For the aspiring global traveller who is still afraid

An old friend of mine and I used to share a tradition of telling each other about our “first times”. Not those kinds of first times, but life milestones. When you grow up often wishing and dreaming, every milestone feels worth celebrating: the first time you board an aeroplane, leave your city, or receive a bonus letter.

My first international trip was definitely a milestone worth celebrating and certainly a “first time” worth reporting. I’d like to say my report was filled only with excitement, but it was layered with fear too – and I want to share those fears with you.

One of them surfaced when I realised I would be connecting from Dubai to Stansted, England. Having never left the country before, I obsessed over the size of Dubai International Airport. How would I know where to go? What if I missed my next flight simply because the airport was too big?

Here's a funny story: I rode the escalators up and down at least three times because I didn’t realise I was meant to take a train inside the airport to reach my departure gate. I’m never shy to ask for help, so I eventually did. And just like that, I was taking a train from one gate to another inside an airport. The world suddenly felt much bigger than I had imagined.

Upon arriving in England, a new wave of anxiety set in. I had never gone through passport control before. I carried a transparent envelope filled with printed travel documents: my itinerary, accommodation details, a doctor’s letter for medication, and proof of travel insurance. You become so nervous that you start to feel as if you’ve done something wrong, or that you might be turned away.

Passport control officers usually don’t smile. They ask straightforward questions: Why are you here? How long do you plan to stay? When exactly will you be returning home? All you need is to have your answers and documents prepared – and you’ll be fine. These were just some of the things that made me feel anxious, fearful, and yet deeply excited all at once.

I feel incredibly lucky to have had a friend waiting for me on the other side of passport control. Lauren had already been living in England, and knowing she was there gave me a sense of relief I hadn’t realised I needed. She taught me how to navigate public transport, one route at a time, until I could take the train on my own without the constant fear of ending up on the other side of the country.

Because I love to plan, I had mapped out every day of that trip before I even left South Africa. I quickly realised, however, that even the best plans need breathing space. When you rely on public transport, there is often much more walking than you expect—between train stations, bus stops, and final destinations—and rest becomes essential.

As I started navigating on my own, new fears emerged. As someone who seeks winter, I had purposely travelled in December, unaware that the sun would set before 4pm. By late afternoon, it was already pitch dark. That first evening, I panicked. Being out in a large city after sunset felt intimidating, so I retreated to my hotel. From my window, I watched London carry on without me. The streets were still lively. People were still commuting, meeting friends, continuing as if nothing had changed – except the light.

The next day, I stayed out until 11pm. I wasn’t scared. And I wasn’t anxious.

Before that first journey, I believed I suffered from social anxiety. In reality, I had simply never felt completely safe in some of the spaces I had occupied before. I don’t have social anxiety – I prioritise my safety. That trip forced me to rethink the story I had told about myself. I found out that I am braver than I had let myself believe. More adventurous, too.

I discovered that I could walk nearly 12 kilometres in a day and barely notice, driven by curiosity and adrenaline. I realised that the world is much larger—and often more compassionate—than we often think. Most surprisingly, I learned that you can feel a sense of belonging in a place where you were not born. That sometimes, distance does not cause disconnection – it fosters healing.

Since that first trip, I’ve returned to England several times for different reasons, and I’ve travelled to other cities and countries too. Sometimes I have travelled to escape, sometimes to heal, sometimes to celebrate, and sometimes simply to realise a lifelong dream. Over time, I’ve realised that the destination is only part of the story; the reason matters just as much  - sometimes more. Travel has a way of meeting you exactly where you are.

If you’re reading this and wondering where to start, perhaps it begins with honesty. With recognising to yourself that you want to explore more of the world - and questioning why. The location can come later.

To aspiring explorers: curiosity is a powerful starting point. Research helps. Conversations help. Saving gradually helps. Asking questions helps. You don’t need to know everything before you go – I certainly didn’t. You just have to decide that you are allowed to try.

* Sané Ndlovu is a proudly local, globally curious travel writer, PR practitioner, and avid solo traveller.