Walking safari experiences

Tarangire has a rare water source flowing through the area, drawing in great herds of elephant and other wildlife. This, combined with mild weather conditions creates the ideal environment for walking safaris. Spend anything from a morning to a couple of nights on foot, as a trained guide leads you on an interpretive wilderness journey, examining all the links, from the Siafu ants to the mighty bull elephant, in the circle of life.

The South Luangwa might be the home of the walking safari, but the North Luangwa is where they really come alive. Here, there are no game drives, just your own two feet and truly excellent guides that know the wilderness like the back of their hands - and zero permanent lodges cluttering up the landscape! The walks aren’t designed to be route marches either - it’s all about taking in the epic wildlife and scenery and truly getting back to nature. Stroll beside languid waterways where hippos doze and the birdlife is incredible, watch the horizon for members of the Big Five and delight in the smallest details. That's what a walking safari is all about.

Phinda offers the rare opportunity to see both black and white rhino in the wild. Experienced guides take you out into the bush on foot, where they interpret the tracks and signs in the attempt to locate one of these majestic creatures—one of Africa's biggest and most endangered animals.

Walking is the ideal way to experience the raw beauty of Tuli. Being on foot provides game viewing opportunities that you wouldn't otherwise have on a game drive through this rugged landscape. It is also a much more intimate experience, as you enjoy learning about some of the smaller creatures of the bush, and appreciate the art of tracking animals that you might not even know existed. You can reach many areas that vehicles can't go. Tuli is famous for its large elephant populations, and one of the greatest experiences is to encounter one of these great beasts on foot with an experienced guide (safely, from a distance). Walking offers a holistic experience—a peaceful opportunity for reflection.

Pioneered by the legendary conservationist Norman Carr in the 1950s, South Luangwa is the birthplace of the walking safari. You'll be led by a park ranger and expert guide, trained to decipher the tiniest detail and predict an animal's movements, often leading to moments unique to a walking safari. And your guide has a bank of knowledge to go with every discovery. Along the way, you'll cross rivers in between herds of elephant and spy on leopard dozing in a tree, stopping occasionally to examine the handiwork of a dung beetle, admire the birds, or for a well-earned cup of tea. Seeing wildlife undisturbed and in their own element, from the smallest critters to the biggest, this is a walking safari in South Luangwa. Leave at first light to catch the animals at their most active and you'll be out for around four hours. For the most comfortable and lucrative conditions, June to September is the best time to go. Don't miss this Timbuktu favourite!

As Zambia's largest park, Kafue may seem more suited to all-day game drives, but walking safaris are one of its hidden gems...Picture strolling across the flood plains in the early morning light without another soul around for miles, heaven! With your seasoned guide leading the way, put your walking boots to good use as you explore this exquisite wilderness, spying huge herds of red lechwe, cheetah speeding to catch their prey and learning to read the signs these creatures leave behind. Without the rumble of an engine or clues given over walkie-talkie, you'll get back to the roots of a safari. The best time to see the most wildlife is, of course, the dry season (May to October) and September is especially good for avid birders.

The Selous is the largest game reserve in Africa and indeed the world. The reserve is named after the famous hunter and military scout who was killed here by a German sniper’s bullet during WW I. Kenyan conservationist Richard Bonham made walking safaris here the gold standard, exploring the place in the 1980s with the most intrepid of clients. Walking in the Selous has always been about a state of mind and not body or the distance covered; it is an opportunity to exercise the senses, to unload the burden of modern contraptions and the yoke of occupational stress.

Luambe is simply made for a walking safari, be it an active morning leg stretch or a gentle afternoon stroll. When you step off the vehicle, it’s time to learn about the smaller creatures of the bush, the way they interact and what happens behind the scenes. And believe us, there’s a lot to learn and it’s endlessly fascinating.

Feel the crunch of the soil beneath your boots and learn to hear the tell-tale rustle of wildlife on a bush walk. Straight after breakfast set out to uncover the secrets of the Serengeti. While the specifics depend on where you are, you'll have the chance to take a microscope to the landscape. Joined by your knowledgable guide, follow a flutter of wings to see lovebirds snacking on figs, peer into an earthy warthog burrow and inspect every track you can find. You could just be following a pride of lion (who should be napping in the distance) or thirsty elephant on the way to a waterhole! Whether it's scanning acacia bark for tiny critters or staring skyward to see an eagle soaring overhead, the essence of the Serengeti is yours to experience.

As one of the oldest wildernesses in Africa, Hwange is certainly worth taking a closer look and that's exactly what you'll do on a walking safari. Hwange's diversity of landscapes - from the water-logged pans to wind-swept Kalahari sands, and the wildlife that roams between them is staggering. Your sure-footed guide will lead you on a journey of following tracks, listening for calls (and learning what they mean) and examining the tiniest details to learn their secrets. And you're bound to encounter the stars of Hwange, the elephant who march grandly across the plains and, sometimes, through camp! After refreshments and a spot of sky-gazing, you'll return to base.

