What to Expect
A Walking Safari is a privilege, allowing you thrilling encounters on foot, and a rare connection with the environment. Walking Safaris are very different to game drives. Being on foot means you travel much shorter distances on your safari, and experience the bush in a completely different way. Your senses are on high alert as any encounters with wildlife are now as a participant, rather than simply a spectator!
Depending on where you are on safari, bush walks and walking safaris are always accompanied by an experienced guide, and in many countries you will also have an armed tracker, and possibly also a national park’s scout.
The focus on a Walking Safari is to observe the smaller details of the bush – using all of your senses in a way that’s not possible in a vehicle. Stop to listen to birdlife, watch the behavior or insects, track the footprints and signs of larger animals. You may come close to elephant, buffalo or predators, and your guides will instruct you on how to behave in order to remain safe and enjoy the exhilaration of these encounters.
For many visitors, a bush walk, lasting 2-4 hours is the highlight of their safari experience, and this is offered at most safari destinations throughout southern and east Africa. The duration, number of people permitted, required level of fitness and minimum age will vary from country to country, and from camp to camp, depending on local laws, topography and the judgement of the guides.
For those visitors looking to truly immerse themselves in their surroundings, choose a Walking Safari in Zambia, Zimbabwe or Tanzania.
Where to Go on a Walking Safari
Zimbabwe: Hwange National Park, Mana Pools
Walking is permitted in all of Zimbabwe’s wildlife areas, including its national parks. Guiding standards are extremely high, with vigorous training, including gun competency, required. All walking guides have a minimum of 5 years’ bush experience. Hwange National Park offers a combination of game viewing in 4×4 safari vehicles and on foot. Mana Pools is perhaps the most iconic walking safari destination in Zimbabwe, and you can often get very close to wildlife here. Combine walking with canoeing and 4×4 game drives for an immersive and authentic bush experience.
Zambia: South Luangwa National Park
The birthplace of the Walking Safari, Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park offers some of Africa’s greatest options when it comes to having your boots on the ground! Combine walking with game drives, or opt to stay in camps that specialize only in Walking Safaris! Your Walking Safari vacation takes you deep into remote parts of the park devoid of roads, following camp to camp trails with expert local guides. Expect an exhilarating safari, learning the lore of the bush, with memorable wildlife encounters!
Tanzania: Nyerere and Ruaha National Parks
With a vast range of different topographies and vistas, the Nyerere National Park (previously known as the Selous Game Reserve) is perhaps Tanzania’s best Walking Safari destination. Walking is only permitted when accompanied by an armed guide, and usually last for 4-5 hours, or choose to hike from your safari lodge or camp to an overnight fly-camp for a longer Walking Safari experience. With towering baobab trees, impressive buffalo and elephant herds and the gushing Ruaha River, the Ruaha National Park is a particularly picturesque and unspoiled Walking Safari destination. Ruaha combines well with Nyerere in a two-destination safari itinerary.
