| The original African safaris were walking tours | | | | and small national parks which are not visited by |
| with the motive of exploration, search for new | | | | mass tourism. |
| colonies or hunting. While the pioneers of safari | | | | There are many Africa walking safari outfitters |
| had a whole life devoted to traversing the African | | | | giving you a wide range of tours and prices to |
| continent, today's traveler has an acute time | | | | suit. But this can severely compromise on the |
| restriction. Fortunately, a good walking holiday in | | | | quality tours especially on guiding and logistics. |
| Africa is not measured by the number of safari | | | | There is a clear difference between a trail guide |
| days but by the quality of the walking experience. | | | | whom you follow blindly and a naturalist safari |
| What makes walking holidays such superior travel | | | | guide who brings life into your tour by explaining |
| experiences? Simply put it is the magic of | | | | and interpreting animals behavior, shows you |
| outdoors; the sound of leaves crushing under your | | | | plants with medicinal values and teaches you |
| boots, the shimmering colors of a bird in flight and | | | | about bush survival skills. |
| the smell of fresh flowers. No need for health | | | | Note that a walking holiday requires better |
| statistics here, every walker knows the general | | | | preparation than a lodge-to-lodge package safari. |
| well-being that comes from walking and no | | | | It is therefore important to do a thorough |
| wonder it becomes a positively addictive hobby. | | | | background check on the experience of the |
| A guided walking tour to Africa is a thrill that lets | | | | walking holiday's outfitter and his guides before |
| you get in the African wildlife well away from the | | | | booking the tour. |
| mass tourism. The type of game you are likely to | | | | To enjoy your African walking safari, it helps that |
| see will obviously depend on the location of your | | | | your tour is fully supported with back-up vehicles |
| walking safari. A well thought-out walk should give | | | | or animals for carrying luggage. In many walking |
| you sightings of giraffes, zebras and various | | | | places the vehicles come in handy in that you can |
| antelopes. There are places where you may walk | | | | hop in and do a game drive instead of walking. |
| without an armed ranger but where there is | | | | Find out if there is flexibility of activities in your |
| dangerous game an armed ranger is essential for | | | | walking holiday. |
| safety. | | | | Your accommodation during the walking safari |
| Overall safety should be the determining factor | | | | should be close to the walking sites to reduce the |
| and ideally you should not get in close proximity | | | | amount of time taken for transfers. Guided |
| with dangerous game such as lions, buffaloes, | | | | walking tours in East Africa can be done all year |
| elephants, rhinos or hippos. | | | | round. Even in the rainy season as long as one is |
| Is an African walking tour all about wildlife viewing? | | | | not camping out in the bush, it is possible to go |
| Certainly not. There are interesting plants that can | | | | out for walks. Yes, life never stops in Africa! It is |
| hold any naturalist's attention, colorful birds that | | | | more likely to rain in the afternoon , so you can |
| are easy to see and a topography that is ever | | | | still enjoy your early morning walks. |
| changing and captivating. | | | | The distances walked vary, but look at 10-12 km |
| Are there places which can be ranked as the best | | | | with frequent stops for game viewing. Ideally it |
| for walking safaris? There is no right answer for | | | | should be possible for the walking group to split up |
| this, as best is a very relative term.The Southern | | | | to accommodate not only different abilities but |
| African countries had an earlier start in walking | | | | also different interests such as birdwatching and |
| safaris but the East African countries are quickly | | | | nature photography. |
| catching up. In whichever African country you | | | | Now that you know the basics of an African |
| take your guided walking tour, you are likely to | | | | walking tour, hit the keyboard for a walking safari |
| get more value in private game conservancies | | | | that suits you. |