The Best Destinations for Female Solo Travelers in Africa

Recent surveys reveal that women make up the majority of solo travelers. For example, the demographics of Solo Traveler, an online community, are 55% female. Women aren’t just discovering the world; they’re making it their own!

Whether you’re new to the solo traveling scene or you’re a seasoned adventurer, our hand-picked list of destinations (yes, our travel experts have actually been there themselves) caters to every ‘solocation’ imaginable.

Looking to bask in luxury at a resort that’s off the tourist map? Craving that soothing wellness retreat to rejuvenate your spirit? Or maybe you yearn for an adrenaline rush on a safari adventure?

Regardless, we’ve got the scoop on the best places to embark on a journey of self-love, self-care, and self-discovery. We believe in celebrating YOU and championing the brave, bold, and explorative spirit of women worldwide.

You’ve got a world to explore, so let’s get started!

Wellness

Kisawa Sanctuary

Where? Benguerra Island, Mozambique

Why we love it for wellness: Kisawa Sanctuary’s mission is to merge well-being with wilderness experiences. It’s a natural paradise, comprising 740 acres of forest, beach, and sand dunes, and boasts a spa dedicated to holistic wellness. Relax into various rituals rooted in the natural elements, from traditional Ayurveda to chakra meditation.

Top tour: 21 Years of GILTEDGE: 21- day Southern Africa tour

Lekkerwater Beach Lodge

Where? De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa

Why we love it for wellness: Some of Mother Nature’s finest work, De Hoop Nature Reserve is known for its diverse ecosystems, including sprawling beaches, sand dunes, wetlands, and fragrant fynbos. It’s the perfect place to reconnect with yourself and nature. Stay at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge to watch the whales, embark on nature walks with a guide by your side, tuck into beach picnics, or spend the afternoon birdwatching.

One&Only Nyungwe House

Where? Gisakura, Nyamasheke Nyungwe Forest Reserve, Rwanda

Why we love it for wellness: One&Only Nyungwe House is renowned for its three-day wellness journey, which takes place in the heart of a working tea farm. The pampering includes a post-travel trek massage (back, neck, and shoulder), sunrise yoga on the pool deck, the lodge’s trademark African Potato body wrap, meditation, and an ancient Fire Ritual experience (involving breath work and invigorating massage techniques).

Top tour: The 11-day Rwandan Adventure tour

Royal Malewane

Where? Thornybush Private Game Reserve, South Africa.

Why we love it for wellness: All three of Royal Malewane’s luxury lodges promise a wellness wonderland. Malewane Lodge has Royal Waters Spa, with a heated lap pool, gym, steam room, hot and cold African baths, four shaded casitas, and a hair salon. The Farmstead has a double spa treatment room (along with access to Royal Waters Spa), and Waterside has Reflections Spa, offering three treatment rooms and a Turkish hammam.

Top tour: The 10-day Unrivalled Cape Town & Kruger Safari tour

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat

Where? Clanwilliam, Cederberg Mountains, South Africa

Why we love it for wellness: Encircled by the Cederberg Mountains, this family-owned lodge offers five-star wellness, dining, and authentically African experiences. All treatments at the spa are inspired by ancient African traditions. Why not enjoy them in the riverside gazebo? There’s also a crystal steam room, heated outdoor pool, fitness center, and tranquility lounge. The lounge is home to The Health Bar, stocked with complimentary water, herbal infusions, and healthy snacks.

Luxury

Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp

Where? Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania

Why we love it for luxury: The camp’s 10 classic safari tents all come with a lavish en-suite bathroom and a small sitting area, perfect for enjoying early morning rusks and coffee before your game drive. The main common area is just as luxurious as your tent, with a welcoming dining area, bar, and lounge.

Angama Mara

Where? Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya

Why we love it for luxury: Teetering on the edge of The Great Rift Valley (and thus promising gorgeous views), Angama Mara is reminiscent of ‘Out of Africa’ – which is unsurprising since many of the movie’s best-loved scenes were filmed in the region. The sophisticated tented suites are filled with creature comforts and finished off with shiny parquet floors, brass accents, and Africology bath and body amenities. There’s even a handy writing desk if your solocation also happens to be a workation.

Lanzerac Hotel & Spa

Where? Stellenbosch, South Africa

Why we love it for luxury: Lap up the luxury (and wine) of the iconic Cape Winelands at Lanzerac Hotel & Spa, set within Lanzerac Wine Estate and cradled by the Helderberg Mountains. The estate has a captivating history, dating back well over 300 years, and boasts three swimming pools. All the rooms are spacious, air-conditioned, and come with a satellite TV and a stunning bathroom with underfloor heating for maximum coziness. The cherry on top? All guests enjoy various complimentary extras, including breakfast, use of the spa’s hydro facilities, a wine tasting experience, and a cellar tour.

Xigera Safari Lodge

Where? Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

Why we love it for luxury: Xigera Safari Lodge offers just 12 elegant suites (all raised on stilts), designed to merge effortlessly with Botswana’s mesmerizing wilderness. But the ultimate luxury is a stay in The Baobab Treehouse, less than a mile away from the lodge. How does a night sleeping under the stars, sprawled out in an open-air king-size bed, sound? Pure bushveld bliss!

Leopard Hills Private Game Lodge

Where? Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa

Why we love it for luxury: At Leopard Hills Private Game Lodge, there are eight newly renovated glass-fronted, air-conditioned suites waiting to welcome you into South Africa with love. Each suite has its own private plunge pool and indoor and outdoor shower. The beds are adorned with mosquito netting, percale cotton linen, and silk duvets and pillows for some of the best sleep you’ve ever had in your life (and nobody to hog the covers!).

