A few weeks ago I had the honor of contributing a guest post to the successful women’s travel blog Her Packing List. The topic: a solo female perspective on my 2.5 month wander through West Africa. You can check out the guest post here.
To me, the most interesting aspects of travel aren’t gender specific, so I usually try to capture the essence of a place from a perspective people of any gender can appreciate.
But… But. There are differences. Wherever I go in the world, if I’m traveling solo, people are surprised by my femaleness. And there are some places where people are downright shocked. West Africa was one of those places. So it seemed appropriate to talk about visiting West Africa as a solo female traveler. There’s just no getting around the fact that it’s different.
So, if you’re a lady considering solo travel to this part of the world, or are just curious what it’s like to travel in a place so far from the beaten track, check out this Solo Female Travel Guide to West Africa. It covers daily life as a traveler in West Africa, challenges and benefits (yes, there are benefits!) of traveling there solo as a woman, safety tips, most memorable moments, and of course what to pack. I hope you enjoy it!
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About the Author
Hi there, I’m Alissa. I’ve had the pleasure of traveling independently and solo on six continents, including some unusual destinations like Liberia and Sudan, and it has forever changed the way I see the world and myself. Learn more or say hi.
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Thanks for sharing such an informative post!!!
I will be spendinng 3 months in West Africa in fall 2022. I am fluent in French since I lived in France and had a husband from Timimoun ,Algeria. I have traveled the world but this will be my first time in W Africa. Any pointers will be appreciated.
Hi Sandra, that’s great, I hope you have an excellent time. Pointers would depend a lot on which countries you’ll be visiting, but in general I’d say to relax your expectations, be open to interacting with friendly locals, and try to stay patient and flexible. You’ll have a great time if you accept the region with all its quirks instead of comparing to other parts of the world.
Hi, do you think it is safe to travel to Western Sahara in a 3-women group? Is there an easy way to arrange a guide who doesn’t want a lot of money for his service?
It’s hard to say definitively, since I’m not up to date on the current situation in Western Sahara and I don’t know where you plan to go or what you want to do there. But my general thought is that if a place is safe enough for tourists to visit in general, it’s safe enough for a group of three women. I would look into expectations for culturally appropriate clothing, if you haven’t already. I’m not familiar with finding guides there, but if you’re worried about safety it may be worth paying a bit extra to hire someone recommended by a trusted source. Have fun!