How to stay safe as a solo female traveler
How to stay safe as a solo female traveler, Do you plan on undertaking your first solo safari as a female, and worried about your safety? Or maybe it has always been your dream to embark on a solo safari but can’t picture yourself shaking the odd feeling that something weird/bad might happen to you. Much as we can’t guarantee your outright safety with solo safaris (because horrible things happen around the World every day), using some common sense and taking extra precautions, you will most likely end up utterly safe and unharmed.
Safety while on safaris is very paramount, especially when traveling solo or as a female traveler. While enjoying the beauty of Mother Nature and wildlife safaris with others, your group normally protects you by making you less of a target or offering backup when there’s a situation. You become vulnerable, a target, or have less bandwidth when traveling solo and being a female means you aren’t strong enough to fight off a male attacker, attract male attention, and many others.
Therefore, if you’re still unsure of whether or not to undertake a solo trip, continue to read our article for tips on how to stay safe;
Thoroughly research the destination before traveling#How to stay safe as a solo female traveler
Before anything else, undertake thorough research to learn everything about the safari destination before taking the trip. You can get this information in personal accounts/stories on blogs, and ask questions on Facebook travel groups, and other popular platforms. Also, you can ask other solo female travelers about their experiences visiting a particular safari destination.
Be alert to your surroundings # How to stay safe as a solo female traveler
We’ve come across many travelers who don’t normally pay attention to the people around them when walking, but you will want to be different while traveling solo. Be aware of people in your surroundings, both near and far as it shows that you’re aware and help you catch anything that might be coming. Pay attention to anyone walking behind you for many blocks, enter a shop, and see if they still follow you.
Scan/photocopy your travel documents for safekeeping
Printing or scanning copies of your important travel documents (especially your passport) to carry along with you, in case they get stolen/lost. Keep copies on Google Drive/email/Dropbox to retrieve from any computer if any copies get stolen/lost. You can be extra careful by emailing the copies to your loved ones (parents, friends, or work colleagues) so they can have copies to send if everything else fails.
Choose safe transport
Another way to stay safe as a solo female traveler is by choosing safe transport. This can be done by avoiding overnight travel on public transport (especially buses). Also, choose a seat that provides some protection, and don’t hitchhike as it isn’t safe in any safari destination. Be careful on crowded public transport and always keep a close hold of your valuables.
Always inform someone of where you’re going and do you’re going with
This sounds like an “overkill” and as strange as it sounds, you will learn when this is appropriate. If you’re heading out with people you just met, it is important to let someone know. Especially if you’re heading out into Mother Nature for hiking or city tours, let someone know in case no one hears from you.
Don’t tell anyone that you’re alone.
Sincerely, this is something every solo female traveler needs to get better at. If you’re in a taxi/bus, in a public place checking into your accommodation, or meeting someone while out, you might be asked whether you are alone. A word of advice is to “always tell them you are with someone” and you are waiting for them to arrive or going to meet them. Informing people you are alone makes you a target.
Avoid getting too drunk.
Usually, when drink back home, you’ve friends and family members to pay attention and keep you in check. However, when traveling solo, everyone is out enjoying themselves and no one is paying attention to how you’re drinking. Always stay sober during your trip and if you must drink, don’t get drunk to be able to pay attention to your surroundings. You wouldn’t want to find yourself in a situation where you don’t know how to get home or not remember how the night ended.
Avoid walking around in the dark, late at night, or in suspicious areas
Even as kids, we were taught never to be so comfortable or have fun while forgetting the basics. For this reason, always stay alert of where you are and in so doing, don’t walk around in the dark (even if it’s just 2 blocks away) because you don’t know when you will get robbed.
Dress decently/appropriately while in public areas.
Dressing decently/appropriately is another way to stay safe as a solo female traveler, as in some cultures it is more admirable when covered up. For this reason, cover your chest, arms, and legs when in public areas to avoid harassment or being gawked at. While you might not dress like the local women in the safari destination, at least try to cover your arms, legs, and chest.
Don’t share your plans in real-time, especially when tagging places.
In today’s day and age of Social media, it is typical to post events, activities, and stories while tagging places and many of us are guilty as charged. However, you should remember that there are lots of creeps out there and they are most likely paying attention to wherever you go. We live in a Global Village, which is connected to someone living in the location where you’re posting from. Seeing you updating your location as a solo female traveler puts you at risk.
Don’t be too cheap
While you hope to save a buck on your self drive safari, you wouldn’t want to do it at the expense of your well-being. It might be safe to walk around during the daytime but very worthwhile paying for a cab at night. If you don’t feel safe in a particular place, it is utterly justifiable to spend on a more secure location for the sake of your safety.
Pack light and right.
We recommend packing light and right by bringing only what you need for the trip. Toting around many bags gets old fast and like many of the other important things on the list only makes you a prime target for robbers. How will you run (if you must) when carrying many bags? Therefore, overpacking only slows you down.