About She Roams Free
Hey there, I’m Stefanie
The world has been my playground since I first hopped on a plane to South Africa by myself, way back in 2002. Solo travel has been my preferred way to see the world ever since. It has been a baptism by bushveld, a crash course in self-reliance, and a love affair with the unknown. My goal is to inspire other female travellers to explore the world and experience the same freedom!
My Solo Travel Journey: the Abridged Version
Hey, I am Stefanie, a 40-something woman, originally from the Netherlands, but currently mostly based in South Africa. I took my first longer solo trip at 26, working as a volunteer in a wildlife rehabilitation center in South Africa, and doing some sightseeing after volunteering. I fell in love with South Africa and solo travel during that trip, and have been going back as often as I could ever since, mostly solo.
From Corporate Cage to Bushveld Bliss
For 10 years I owned an e-commerce store and I’ve worked as an online marketeer. In 2021 I realized being stuck in an office and going on short trips wasn’t enough anymore, and finally took the plunge: I quit my job and sold my house to travel full-time for 4 to 5 years. Two and a half years in, I can say I have absolutely no regrets.
During this time, I’ve done a lot of housesitting in Europe and Africa, and did some amazing road trips in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia. I’ve also spent a year doing a Field Guide course in South Africa.
My preferred ways of travel are slow solo travel in the form of house sitting, renting a nice place for a while, and solo road trips; I absolutely love the freedom of the open road.
I love nature and wildlife, so it’s no surprise that my favorite countries to visit are South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. For me there is nothing more soothing than spending time in the African bush.
Field Guide Training: Whispers from the Bush and Electric Thrills
In 2022/2023, I took an unconventional adventure in the South African bush, leaving the usual tourist activities behind.
As an introvert, I pushed my boundaries by joining a professional field guide course. The focus wasn’t on becoming a guide, but to immerse myself in nature’s raw beauty.
I absorbed the nuances of African wildlife and trees, with the natural world as my classroom.Waking up every morning to the sound of the African bush was an absolutely magical experience.
My learning extended to tracking rhinos and cheetahs during an internship, using an electric bike and a GPS app for navigation, relying on my training to stay safe.
This journey was more than just an adventure; it was a personal challenge to learn the language of the wild, stepping out of my comfort zone and discover my inner strength amidst Africa’s untamed wilderness.
Sharing Secrets of Slow Travel & Road Trip Bliss with Solo Female Travelers
I love to share the joys of slow travel and road trips with other solo female travelers, especially for traveling in Southern Africa, because I feel that it deserves so much more love from solo travelers than it is currently getting.
Solo Travel Isn’t Just for Backpackers
Hostel life is something you won’t come across much in my blogs, because this is not the way I travel; I am not built for sleeping in dorms. I’m not saying staying in hostels is bad, it’s just not for everyone.
Luckily there are tons of excellent blogs by other solo female travelers out there that cover that travel style, much better than I ever could. But hostel stays are not the only way to travel on a budget, so I am going to share other tips of traveling on a budget, that doesn’t not include dorm stays.
Safety, Mental Health and Budgeting Tips for Solo Female Travelers
Because I’ve been traveling solo for over 20 years, I feel I have a wealth of experiences to share with other solo female travelers, when it comes to safety, budgeting and planning, so I decided to start this blog, hoping the name She Roams Free captures the essence of traveling solo as a woman. It will cover all the important stuff for solo female travelers: how to stay safe, budgeting for a trip, how to actually stay within that budget and how to look after your mental health while traveling.
So there it is, my story in a nutshell. Thank you for visiting She Roams Free, I hope this blog will help you make the most of your travels. See you out there!