2. Safety – Is Traveling Africa Alone as a Woman Really More Dangerous?
You might think that traveling with a partner automatically makes you safer.
Not necessarily.
Traveling alone taught me, like almost nothing else in my life, to trust my gut.
And to trust life.
As a woman traveling alone in Africa, I often experienced something that surprised me.
People wanted to protect me.
They helped me find the right bus, somewhere safe to sleep, or simply kept an eye on me.
Again and again, complete strangers became part of my journey.
And I learned something very simple:
A smile opens doors — and hearts.
We all carry prejudices about each other.
But especially with women and children, I experienced how quickly a genuine smile could break down those invisible walls.
Of course, traveling alone also means taking responsibility for your own safety, paying attention to your surroundings, and making decisions carefully.
But my personal experience was that being alone didn’t automatically mean being unsafe.
Later, when I traveled with my former partner, I learned something else.
We were almost opposites.
I wanted to meet people, explore, and accept invitations.
He preferred being alone, and safety was extremely important to him.
Neither approach was wrong.
But slowly, I started questioning instincts I had trusted for years.
Ironically, traveling together sometimes made me feel more lonely — and less safe in myself.
Today, with my husband, it’s different again.
We approach people and adventure in a similar way, and we complement each other.
There are things he handles better than I do, and I’m grateful for that.
And there are things I bring into our travels that open doors for both of us.
So for me, safety isn’t simply about having someone beside you.
It’s about trusting yourself — and being aligned with the person beside you.
And that’s a lesson that goes far beyond traveling.
3. Connection – Why Traveling Alone Can Bring You Closer to People
When you travel alone long enough, eventually you get tired of being alone.
And that makes you connect.
During my solo travels across Africa, I often approached people simply because I was curious.
Sometimes I would ask children:
“What’s your favorite place? Show me.”
And often, that ended with me meeting their families, sharing food, and discovering places I would never have found on my own.
People met me, not “us.”
There was no little bubble to retreat into.
If I wanted company, I had to reach out.
And because of that, some of my most beautiful encounters happened.
Traveling as a couple can be very different.
It’s easier to stay in your own little comfort bubble.
You already have someone to talk to, someone to share dinner with, someone to laugh with.
You don’t necessarily need to connect with anyone else.
But with the right person, the opposite can happen.
My husband opens doors into worlds I might not enter in the same way alone.
And I do the same for him.
We complement each other.
And sometimes, together, we experience things neither of us would have experienced alone.
The right travel partner doesn’t make your world smaller. They expand it.
4. Solving Problems – Being Alone Doesn’t Mean You’re on Your Own
Africa taught me something very early:
Being alone doesn’t mean you’re on your own.
I’ve been in deep trouble more than once.
Situations where I didn’t know what to do next.
And somehow, when I really needed help…
Someone appeared.
Again and again.
Not always in the way I expected.
Not always immediately.
But enough times to teach me something that has stayed with me ever since.
Life takes care of me.
And people can be incredibly generous when we allow ourselves to receive help.
That’s one of the reasons my book is called Thank You Africa.
Because I have so much to be thankful for.
Today, traveling in our van, solving problems looks different.
When one of us gets sick, the other takes over.
When the van breaks down, one of us works on it while the other looks for help.
We share the responsibilities.
And that has taught me another beautiful lesson.
Alone, I learned: Life takes care of me.
Together, I’ve learned: I don’t have to carry everything alone.
Both lessons are incredibly valuable to me.
And I wouldn’t want to miss either of them.
5. Money – Is Solo Travel in Africa Cheaper Than Van Life?
And finally, money.
Is traveling alone cheaper than traveling as a couple?
Well…
It depends.
When I traveled Africa alone using public transport, I learned one golden rule:
One day you win. One day you lose.
Today someone invites you for dinner, gives you a ride, or opens their home.
Tomorrow you need a new plane ticket nobody will refund.
You learn to let go.
You learn that not everything can be calculated or controlled.
And sometimes the most valuable experiences don’t cost anything at all.
Today, traveling as a couple in our van, we can share many expenses.
Fuel, accommodation, food, vehicle maintenance.
But does that automatically make traveling cheaper?
Not necessarily.
Different budgets and different ideas of comfort can become interesting very quickly.
And fair doesn’t always mean 50/50.
Money can create tension, especially when expectations remain unspoken.
So my rule is simple:
Talk about money before unspoken feelings create distance.
Because whether you’re traveling across Africa or building a life together, money is rarely just about money.
It’s also about values, freedom, security, and trust.
So, Would I Choose Solo Travel or Van Life as a Couple?
Solo on public transport?
Or together in a van?
I love traveling with my husband today.
I love sharing the adventures, the challenges, the laughter, and the quiet moments.
But I wouldn’t trade my solo years for anything.
