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Want to get up really close to the sights, sounds, and scents of nature? To truly immerse yourself in our fascinating natural world, nothing beats a walking safari.
Picture a slow-paced guided walk, designed to take in the small details of the flora and fauna of the bush. Unlike a Jeep-driven game drive, one can pick up many of the details that are missed rumbling over the savannah. You could say that a walking safari is an adventure that moves at the speed of nature.
But only if you respect the land and wildlife on its terms, that is, dispense with the usual chatter, quieting yourself and focusing on the surrounding textures, colors, sounds, and all the elements that the wildlife use to navigate their world.
Your Guide
Ushering you into this nature walk, your guide is an expert when it comes to identifying the sights and sounds of the nearby animals. And this includes spotting scat or fecal matter on the trail. Here, temperature plays a significant role – the warmer the scat, the closer the animal.
Depending on where you choose to safari, your guide might be a Samburu, Hadzabe, or a Maasai individual – experienced, confident, and professional. He will lead you from several hours to a full day or more, depending on your preferences.
You will encounter all types of smaller game from dik-dik to gazelle to mongoose and warthogs. But don’t be surprised when you get up close to zebra, giraffe, buffalo, rhino, hyena, and elephant. And sightings of lions and leopards are not unheard of.
There’s nothing quite like the knee-shaking thrill of suddenly spotting a large rhino or elephant just yards away, checking you out, and taking your measure!
Walking The Great Migration
The Great Wildebeest Migration is an extraordinary spectacle in the Serengeti and Masai Mara where millions of herding wildlife cross the Mara River.
An excellent way to get close to this one-of-a-kind event is a walking safari on the Serengeti side of the river. There you’ll get close to the uncountable wildebeests, zebra, and gazelle as they herd, run, and swim across the Mara, trying to avoid crocodiles and the big cats on the other shore.
You’ll have a perfect, unhindered view of this timeless struggle for survival between grazer and predator.
Also nearby, the Mara Naboisho Conservancy bordering the Masai Mara allows walking safaris led by a Maasai guide, taking you through its spectacular scenery. It’s one of the few spots where you can leave your Jeep and go on foot to experience the immediacy of a true walking safari.
Sounds like fun… and a new way to discover the treasures of Africa. We offer an exciting variety of walking safaris in Kenya and Tanzania to get you up close to our natural world of wonders.
