The purpose of this journey is personal before anything else. I decided to share it on the Internet so I can show a very personal Africa with my own truth, experiences, and fascinations.
Like life itself, such an adventure is not always pink and amazing. For those who are following this journey of a lifetime since a while, you could observe moments of doubts, worries, anger, frustration, and challenges. It’s part of the game, and nothing is perfect -otherwise, how boring would this be!
Again, I do not post in real time for safety reasons. And while I’m currently busy sharing about amazing Lesotho, I have already crossed a few more countries since then.
Anyway, I wanted to share a couple of safety strategies (even if there are COMMON SENSE and BEING HUMAN) that I put into place since the very beginning. Obviously, I won’t share all of them…for safety reasons! But will definitely do once the expedition is ‘over’ (I HATE to say this by the way).
(PERSONAL) STRATEGIES:
- To not post in real time on social media; - To search for local and traditional music and to play it out loud when crossing busy towns; - To learn basic local words (and then conversations quickly start!); - To stay humble, tolerant, but to never look naïve; - To always park Rafiki to be ready to go (driver seat always clear); - To lie or to not be clear about next destinations (even with border officers);
Because I apparently look way younger than my actual age, and that people don’t really take me seriously when they see me with Rafiki. Solo female overlanders I know in Africa are much older than me and apparently do not face these issues.
In Africa, older people are respected, and whoever you are. However, ‘looking’ young (most of them think I’m 20-25), can be of a challenge sometimes. Some men try to flirt, to ask me to marry them, when some are very very pushy (and even officers!).
It's flattering to look younger, it’s flattering to get hit on, but it’s also challenging and very tiring when traveling on your own. And with Rafiki even more.
It’s part of the adventure and it creates interesting situations, memories, and lessons at the end.
Oh, and by the way, I’m on my way to 36.
Comments