Traveling alone taught me:
I can trust myself — and life.
Traveling with someone very different from me taught me:
I can doubt that trust.
And traveling with someone who complements me taught me:
Being independent doesn’t mean being alone.
Maybe that’s the real answer.
It’s not about whether solo travel or traveling together is better.
It’s about whether the way you travel — and the person beside you — allows you to be more yourself, not less.
And whichever way you choose:
Following your dream has a price.
And I don’t mean money.
Watch My Video: Traveling Africa Solo vs. Van Life Together
If you’d like to hear more about my experiences and see footage from my years of solo travel and our van life today, I share the five biggest differences in my latest YouTube video.
🎬 Traveling Africa Solo vs. Van Life Together
And a little insider:
If you watch closely, or simply look at the thumbnail, you might notice that I’m still wearing my pajamas. 😂
Apparently, that’s how much I sometimes care about how I look.
Oops.
Discover My Books and Film – Now Also Available in English!
People often ask me:
“Where should I start in Africa?”
“Which country did you love most?”
But Africa is far too big and diverse for just one answer.
Through my books, film, and travel stories, I take you through 25 African countries — through my eyes, my encounters, my emotions, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way.
And I’m especially happy that both of my books and my film are now available in English as well as German!
If my stories inspire you to explore Africa, follow your dreams, or simply see the world through different eyes, you can find my work here:
📚 My books, including Thank You Africa
🎬 My film
🌍 More stories and products from my journeys
And now I’m curious.
Would you rather travel Africa alone or together?
And if you’ve experienced both, what has traveling taught you about yourself?
I’d love to hear your story.
Peace & love from West Africa, Lena
Maybe Peace Is My Deepest Purpose
👉 Discover the Free Your Soul Retreats: www.lena-wendt.com
For years, I asked:
What do I want from life?
Today, I’m learning to ask:
Life, what do you want from me?
I still don’t know where life will take me next.
I don’t know what stories I’ll tell.
What projects I’ll create.
Who I’ll meet.
What will succeed.
What will fail.
And I’m learning to be okay with that.
Because for years, I thought finding my purpose would finally bring me peace.
Today, I’m beginning to believe something very different.
Practicing peace is my deepest purpose.
Not because I’ve mastered it.
But because every time I return to that quiet place inside myself, even for a few seconds, I stop needing life to be different before I can fully participate in it.
And from there, I can create.
Love.
Contribute.
Listen.
Take the next step.
Maybe my outer purpose will continue changing throughout my life.
Maybe it will take me to places I could never have planned.
But I no longer need it to tell me who I am.
And perhaps, if I keep returning to that inner peace…
Again and again…
My outer purpose will quietly keep finding me, too.
Watch the Full Film: I Spent Years Looking for My Purpose
This article is based on my personal reflections in the cinematic Afrimind film I Spent Years Looking for My Purpose. Living Across Africa Turned My Life Upside Down.
In the film, I share how my dream of changing the world led me through journalism, storytelling, personal healing, and years of experiences across Africa — and why my understanding of purpose changed along the way.
🎬 Watch the full film on YouTube
Through Afrimind, I share stories about living intentionally, reconnecting with ourselves, and exploring what it means to be human.
Explore my books
Discover upcoming retreats
Peace & love from West Africa, Lena | Afrimind
Frequently Asked Questions About Finding Your Purpose
How do I find my purpose in life?
Finding your purpose can begin by noticing what matters to you, what you’re curious about, and how you want to contribute. It doesn’t necessarily require discovering one perfect career or mission. Purpose can also emerge through relationships, creativity, everyday choices, and experiences.
What is the difference between inner purpose and outer purpose?
In Eckhart Tolle’s teachings, outer purpose relates to what we do and seek to accomplish in the world. Inner purpose relates to our state of consciousness and presence. The distinction suggests that meaningful achievements and inner peace are connected but not interchangeable.
Why do I feel lost even when I’m successful?
External success doesn’t automatically create inner fulfillment. Achievements can be meaningful without resolving deeper questions about identity, belonging, or self-worth. Sometimes feeling lost is an invitation to examine what we’re expecting success to provide.
Can your purpose in life change?
Yes. Our interests, circumstances, relationships, and ways of contributing can change throughout life. A meaningful direction at one stage doesn’t have to remain the same forever.
Do I need to know my purpose to live a meaningful life?
No. Meaning can be found in everyday experiences, relationships, acts of kindness, creativity, and being present. You don’t need a perfectly defined mission before you can begin participating in your life.
How can I find inner peace while pursuing ambitious goals?
One approach is to separate your sense of worth from the outcome of your goals. You can work toward meaningful achievements while practicing presence, accepting uncertainty, and allowing yourself to feel enough before reaching the next milestone.
