TLDR; this is a tremendous experience for the adventurous traveler; if you have an open mindset about meeting new people, enjoy hiking and the outdoors, and don't mind an occasionally rough ride, this is an incredible trip and well worth your time.

Having never traveled outside the US, I wanted to go big on my first solo trip with the 62-day excursion from Pretoria to Nairobi. Since it was such an extensive trip, I was looking for the most value for my time, based on price, activities, and safety. I backpack often, so beyond basic comfort was not a priority for me, which turned out to be a good mindset to adopt since we camped nearly the entire trip, & rode in a truck with no AC (Namibia gets hot!). Tip - be ready to retrieve the rain fly for your tent during unexpected 3 AM rain showers! However, nearly all of the sites we stayed at had the option to upgrade from camping to comfortable indoor accommodations, which was a nice option to take advantage of occasionally. Once we reached our site for the night, we began our daily rotating duties, which included helping to cook, clean the truck, and do dishes, which I think added to the experience and helped bond our fellow tourists.

Traveling solo, I felt safe at all times with our guides, drivers, and locations. My trip was split between two guides, Crispen, then Pete, and they were great company that looked out for us and kept us safe and informed about everything around us. Our guides were familiar with the paths and knew everyone at our destinations. Nothing surprised them. Our drivers were impressive as well, with Harmony and Francis keeping us safe on the often-tumultuous African roads. Navigating both urban and off-road environments in our trucks was no easy task, and Francis even proved his mechanic skills during the occasional break-down.

The variety of locations we stayed at were simply incredible. From Cape Town to the deserts of Namibia, the Okavango Delta to Zanzibar Island, the mixture of urban and remote landscapes couldn't have been better. We saw every animal you can imagine.

On a trip like this, an open mindset is key. Traveling for two months with strangers can go any number of ways, but due to this trip, I now have lifelong friends scattered across the globe that I can't wait to visit. This wasn't just a vacation, it was a lasting, eye-opening experience that I believe everyone should try if possible. I can't recommend this trip enough. I wish I could go back to January and do it all over again.