Africa for the Adventurous 80-Year Old Solo Woman? You can do it!

by | Sep 7, 2022

Diana Eden spotted a herd of elephants during one of her game drives on an African safari

Last updated on May 10th, 2024

Featured image: A herd of elephants spotted by Diana on one of her many game drives | Photo provided by Diana Eden

Planning an African safari takes time, but it’s worth it

By Diana Eden, Women Over 80 Contributor

I spent an entire year looking forward to a safari adventure on my first time to Africa. And what an adventure it was! I chose the OAT (Overseas Adventure Travel) company because it is known to be very singles-friendly (they do not charge a single supplement). It also offers an immersion into the destination’s culture along with the opportunity to see the animals in the wild. 

I traveled to Zimbabwe alone and wondered if I would feel scared or lonely, but far from it. The other 12 members of our tour were all North American, of similar age, and from divergent and interesting backgrounds. Before long, we were laughing together, gasping together as we spotted the wild beasts, and starting to form a unique bond that would last our 16 days. Five of us were single women. And I was not even the oldest! One of the group was 87 years old and had taken 46 trips with the same company! In truth, I felt safe, cared for, and never once felt alone.

The good news is, YES, older travelers, this is entirely within your capabilities if you are reasonably mobile and have taken care of your health. I never felt that any part of it was beyond me.

A cheetah peeks through the grass on a safari in Zimbabwe

A leopard is seen through the grass on one of Diana’s game drives / Photo provided by Diana Eden

Start with a plan

I spent six months preparing for the trip, planning my packing and travel routes

The worst part of a trip of over 10,000 miles and nine time zones is getting there and getting back, with the inherent fatigue, lineups at TSA checkpoints, and the wait at luggage carousels. But I was prepared with a plan. 

I broke up my journey into three parts, a flight of five hours to New York, 14 hours to Dubai, and then 8 to my final destination of Johannesburg and I spent the two layover nights in airport hotels getting a good night’s sleep. This also gave me a head start on jet lag adjustments. It is something I have advocated quite a bit recently for older travelers, though I still seem to be in the minority with this practice. However, I am happy to report that despite the extra days and costs, I arrived nearly fresh as a daisy and ready to start my safari rested and alert.

The most strenuous physical activity was climbing in and out of the jeeps, which was even easier with help from the able-bodied guides. The schedule allowed for afternoon naps and personal time, too, something I relish. 

Comfortable accommodations

Our safari started in Zimbabwe with a three-night stay in a “rustic but comfortable” camp in the Hwange National Park. The tent rooms were a lovely surprise – far from roughing it, I had a very comfortable bed with lovely linens and pillows. Good quality towels and bathroom accessories were set out, and power for lamps and charging our devices was provided by each cabin’s own solar system. I had plenty of hot water, an ensuite toilet, and turn-down service with fresh filtered water every night provided in a pitcher with real glasses (no plastic!). I’ve had far less in 4-star hotels.

The adventure part of the night was provided by the sounds of animals in the night – lion calls, elephants trumpeting, hyenas, baboons, and more. But I slept so soundly that I didn’t hear them most of the time and I sort of wished I had! 

Three local guides stand next to the jeep on an African safari

Getting in and out of the safari Jeeps was made easier thanks to the strong guides / Photo provided by Diana Eden

A large and comfortable tent found on a safari in Zimbabwe

The tent rooms were surprisingly comfortable / Photo provided by Diana Eden

Each camp has a main meeting area which is similarly a large tent but furnished with comfortable sofas, easy chairs, a small bar, and a long dining table to sit the 13 people in our group plus various key staff members. Food was plentiful and delicious, and our needs were attended to like we were in a Michelin star restaurant. Wine was available for the ridiculous cost of $3. No roughing it here, either!

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Breathtaking game drives

Our game drives were twice a day by jeeps with three rows of seats and a cover to protect us from the sun. On the very first drive, we had been out for nearly three hours without seeing much more than guinea fowl and impalas when we rounded a corner, and there was a family of five elephants, drinking from a water hole and being, well, just elephants. It was breathtaking to be able to get so close and just observe these lovely gentle creatures. This is what I had come for!

How can I describe 16 days of extraordinary experiences in a few paragraphs? Every day was something different and filled with something unexpected. One evening our jeeps were down by the river when a family of elephants, with babies and teens in tow, came out of the brush, heading down to cross the river to a grazing area on the other side. But then more came, and more – a seeming unending column of elephants, quietly walking right past us and splashing through the river. The teens liked to play and splash and maybe even lie down in the mud until Mum Elephant would tell them to move along with the group. They were majestic, playful, and endlessly fascinating.

