Adventure Safaris

Walking Safaris
There can not be many finer ways to enjoy all that the African bush has to offer than on foot. An elephant from the safety and elevation of a vehicle is ‘just an elephant’. On foot, everyone feels the incredible presence that elephant exude when they cast a wise eye in your now humbled direction. The playing fields are equaled and you no longer can enjoy the relative safety, protection and means of escape that a vehicle has to offer.

The Joys of Walking in the Bush

		There are so many pleasures to be had when on a walk in a wild area. These include that of walking on a well-used game trail on an under felt of elephant dung giving an added spring to you step, the plants and flowers, a chorus of birdsong, uninterrupted by vehicle sound. To enjoy the health of your body and feel ancient impulses stir. This and many other facets are what a walking safari is all about. It is a privilege and a pleasure to be able to walk in a wild area, devoid of roads, vehicles, concrete, power lines and other signs of civilization. Most guests who come to Africa wish to go on a walk, even if only for some exercise and to get the feel of the land. Walking gives one the opportunity to see and learn about all the little things that we miss when zooming around in a vehicle divorced from the land, things of interest: signs, prints, dung, plants and their varied uses.
Enjoying elephant on foot

Walking Areas
Some of the finest walking areas in Africa are Mana Pools National Park, the South and North Luangwa National Parks, parts of the Okavango Delta and the Linyanti Wildlife Preserve. What all of these areas have in common is large tracts of wilderness, abundant wildlife and scenic walking terrain.

You don’t have to be ultra fit to enjoy a walk in the African bush. These activities are nature walks rather than route marches and tend to be at a slow to medium pace. The object is not to see how far you can walk but how much you can see and learn each day. Very few walking safaris these days require you to carry heavy back packs; your belongings are normally driven ahead or carried by porters while you only need carry personal belongings like binoculars, camera, bird book, water bottle and sun cream.

Close encounters

Distance
The most popular types of walking safari are normally for a duration of two to three days You walk for a few hours having covered about eight to twelve kms before stopping for a refreshment and lunch, normally carried by a learner guide or porter. There is occasion where your guide will walk you along animal trails to a waterhole well frequented by wildlife while a safari vehicle has driven in on a track and set up lunch beneath a shady tree and laid out stretcher beds for an afternoon siesta. Once the heat of the day has subsided the walk will continue for about five kms arriving at the trails camp in the late afternoon.

Trails Camps
Your overnight camps will normally be situated in a well sited beauty spot. The camp is often of rustic design; either tents or thatch chalets with shared or en suite ablutions. Staff are on hand to ensure your comforts are met after an invigorating days walk.

For one of the recommended walking trails on offer, please see the sample itineraries below.

Sample itineraries
>4 Day Mana Walking Trail, Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
>4 Day Canoe and Walking Trail, Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
>3 Day Walking Trail, Okavango Delta, Botswana
>3 Day Walking Trail, Linyanti, Botswana
>7 Night Walking Trail, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia