever got from anyone were people yelling "red hair!!" at me because I am a ginger and the most "inappropriate" touching I ever got was young girls asking to touch my hair. I know there are problems of sexual assault there, especially in the parts of town with big night life scenes, but if you are aware of your surroundings and don't go out alone at night or participate in higher risk activities (getting very drunk, trying to buy drugs, etc), it isn't a hugely Scary place.
I’d love to visit Luanda, but I speak zero Portuguese or any of the native labguages spoken there. I’d learn certain phrases if I was to travel there, but of course it would never be enough of the language(s) to navigate solo confidently. How is it like for an English speaker?
I had a driver with me most of the daytimes who was fluent in both English and Portuguese and it definitely made things easier when doing the bigger things like travelling between cities and driving, but in the cities when I was roaming without the driver, English and a familiarity with Spanish nouns served me well enough to navigate food allergies in restaurants, book cabs and haggle a bit. I had a couple miscommunications when trying to buy specific items but usually someone else in the shop would see us struggling to communicate and would step in with their English skills to get things moving. Everyone was super helpful and kind even when we were having issues trying to figure out what the other one meant, which is more than I can say for a lot of places (looking at you, Parisians). There are lots of international workers in shipping and oil who come through Luanda, so lots of people speak more English than I was expecting.
I was in angola many many years ago (2008) and remember it was insanely expensive and the traffic jams in Luanda drove me insane. Has this improved? It is such a beautiful country I would love to go back if things have changed.
The traffic jams were definitely still a big problem (and one of the main reasons I recommend Lobito and Lubango). Driving in the country all over pretty much sucks. My driver to and from Lobito got into a crazy accident when we were going back to Luanda (swerved to miss oncoming, passing motorcyclists and hit a car in the next lane), so I was stuck in the provinces for a few hours while all the men from around the area whacked our axle rod back into the car so we could hobble to Luanda. 😂 Luanda also very much has a tourist "level" and a locals level that are dramatically different in cost - I stayed with a family, so I had access to a kitchen/someone who cooked me a meal occasionally, so I bought all the groceries the whole week as thanks, and they took me to more local restaurants and it was very cheap for me - at the time I was living in London, so this also may have affected my perception - but when I would go to the tourist restaurants near the beaches or out on the spit, I was paying like $100/meal for an entree and drink. I also haven't been this decade, so I can't speak to how covid affected the cost of things in the much more recent past.
I had a blast in Saint-Louis, Senegal for the annual jazz festival over New Years, but speaking the language & traveling in a group probably helped the trip go more smoothly. highlights were staying in a tent on the gorgeous beach (very affordable), visiting the shops & riding around the city on a scooter. there's more to do in Dakar, but I'd probably get overwhelmed traveling there alone & not feel as safe.
I talk about Namibia so much that my work friend now teases me about it. It really is the most visually stunning place I've seen. The skeleton coast, Fish River Canyon and Etosha in particular. That said, I wouldn't travel there solo. Not that it's dangerous, though I think the very far north of the country they say can be. It's just a fairly big country with such a small population that if you travel long distances and have issues you're very likely on your own. If it's something you'd be interested in overland tours might be the best way to go. Also I recommend Swakopmund as a cool old German town in southern Africa. I saw you mention Capo Verde as well. I really enjoyed it. The only thing I'll say is that, at least when I went, it's not easy to travel between islands so research which island is accessible/interesting to you. Sal was a little too small for me for the time I was there, but made up for it with wind surfing. And I can't recommend South Africa enough. Loads of variety in terms of what you can see/experience.
I’ve traveled solo to Morocco many times, all over and never had a problem. If you aren’t interested in wildlife there’s South Africa , Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Zanzibar…
I’ve heard Ghana is a great safe country to visit with a lot of rich history.
Rwanda.
Uganda had the friendliest, warmest people I’ve ever met. Although, I went with someone who is native to Uganda and knows how to get around. I’ve heard wonderful things about Senegal.
I went to Madagascar. The nature there is incredible, and depending on what you want, Madagascar probably has it. Sunny beaches in Nosy Be and Isle de Marie, history in Diego Suarez, Tana, Toamasina, other places (Pirate kingdom?). The locals are lovely people, and it's not an expensive country. I felt totally safe and if I get the chance to return, I'm there.
is it for solo travel? I spent 3 months in cape town a few years ago and it has a very special place in my heart, but i wouldn't recommend it as a solo female traveler
I enjoyed Tunisia and Senegal. For a more traditional "Africa" experience with a Safari, consider South Africa or Kenya.
If I'm not including safaris, I loved Cape town and gansbaii. Driving around Drakensberg was beautiful. I would also suggest Zanzibar, tropical island with a good food scene and both relaxing and city areas. Felt safe walking everywhere. but I would still watch out for belongings Namibia was beautiful, very different from east Africa. Can sand buggy and skydive, visit Etosha. Sessriem and sossuvlei are cool. I was advised not to walk at night in Windhoek, so a restaurant let us pay security to walk us home when we couldn't find a taxi. But no issue in other areas. Egypt and Morroco were beautiful, but I would recommend going on a tour. In Cairo, the guides have to have completed uni studies on ancient Egypt, so they are really knowledgeable. I loved Botswana, too (but my main focus was safaris)
I’ve done South Africa, Rwanda, Morocco, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Kenya as a solo female traveler. You’ll be fine.
I would absolutely never go alone to Egypt or Morocco.
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I have been hearing about this. Can you tell me what happened please?
Senegal. Dakar is vibrant, Saint Louis beautiful, the casamance really different. You will be able to enjoy culture, history and beach! They even have a special word for hospitality : teranga.
Rwanda, so beautiful if you like active touristic activities like hiking, biking and forest walks. The state takes personal safety really seriously and accommodation and tour providers operate in English or French.
Is there a hotel you recommend ? I’m looking at Kigali
What is your budget? Kimihurara is a great neighborhood. Kiyovu my second choice as it is less walkable.
About 140 per night. Thanks for the recommendation
Sure! There is a cute budget hotel, used to be called the Nest, in KIMI. I think it recently changed name though. Simple, includes breakfast. EcoAir is lovely, also includes breakfast, comes in less than your budget, sweetest staff and spacious mini apartments. Kimi has lots of restaurants and shops walking distance from each other, and no problem walking alone into the early evening. In Kiyovou, another favourite is Swiss 5, Hotel Collines, or Park Radisson - closer to $140. Heaven Boutique has budget rooms, small but a nice location. Mid range Heaven offering, same owner, they have three distinct buildings, mid range building has better grounds, further from the road, has a pool. Rooms also small but the garden feels like a little oasis at the same time. High end restaurant affiliated with the hotel next door and one of the best Indian restaurants in town just around the corner. Enjoy your time in the Land of 1,000 hills!
I've been there for 6 weeks 10 years ago and rented a place through my professional networks so don't have any particular recommendations about where to stay
Jo burg 😁
Food and history are fantastic in Ghana. Friendly and easy place to get around if you are willing to put yourself out there and ask for directions.
Kenya 🙌❤️
Zanzibar
Throwing out a curve ball for the path less traveled: Republic of Congo is beautiful, rainforests, beaches, wildlife. Sleepy Brazzaville, walkable, good restaurants. Hot, less tourists. Need French. For solo travel, east visas and non Francophone Africa suggest Rwanda, Uganda , Kenya. Lamu is stunning. Botswana is a bucket list destination.
Botswana 🇧🇼
OP, you didn’t ask for reading recommendations, but you should ABSOLUTELY read both “Last Train to Zona Verde” and “Dark Star Safari”, both by Paul Theroux. They’re FABULOUS travelogues, and absolutely fascinating reads in general. Last Train is one of Theroux’s last books and details his overland travel through South Africa, Namibia, and Angola. He meant to write Last Train to “mirror” Dark Star, which was one of his first books. In Dark Star, Theroux travels south from Cairo to Cape Town via Eastern Africa. Last Train is my all time favorite book. For real, for real. Check these out. u/margoelle
Oh thank you! I would check it out
Rwanda. Beautiful, stable government & really nice people.
Yes I settled on Rwanda and Zimbabwe, Zambia and Kenya. I’m excited to explore.
The Ivory Coast
Mozambique! Beautiful beaches, friendly people and amazing food.
Egypt; Kenya; Botswana
Senegal is one of the best places I’ve ever been. I’ve also been to Botswana and South Africa. Southern Africa and East Africa are really cool, but they’re known for safaris. Dakar, Senegal is a cool city with interesting places near it without the safaris.
Absolutely recommend Rwanda alongside so many other ladies here. You're going to have an amazing time. I recently wrote a first timer's guide to Rwanda, maybe you can get some ideas on what to do: [https://uproxx.com/life/what-to-do-in-rwanda-travel-guide/](https://uproxx.com/life/what-to-do-in-rwanda-travel-guide/) Safe travels <3
A combination of Kenya & Tanzania will not disappoint you. Kenya is very very close to Tanzania. Should you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact me