![\"\"](\"http:\/\/travelbucket.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Picture-180-logo-300x225.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\nGoing solo off the beaten track is not for every off-road traveller whether you visit Botswana, Namibia or venture further into Africa past Zambia, going north.\u00a0 There are pros and cons to it so you need to consider everything.\u00a0 If you are a social person and like the company of fellow travellers and hate being alone then going solo is definitely not for you.\u00a0 Groups also provide some security and you can share costs of planned activities.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If you like your own company and have some travel savvy then going solo is for you.\u00a0 Going solo gives you freedom of choice and total independence to change your travel plans on the spur of the moment if something interests you on the wayside.<\/p>\n
Things that you need to consider when planning your next solo African trip are the following.<\/p>\n
You will need the ability to navigate<\/em>.\u00a0 There are not many countries left on mother earth that is unexplored, thus you will need a basic ability to navigate as there can be hundreds of tracks and footpaths not necessarily indicated on maps.\u00a0 You must be able to understand and read maps whether it is a paper issue or a digital issue.\u00a0 Sometimes you need to trust your instinct and basic sense of direction to find your way.<\/p>\n So you own a GPS, but do you know all the functions of your GPS<\/em>, such as marking waypoints that you can return to later?\u00a0 This can be of great value when bush camping as you need to mark a nice camping spot early in the afternoon but need to return to it later in the evening after dark when things have quietened down.<\/p>\n A reliable vehicle<\/em> is not even questionable and some bush mechanics can take you a long, long way as everything is not always available in remote areas.\u00a0 Even if you can phone somebody on your satellite phone it may take days or weeks for a specific part to arrive.<\/p>\n You will need a willingness to interact<\/em> with the local people to ask directions or permission to camp or even buy some firewood.\u00a0 If there is a village around do the decent thing and ask permission from the headman to camp there for the night.\u00a0 They may even provide some security to you as a sign of respect.<\/p>\n Can you adapt and react to changing situations<\/em> such as hazardous roads,\u00a0 political climate, etc or are you set in your ways and love your comfort zone?\u00a0 If you love your comfort zone you need to reconsider the urge of going solo.<\/p>\n The bottom line, and I think the most important aspect, that you must ask yourself is if you are prepared to rough it<\/em> at times and skip a shower (or maybe two) to experience the joy that wild camping can offer?<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/travelbucket.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Picture-170-LOGO-300x225.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/travelbucket.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Picture-188-logo-300x225.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/travelbucket.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Picture-190-LOGO-300x225.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\n