I'm a female solo traveller - this is the surprising safest country in the world
A female solo traveller has compiled a list of the safest destinations in the world - and her top pick may surprise you.
Zara Aitken, from Somerset, has spent the last ten years travelling the world on her own.
She leads a digital nomad lifestyle by making a part-time income from her travel blog Passport for Living as well as working as a Project Coordinator for a UK-based charity.
As a longtime advocate for solo female travel, Zara compiled a list of the places she has felt the safest on her own.
'Does this mean that each of these countries is 100 per cent safe?' she wrote in a recent blog post. 'Of course not.
'Naturally, you have to take safety precautions everywhere you travel, but these countries provided me with an enriching experience that I can't wait to share with you.'
One of Zara's top picks? Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
Despite there being substantial discrimination against women in the UAE, according to Human Rights Watch, Zara found Abu Dhabi to be 'one of the best travel destinations for solo female travellers'.
'I spent a few days by myself in Abu Dhabi recently on my way back from South Africa and felt very comfortable walking around and travelling by myself,' Zara wrote on her blog Passport for Living.
'People were very friendly and respectful and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.'
As well as visiting the Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi, Zara recommends the 'beautiful beaches' including Corniche Beach with its five miles of white sand and turquoise water.
Posting a picture of her wearing a green headscarf outside of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Zara reminds her readers that they should dress according to the 'cultural and societal norms in the UAE'.
'To show respect for religious customs,' she penned, 'women should refrain from wearing revealing clothing when not at the beach or pool.
'I chose to wear loose linen trousers and a long-sleeved loose-fitting top, and also wore a headscarf when visiting the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, which is a requirement for women inside the mosque.'
Also on Zara's list of the destinations perfect for solo female travellers is Maun, Botswana.
Known as the gateway to the UNESCO-listed Okavango Delta, Maun is a small town in the north of the landlocked country.
Although Zara admits that there is not much to do in the town itself, she said that the Delta is 'well worth a visit' as 'one of the last pieces of wilderness still remaining on this planet'.
'This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, with wildlife everywhere, stunning sunsets and even more amazing people,' she said.
'I cannot wait to go back to Botswana to explore more of the Delta.'
Compared to other African countries, crime rates in Botswana are very low, according to Lonely Planet.
The only issue Zara encountered was men catcalling her on the streets when she was walking alone - but she emphasised this would not prevent her from returning to the southern African country in the future.
The first place Zara travelled to on her own was Paris, France, which also features on her list.
Despite being very nervous on the trip, she fell head over heels for the City of Love and has visited on her own three more times since.
As well as wandering through the whimsical streets and exploring renowned locations such as the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triumph, Zara most enjoys sipping a coffee in a Parisian café.
With one of the lowest crime rates on the planet, Zara also recommends that solo female travellers add Reykjavik, Iceland to their bucket list - as well as the idyllic Greek island of Corfu.
After exploring Australia in a campervan for a month, the Land Down Under also earned a mention in Zara's blog post.
With English as its national language, Zara found it easy to make friends with fellow backpackers in Australia so she did not have to traverse the outback alone.
The only thing you need to be weary of in Australia, according to Zara, is the wildlife.
'From snakes and spiders to crocs and jellyfish, it seems everything in Australia wants to kill you,' she wrote.
'So it's wise to avoid hiking alone and join a group tour if you do want to embark on a hike, just to be safe.'
For Zara's full list of the 13 Epic and Safe Destinations for Solo Female Travellers, visit her travel blog at passport-for-living.com.
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