Adventure

Shipwreck Lodge

Where? The Skeleton Coast, Namibia

Why we love it for adventure: Namibia’s mysterious Skeleton Coast – which is littered with shipwrecks and known as the world’s largest ship cemetery – deserves a place on every adventurer’s travel bucket list. Shipwreck Lodge is the first and only permanent lodge in the Skeleton Coast National Park, providing easy access to explore at your leisure (and all the cabins have been designed to resemble shipwrecks). Other thrilling activities for your itinerary include sundowner drives, sandboarding, and river excursions.

Thorntree River Lodge

Where? Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia

Why we love it for adventure: It doesn’t get more adventurous than a vacation at Victoria Falls – and Thorntree River Lodge is located just 20 minutes upstream of this Wonder of the World. Take a dip in Devil’s Pool, bungee jump off Victoria Falls Bridge, and much more. The lodge also offers catch-and-release fishing, canoe trips, rhino tracking, bush walks, and game drives.

Bumi Hills Safari Lodge

Where? Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe

Why we love it for adventure: There are loads of exciting activities awaiting at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge, from night game drives and walking safaris to boating, fishing, and village visits. The night game drives are a notable highlight as most parks and reserves prohibit them. It’s an amazing opportunity to catch a glimpse of the otherwise elusive nocturnal animals as they head out to catch their dinner (or is it breakfast?).

Mwiba Lodge

Where? Southern Serengeti, Tanzania

Why we love it for adventure: Mwiba Lodge is another lodge offering night game drives, but this lodge’s stand-out adventure is most certainly fly-camping (at an additional cost). Fly-camping is a form of wilderness camping where you stay in a simple tent in a remote location, typically with minimal equipment. It gifts you an authentic bushveld experience and the chance to sit around the campfire not only close to nature, but a part of it.

Little Vumbura

Where? Okavango Delta, Botswana

Why we love it for adventure: The Okavango Delta is a firm favorite among adventurers, spilling over with opportunities to explore the best of Africa and even to get to know the locals. At Little Vumbura, you can embark on a scenic boat safari to scope out wildlife both in and out of the winding waterways, enjoy mokoro rides, spend the afternoon fishing, or even take in the region from the sky on a helicopter safari.

Safari

Elewana Loisaba Tented Camp

Where? Loisaba Conservancy, Kenya

Why we love it for safaris: Grab your binoculars or simply sit back, relax, and take in panoramic views of the safari plains from your tent, perched right on the edge of an escarpment. Elewana Loisaba Tented Camp provides plenty of unique ways to make the most of the bush – from day and night game drives in custom-designed Land Rover safari vehicles to horse-riding, camel-trekking, guided bush walks, fishing, mountain biking, and more.

Sanctuary Swala Camp

Where? Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

Why we love it for safaris: A revered camp with an eco-focus, and surrounded by ancient baobab trees, elephants, and many colorful feathered friends, Sanctuary Swala Camp is the ultimate choice for a Tanzania safari. Look forward to scenic game drives, nature walks, bush dinners and picnics, and hot air balloon safaris. Sanctuary Swala Camp is another camp offering night game drives – keep your eyes peeled for wide-eyed bushbabies, owls, and scavenging hyenas.

Top tour: The 13-day Tanzania & Rwanda Honeymoon tour (no partner required – how about a love affair with the African bushveld instead?)

Where? Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

Why we love it for safaris: This one’s great for an ultra-secluded safari experience, accommodating a maximum of 12 guests at a time. Somalisa Acacia is known for its knowledgeable guides (all of whom have bucketloads of enthralling stories to share) who lead all the safari activities, including walking safaris, game drives, birdwatching, and cultural visits. Since it’s located inside Zimbabwe’s biggest natural reserve, you’re bound to admire your fair share of wildlife no matter when you visit.

Singita Kwitonda Lodge

Where? Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Why we love it for safaris: Gorilla trekking is undoubtedly one of the most life-changing experiences offered in Africa. Nestled right at the edge of Volcanoes National Park, Singita Kwitonda Lodge acts as a perfect base from which to track down Rwanda’s mountain gorillas and watch them in their natural habitat. While sure to be the highlight of your trip, gorilla trekking isn’t the only activity on the agenda. You’ll also get to explore the lodge’s onsite nursery and farm-to-table garden, and treat yourself to yoga, cycling, hiking, and even golden monkey trekking (rest assured that these adorable, highly endangered primates are just as interesting to track down and admire as their ‘big brothers’).

Little Mombo Camp

Where? Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

Why we love it for safaris: It’s a fantastic fit for solo travelers, with just four tents for a more intimate safari (it’s connected to its larger sister camp, Mombo, via a raised boardwalk). Little Mombo Camp is set right in the heart of the Okavango Delta where many elusive species roam, from lions and leopards to African wild dogs. Along with stylish accommodation and lip-smacking cuisine, you’ll enjoy game drives, birdwatching, and helicopter flips.

Be sure to read all about GILTEDGE CEO Murray Gardiner’s recent stay at Little Mombo Camp for more details on what to expect!

So, there you have it, solo adventurers – a round-up of Africa’s best solocation-friendly destinations. It’s impossible to go wrong, but there’s no denying that planning a solo getaway can be stressful. Let team GILTEDGE help ensure a smooth, streamlined journey, artfully customized to your needs, preferences, and budget.