A video of me being chased by a man while cycling in Kenya is going viral. So this video was filmed last year. And the man is holding a traditional Samburu stick, Was it frightening? Yes. But it was one moment in a journey that lasted years. I’ve spent 3 years exploring Africa, including cycling thousands of kilometres across Kenya. I’ve faced challenges, made mistakes, taken risks, and met incredible people. That’s part of being an adventurer. You step outside your comfort zone, adapt when things don’t go as planned, and learn along the way. For me, adventure also means sometimes adding places to my itinerary that others might avoid, including destinations where governments advise against travel. Not recklessly, but by doing my research, assessing the risks, listening to local advice, and making my own informed decisions. No country is made up entirely of good or bad people. I refuse to let the actions of a few people take away my freedom to explore the world as a solo female traveller. I’m not saying that risks don’t exist. I’m saying that one incident shouldn’t define an entire country, let alone a whole continent. Maybe this video is going viral because people are used to hearing about robberies involving knives or guns in the streets of their own cities, but seeing a woman chased by a man running after her with a stick in Africa seems to trigger a different kind of reaction. If his intention was to rob me, that could happen anywhere in the world. Another thing that surprises me is how many people are blaming me for travelling alone as a woman, as if women should give up their freedom because some men make the world unsafe for us. The problem isn’t women choosing to explore the world on their own; it’s the behaviour that makes us question whether we can do so safely. I’m tired of seeing women blamed for what happens to them instead of questioning why we still have to justify our freedom to travel, explore, and live life on our own terms. And I’ll keep exploring 🫶 #meghylost