ColaKoala

[deleted]

No one believes me when I tell them how safe Africa is compared to the US! I, as a lone white girl, traveled solo in South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania, and Namibia. I was also supposed to do research in Zimbabwe but could not get across the border even though I had received approval for my visa. The only time I ever felt unsafe in Africa was during a research trip in Lagos. It's a very big city and it's easy to feel small and lost there.

my questions:

1. How much did you know about Africa before you went there, and what inspired you to go?

2. did you speak any Swahili, MaShona, Xhosa, IsiZulu, or other local languages before you began your journey? If not, did you learn any African languages when you were there? I am not looking at the map right now but if I recall correctly you didn't go to any Lusophone or Francophone countries--did everyone speak English, or were you often unable to communicate?

3. I want to go back to Africa, but my mother has told me she almost died of worry the last time, and if I go again she wants me to stay with a group or hire a bodyguard. Do you have any advice for me about this?

Thank you for sharing your incredible journey. If you want to hear about the best bits of mine (biking solo across all of Tanzania and then throughout most of KwaZulu Natal) pm me. :)

This is not my AMA so sorry for butting in. OP's remarks about being a solo female are correct. I did the solo female in Africa thing. My advice is: avoid places with lots of Sunni or Shia Muslims, but no worries about Sufis or any other Muslim people. Before you strike out, know a lot, do a lot of research. Start "easy" with a very safe, stable country like Tanzania. Start off with a 3 month intensive Swahili course--you don't even have to stay in dar or wherever, look online to find a place! Swahili is spoken in many many places in Africa. If you are a woman traveling alone, and you stop and speak respectfully to someone in Swahili, and you know the right customs of how to greet someone (based on their age, gender, etc.) you will make instant friends and be invited into homes right away.

[deleted]

I think you're right. Also, if what he is saying were true, he would have to hold off the ACLU with a pointy stick. Denial of due process is their most favorite snack food of all time.