In Zimbabwe, elephant reign supreme and nowhere more so than Mana Pools, which occupies prime land beside the Zambezi River. Apart from the hazy blue forests of Ana trees, the area is rather sparsely vegetated, making it perfect for a walking safari with few hiding spots. Your guide is highly trained in understanding wildlife dynamics and how to find the myriad animals, while remaining mostly undetected. Using the clues left behind by wildlife, you may be walking quietly through the forest when an elephant stands on its back legs to reach the treetop bounty or follow a pack of African painted dog on their travels, sometimes getting within a few meters. Much of the wildlife is quite used to humans tramping through the park! Stop for chilled drinks while a herd of buffalo grazes downwind before returning to camp. The driest, safest and most rewarding time for a walking safari is between May and September.

Ditch the jeep and explore the crisp, crimson landscape of Samburu on foot. Follow your expert guide as they lead you on a journey of tracking black rhinos and the 'Special Five', and spotting the details that are often missed. Let your safari slow to a gentle pace as you stop to learn the names and uses of desert-dwelling flora, discover skeletons left behind by predators (both large and small) and examine rock formations for tiny critters.

Zambia is home of the walking safari, and exploring Liuwa Plains on foot will certainly not disappoint. Wander along glittering streams, through shady patches of forest and across the vast plains as the sun pops its head above the horizon. A walking safari here isn’t so much about chasing animals, but about enjoying your surroundings, taking it slow and simply "being" in nature.

Ruaha in southern Tanzania is “a big place where big things happen”. As such it attracts some of Africa’s best guides. Only recently Ruaha has become known as the place where lions routinely take down elephants as prey (although you'd rather not witness). One of the least known of Africa’s big game parks, Ruaha retains a sense of the road less travelled and the difference which it makes. In fact, most of the park has no roads so it is the trail less taken. The landscape and vegetation are diverse and through it all runs the Great Ruaha River.

Imfolozi Game Reserve, in Zululand, is famously known as the place where the southern white rhino was saved from extinction. It remains the best place to see both white and black species. There are two trail options: one where you stay in and walk out each day from a base camp, and the other where you walk between satellite camps; but fear not, donkeys carry the heavy stuff. The chances of not seeing rhinos here are slim, making it just about the only place left in Africa where that claim can be made. The spectre of Zulu history pervades the place.

Step out onto the wide open grasslands in the early morning dew or the afternoon sunshine, to experience the Masai Mara up-close. Your guide will provide the 411 on this wild corner of Kenya, as you ditch the rumbling jeep for the melody of the bush. From the ground up, there is something to see...the hundred-legged millipede scuttling by, spotted hyena racing across your path and the martial eagle whose cry echoes across the skies. Lest we forget the safari icons, which you'll watch in wonder, although from further away!

There’s something about sleeping under the stars that’s utterly magical. And a sleep-out safari in the South Luangwa isn’t any old camping! You’ll be spoilt with dinner cooked over the campfire, soak up safari tales told by some of the greatest guides on the continent, then curl up under your mosquito net and nod off to the sounds of the Zambian night. You might just be woken by the sounds of a herd of elephant passing by at midnight, but no need to worry as there is an armed scout on watch throughout the night. The following morning, it’s bacon and eggs with the sunrise and a walking safari back to camp. Fly camping is at its best towards the end of the dry season (July to September) when the temperatures are warmer and there are fewer mosquitoes.

As South Africa's true safari darling, the Kruger is also chock-a-block with critters of the smaller variety. Chuck on your walking boots for a few hours of exploring the reserve on foot, with a seasoned guide to share the secrets of the bush with you. Spy on the plentiful birdlife in one of Africa's largest fever tree forests, examine the earthy trails for porcupine quills and honey badger tracks and spot the shiny shell of a rhino beetle. Adjust your focus to truly appreciate the finer details on this close-up walk through nature. If you're lucky, you may even see a rare and endangered pangolin! This makes a fantastic post-game drive or pre-lunch activity.

Get to know the wilds of Kenya on a walking safari over golden grasslands, forested hillsides and wildlife-filled conservancies of Laikipia. Depart just after dawn-break to make the most of the daylight as you track African painted dogs (hopefully seeing them trot across a quiet path) and learning to sniff out where a lion may be snoozing while herds graze bravely on the plains. With the sprawling Laikipia plateau before you, lean in for a closer look as you spy a dung beetle rolling by and examine tree bark for signs of life. If you're staying on private land, there are no strict paths and you can really blaze a new trail. There's also the option to extend your walking safari into a multi-day activity, stopping to camp beneath the stars.