A group of elephants drink some water at a watering hole in Zimbabwe

A family of elephants taking a drink at the watering hole / Photo provided by Diana Eden

How can I describe the feeling of sitting in a large swath of tall golden grass and suddenly seeing a leopard just 12 feet away from us with a recently caught impala? The beauty of this animal, its lazy rhythms, and the attitude with which he walked was breathtaking to watch. The way his spots made him near impossible to see in the tall grasses was impressive. And all this was just a few feet away from us!

And how can I describe the sight of a pride of lions, sitting on some rocks, their cubs playing around and peeking at us from behind Mama’s haunches? How is it possible to get so near in our jeeps and not have them run away or, conversely, try and grab us for a meal? Apparently, they are used to the jeeps and see them as large dark objects that are not threatening to them. However, we were advised that if we stood up, waved our arms, and yelled, “look, there’s a lion!” their behaviors would change quickly. At any rate, our lions had had a good meal and were ready for a nice long nap. They yawned and stretched out, content to be under the African sun.

Immersed in local culture

Our trip was not all about the animals. OAT has an extensive program of cultural interactions with the local people and discussions about controversial subjects such as poaching and coal mining. We benefitted greatly from not always being the “other” but feeling an interaction with our staff and our guides, all of whom were good fun, generous, and extremely knowledgeable.

The 16 days roared by, and before I knew it, I was saying goodbye to 12 newly found friends, our tour leader whom I had grown to love and admire greatly, and to head back on my three-day journey home. My overnight stays once again proved the right way for me to make such a long trip, and once I walked in the front door of my home in Las Vegas and embraced my cat, I felt amazingly rested. I also felt enriched and changed by my experience.

Packing lessons

The things in my prep list that I valued the most were:

  • The warm hat and gloves for the early morning game drives and the Thermacare heat wraps for my back felt very welcome at a chilly 7 am call time, though once the sun came out, things heated up quickly, and we stripped off layers.
  • I used my flashlight and headlight every night, heading back to my cabin, always accompanied by one of the guides on the lookout for animals wandering close to camp.
  • I appreciated my disposable underwear, as I didn’t have to wash out undies every night when all I wanted to do was climb in bed and look at the photos I had taken earlier that day.
  • I used my Coolibar sunhat and lightweight jacket every day. I needed them to protect my skin from the sun’s harsh rays.
  • My power converters for powering the iPhone and iPad every night were indispensable.
  • The two little tea lights that I always travel with I put in the bathroom as night lights. I hate having to turn on a bright light in the middle of the night.
woman in chair reading book

Diana wears her Coolibar sunhat while reading on African safaris / Photo provided by Diana Eden

  • The t-shirts I had packed as gifts for the locals were given away to a grateful few, leaving me space in my duffle bag for carved animals, African fabric, and a few other treasures.

 The things I could have left behind were:

  • My inflatable pillow. The jeep was quite comfortable with its padded seats, even though we were going over bumpy terrain and off-roading.
  • My portable tripod. What was I thinking? We were on the move so much I barely had time to focus my camera with moving animals coming in and out of the brush! I figured quantity was a good thing (thank goodness for digital) – out of 50 photos that were out of focus, a few were really special!

 Life isn’t over at 80, and neither is travel.

More on Africa to Discover

Diana Eden is a Contributing Writer for JourneyWoman magazine, focused on travel for women over 80. She was born in England, raised in Toronto, lived and worked in New York, Los Angeles, and now Las Vegas. She is a former dancer, actress, Emmy-nominated costume designer, and now author. She recently published her memoir, "Stars in Their Underwear: My Unpredictable journey from Broadway dancer to costume designer for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars."

4 Comments

  1. Lauraine

    I have traveled with OAT 3 times, each time better than the last. Highly recommend. I wasn’t sure which of OAT’s Africa trips I would take, but I think I know after reading this article!!

    Reply
  2. Jeri

    Great recommendations for packing. Very inspiring. I’ve traveled extensively and have been sidelined for 3 years now with the Pandemic. Plan on getting back into in 2023 after finishing up work around the house and dental work.

    Thanks for your insight. BTW, I’m 77 so 80 sounds very young indeed.

    Reply
  3. Liz Hathway

    I enjoyed reading your experience on Safari in Zimbabwe. I can really relate, having just finished my 6th trip to the South African bush at 82! It really is a once in a lifetime trip – except that I fell in love with it all and keep going back.

    Reply
    • Ms Rosalind C Henson

      I live in Pretoria South Africa. Thoroughly enjoyed Diana’s joyful & all-encompassing report on her visit to Africa. I am 77 yrs old so obviously I am particularly interested in her over 80 “solo” aspects re not being charged extra for a “single” booking etc!!! Please OAT inform me whether you organise trips from South Africa to Europe etc kind regards ROZ HENSON

      Reply

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