| Many of the safari camps in and around Selous | | | | leopards mainly due to the noise we made, our |
| Game Reserve offer their guests the opportunity | | | | ranger did tell us that he has seen a large |
| to take part in a walking safari. Selous Riverside | | | | selection of such animals during walks. This type |
| Camp on the banks of the Rufigi river are no | | | | of walking safari is more about the smaller things |
| different. The walks are relatively short lasting | | | | such as insects, plants and birds. The first item of |
| around 1-2 hours and covering no more than a | | | | interest we came across was a termite mound |
| mile or two. The terrain is usually fairly easy for | | | | that stood at least 2 metres tall. The ranger |
| most people and all the people on our walk wore | | | | explained that although the termite mound looked |
| trainers or similar comfortable shoes. | | | | quite large, two-thirds of the system was |
| The walking safaris at Selous Riverside start early. | | | | underground. Quite impressive when you consider |
| We were woken up at 5.30am for a 6am start. | | | | the size of the little creatures who built it. |
| There was just time for a quick cup of tea or | | | | The one inescapable sound was the almost |
| coffee before boarding the vehicles to head for | | | | deafening sound of cicadas which were all around |
| the days chosen walking location. As Selous | | | | us. Measuring between 1-2 inches, the cicada are |
| Riverside is located outside the Selous National | | | | similar to locusts and if you look closely, you'll see |
| Park, we were also going to walk outside the | | | | them all over the trees. They go through a 17 |
| park. Our destination was around 10-15 minutes | | | | year life cycle and are preyed upon by pretty |
| away and we were soon on our way, heading | | | | much everything in the wild. We were also shown |
| through a nearby village and down one of the | | | | plants like the Sausage Tree which takes its name |
| many side roads where we pulled over. | | | | from the sausage shaped fruit it produces. |
| There was fairly thick vegetation all round us but | | | | However, the fruit is much large than the |
| paths that had been cleared by passing elephants | | | | traditional English breakfast sausage as it grows |
| and hippo were clearly visible so we followed | | | | up to a metre in length and can weigh over 10kg. |
| these. Our group of 6 walkers was accompanied | | | | The walk lasted for an hour and although it was all |
| by an armed ranger and a local tracker. We were | | | | too easy to get the feeling it wasn't much |
| given a short briefing explaining procedures should | | | | different to a walk in a wood back in England, the |
| we come across any wildlife and once everyone | | | | occasional tracks we came across gave us a |
| was happy, we set off. The ranger led the way | | | | reminder that we were very much in Africa. Once |
| and we all followed in single file with the tracker | | | | back at the safari vehicle, we were soon on our |
| falling in behind. | | | | way to camp for breakfast before heading out |
| Although it was fairly unlikely that we would come | | | | on another day on safari in the Selous Game |
| across any larger wildlife such as elephants or | | | | Reserve. |