Solo travel began for me after a break-up in 2014. It was the end of a relationship of over 2 years. I think we broke up on a Friday. On Saturday, I just could not take it. I needed to get away. Little did I know that my trip to Magaliesburg alone would spark my solo travel journey.
Since that first time, I have travelled solo locally in South Africa and I am writing this post on my first international solo trip in Mauritius. Boy, did I go big? I decided to do a 7 nights’ stay. I’m currently on Day 3. The reason I could do this solo trip is the Bali trip I did with my mother in January 2019 which gave me exposure to the international scene from a vacation standpoint. My first international trip was work-related.
My maiden international solo travel experience started off with a delayed Air Mauritius flight MK852 which departed over 5 hours late resulting in my arrival in Mauritius after 11pm. Besides thinking that the Customs official was a cab driver, the arrival was fine. At some point though, I felt as if customs officials are more suspicious of solo travellers than group travellers. So it helps to remain calm and answer the questions.
I booked a transfer through the hotel which was wise considering the late arrival also. I arrived at the hotel just after 01:20 (Mauritian time). 3 hours of sleep later, I went on a hiking experience that I booked through Airbnb. Little did I know, it would also be a mountain climbing experience of the famous Le Morne Brabant (as per my picture). My gosh, that is another blog post! The views from the top of the mountain are astounding, to say the least.
Being on Day 3 I am wondering if I booked too many days or could it be the anxiety around this being my first international solo travel experience. Solo travel will bring out the bravery in you. Just when I thought I am scared of the world or not having my place in the world, or feeling intimidated by the world; this act of travelling solo totally dispels and shuns that thought. I am brave. I belong.
As I journey on in this solo travel experience, I look forward to more perspectives, enjoyment and knowledge of self. Thus far, I know that I am brave and I belong in this world.
To a life that feels like and is a vacation daily,
Ntando(kaYi)se 😀
Lelilanga Ngelami 