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Best safari and wildlife holidays for single travellers

Discover some of the best solo safari holidays that the world has to offer. See stunning wildlife and landscapes on a solo safari.

Updated by: Aimee White - Travel Copywriter at Explore Worldwide
Updated: 24 February 2025

 

Safari and wildlife small group tours are perfect for solo travellers. Exploring with a like-minded group is one of the easiest ways to travel solo, as all of the important aspects are covered, from safety elements to itinerary planning. This leaves you to focus on what's important: embracing the nature and wildlife of your destination, all while learning more than you could imagine from your expert tour leader. 

All of our small group wildlife trips are suitable for solo travellers, from gorilla trekking in Uganda to spotting polar bears in the Arctic. Our solo group adventures are ideal for all ages, whether you're over 50 and travelling alone or in your 30s and looking for something more active. Just ask Michelle, who described her solo safari to Botswana with us:


"When booking this trip, I was looking for a true wildlife adventure, and my expectations were far surpassed.  The symphony of hundreds of bell frogs serenading us while sitting by the campfire in the evening at Moremi Game Reserve, before eating a delicious meal cooked over an open fire, and falling asleep in a tent to the distant roars of lions... I could go on and on about my two weeks in Botswana - it was a wild ride and I absolutely loved every single minute of it."

Find inspiration for your next trip with our round-up of the top safari and wildlife holidays for single adventurers:

Botswana Wildlife Safari

Join like-minded travellers for a safari game drive through Botswana's Chobe National Park. Look out for herds of elephant roaming the dusty trails and have your binoculars ready to spot fish-eagle, jacana, kingfisher and heron at the Moremi Game Reserve. Work with fellow explorers to scan the waterways of the Okavango Delta in search of lion, leopard and rhino and see who can first lay their eyes on a semi-submerged crocodile in the murky shallows. 
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Explore Costa Rica

Wildlife holidays for singles include exploring Costa Rica's lush jungles. From the bright, emerald-green resplendent quetzal birds fluttering through the canopy to laid-back sloths draped over mossy branches, there is exotic wildlife hiding in every crevice of the Monteverde Cloudforest. Hang out with new friends, and some white-faced capuchin monkeys, on the pristine sandy beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park. And, if you want to witness turtles nesting in Tortuguero, book a trip between June and September for the best chance of spotting these marine creatures.
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Gorilla and Chimp Safari

​If seeing a gorilla in the wild is on your bucket list, book onto our small group safari tour in Uganda. Uganda is ideal for safari holidays for solo travellers, as you'll benefit from the knowledge of an expert local guide. Hike through dewy vegetation, scale steep pathways and wade through muddy ravines in the dense jungle landscape. The atmosphere is almost electric as you make way in silence, and your heart thumps loudly in anticipation and excitement. Then, as if out of nowhere, there they are; a family of gorilla grazing on bamboo and playing in the trees. An astonishing sight that you'll treasure forever. 
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Madagascar Wildlife Tour

Lemurs are, undoubtedly, the stars of the show on our small group wildlife tours in Madagascar. Highly sociable, the forest reverberates with their distinctive vocal calls as they chat with one another and hang out in small groups amongst the dense vegetation. Wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, these fascinating primates are unique to this Indian Ocean island and are full of character. Watch them skipping along the forest floor and jumping from tree to tree. Share the magic of this exotic landscape with the rest of your small group, and chat about the amazing wildlife you've seen over a traditional Malagasy meal.
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Realm of the Polar Bear

Set sail on an ice ship for a once in a lifetime wildlife expedition through the remote polar region of the Arctic. Keep your eyes peeled for sightings of polar bear in the bleak white tundras and see if you can spot walrus basking on the icy beaches. Join other passengers to head out in a small Zodiac rib and get up close with seals sleeping on towering ice floes. Compare stories as you retire back to the warmth of the ship for dinner and get ready for another packed day of Arctic adventures the next day.
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Discover Belize

For a solo wildlife holiday like no other, head to the Central American coastal country of Belize. Join a small group of avid adventurers to wander along the verdant banks of Crooked Tree Lagoon in search of the tallest flying bird in The Americas, the rare jabiru stork, and dive into the transparent waters of the stunning Belize Barrier Reef to swim with turtle. Share fun facts and travel stories with your small group as you take a boat journey to Caye Caulker.
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Volcanoes and Galapagos

From swimming with turtles in the aquamarine waters of Tortuga Bay to watching blue-footed boobies perform courtship dances on Santa Fe Island, a trip to the Galapagos Islands is a bucketlist must-do for any wildlife enthusiast. Single travellers will benefit from the expert knowledge of a small group leader who will show you all of the major highlights as well as many hidden gems. Get up close with iguanas sunbathing on the pristine beaches of the Tintoreras Islands, find giant tortoises roaming the highlands of Santa Cruz, and spot Galapagos penguins swimming amongst tropical mangroves. 
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Borneo Wildlife Highlights

As a solo traveller, you'll feel at ease exploring the remote jungles of Borneo in the safety of a group and under the expert guidance of a local leader. On the banks of the Kinabatangan River, mangroves bathed in shadow are home to a vast array of wildlife including the endangered orangutan and pygmy elephant. Embrace solitude and watch the morning mist roll over the top of the canopy from a tree-top observation deck at a scientific research station in the heart of the jungle.
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South Africa and Eswatini Safari

For the chance to spot the Big Five, join our small group tours as a safari solo traveller in the vast game reserves of South Africa and Eswatini. Hold your breath as you follow fresh sandy paw prints in search of lion, and keep your fingers crossed for a sighting of a leopard stalking its prey in the golden hinterland. The benefit of going solo on a small group tour is all the extra insight you'll gain from your tour leader, from wildlife-spotting tips to South Africa's layered history.
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Don't just travel, Explore!

Spot wildlife with us and witness the spectacular animal kingdom on our Wildlife tours. From sighting the Big Five on solo safaris to walking in the footsteps of Charles Darwin on a Galapagos tour, we have dozens of thrilling wildlife-watching opportunities to choose from. They're ideal for solo travellers looking for wildife and safari trips, as you'll not only leave with unforgettable memories but new-found friends as well!
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