Walking Safari In Africa? Top 9 Best Destinations For Walking Safaris In Africa : Walking safaris provide an authentic and distinctive viewpoint on the wildlife, plant life, and ecosystems of the continent and are available in safari destinations in East and Southern Africa. Walking safaris give you a true taste of the wilderness that you can’t get from the comfort of a safari vehicle or lodge, from bush walks with tribe leaders that reveal an entirely different way of life to sleeping under the stars on a multi-day walking safari expedition.
Learn about tiny insects and reptiles in unprecedented detail, as well as how guides track large game in the wild, on your African walking Safari tour. Africa is the larger continent, with more than 50 countries offering walking safari activities. However, because you cannot explore the whole continent, in this article, Focus East Africa Tours has outlined and explained the best places that offer unforgettable Walking safari experiences for you to have an unforgettable experience. Here are the best places in Africa to go for a walking safari:
- WALKING SAFARIS IN BOTSWANA
Okavango Delta
One of the largest populations of elephants in all of Africa can be found in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, which is a swampy wildlife haven on land and in the sea, particularly on Chiefs Island. There are numerous opportunities for wildlife viewing in this abounding safari destination because the Delta is also renowned for superb year-round game viewing and for being an exceptional birding destination.
Due to the wetlands, the term “walking safari” is somewhat ambiguous because you will travel through the backwaters and waterways in a mokoro, a traditional dug-out canoe. You can stay at mobile camps along the trail to travel further on a multi-night walking safari experience, or you can stay in luxurious and semi-luxurious game lodges if you’re looking for a day trip outside.
- WALKING SAFARIS IN KENYA
Masai Mara
One of the best-known safari locations in the world is Kenya’s magnificent Masai Mara, which boasts highlights like the Great Migration (which is shared with Tanzania’s neighboring Serengeti) and Africa’s Big Five.
The Masai Mara’s bush walks are especially unique because they are guided by Maasai warriors who live there and are undoubtedly the best locals. These local guides can demonstrate their way of life while teaching you about their survival skills, hunting methods, and savannah lifestyle thanks to their decades of knowledge and experience.
Samburu National Reserve
Even though Samburu is only 165 square kilometers in size, it is teeming with wildlife. The Ewaso Nyiro River contrasts the semi-desert landscape, making game viewing simple in a constrained area with few water sources. In your Samburu Walking safari, you will be able to see The “Samburu Five,” which consists of the Somali ostrich, Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, and Beisa Oryx.
Samburu is perfect for multi-day walking safaris because it has more rugged terrain than other Kenyan national parks, but fitness and endurance are important factors to take into account. The adventure is worthwhile, though, as you’ll get to experience East Africa’s wild side, which is inaccessible from the luxury of safari lodges.
- WALKING SAFARIS IN MADAGASCAR
Amber Mountains National Park and Ankarana Special Reserve
The Amber Mountain National Park and Ankarana Special Reserve, which are both in the north of Madagascar, are home to stunning landscapes with crater lakes, waterfalls, and native plant life, making them among the island’s most biologically diverse locations.
You’ll see reptiles like chameleons (the Amber Mountain Leaf Chameleon is one of the tiniest reptiles in the world), colorful varieties of bird species, and mammals like Madagascar’s famous lemurs on your intrepid walking safari through the jungle.
- WALKING SAFARIS IN RWANDA
Volcanoes National Park
Little Rwanda is referred to as the Land of a Thousand Hills, and its undulating mountainous topography supports mountain gorilla habitats in the jungle. Explore the nation’s three protected national parks (Akagera National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Nyungwe Forest National Park), take a relaxing swim in Lake Kivu, meet chimpanzees and native golden monkeys, and then trek to Volcanoes national Park for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see mountain gorilla groups in the wild.
- WALKING SAFARIS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Kruger National Park
South Africa’s Kruger National Park is one of the best places to take an African walking safari. This well-known safari location, which is home to a wide variety of wildlife species, provides excellent multi-day bushwalk expeditions during the dry season as well as comfortable lodging options along the way. South Africa is also a favorite for family safaris because it is a malaria-free safari destination; this means that children can enjoy game viewing without the added inconvenience of taking malaria medication.
Private Reserves
In some of South Africa’s private reserves, like those at Kruger, walking safaris are also offered. Popular destinations for family-friendly walking safaris include Sabi Sands, the Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu Natal. Interactive bush walks show off a higher level of detail than you would typically see on a regular game drive.
- WALKING SAFARIS IN TANZANIA
Ruaha National Park
Although Ruaha is Tanzania’s second (and East Africa’s) largest national park, it only receives about 5% of the number of visitors that the Serengeti does because of its more isolated location. Therefore, a trip here entails encountering Tanzania’s largest elephant population, viewing enormous lion prides, and traveling through dramatic landscapes with the impression that the park is all yours.
This national park offers a vast expanse of land with mountains, rocky outcrops, and savannah flats dotted with baobab trees, making a walking safari there a more challenging excursion. Take a detour and enter a wilderness trail where you can go on multi-day bushwalks and camp out under the stars.
Selous Game Reserve
With a staggering more than 30,000 square kilometers of land, Selous is one of the world’s largest wildlife reserves, is UNESCO-protected, and is home to Africa’s Big Five. A few of the biggest populations of big game favorites, such as giraffes, zebras, elephants, hippos, lions, and rhinos, can be found here.
A safari to the Selous game reserve will give you the opportunities to participate in different activities such as self-drive safaris, river cruises, open-top game drives, walking safaris and overnight fly camping under the starry night sky.
Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti, a name that is synonymous with safari, is located in Tanzania and is arguably one of the best safari destinations in the world. It is home to the Great Migration, the Big Five of Africa, and fantastic opportunities for wildlife viewing.
Ikorongo Game Reserve and Loliondo Game Controlled Area offer crowd-free safaris, but since these attractions also make the Serengeti one of the most popular tourist destinations, you might want to plan trips there as well. Similar to the nearby Masai Mara in Kenya, local Maasai warriors frequently lead bush walks in the Serengeti, giving you a more genuine walking safari experience.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire is much less well-known than Other Tanzania’s Northern Safari Parks, despite having a competitive diversity of wildlife. You can observe elephant migrations, long-distance zebra and wildebeest migrations, and a wide variety of bird species here. Tarangire offers a wider range of safari experiences as well, such as walking safaris, night safaris, and fly camping excursions, where you’ll spend the night outside under the stars while listening to the distant sounds of wildlife.
- WALKING SAFARIS IN UGANDA
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
More than Nine habituated groups of mountain gorillas are found in Bwindi, which is where the families of Uganda’s mountain gorillas live. Because the groups live at various distances from the base and have treks that last anywhere from one to eight hours, you can choose your gorilla trek based on your fitness level, preferences, and the size of your party.
In the southern region of Bwindi, there is also a special chance to participate in the Gorilla Habituation Experience, which is run by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. In the Rushaga area of the park, two gorilla families are currently being habituated. This process involves acclimating the gorillas to people over a three- to five-year period. By taking part, you can spend four hours observing these amazing creatures and contribute to efforts that are essential to their continued survival.
Kibale Forest
As the forest is teeming with primate species, including colobus monkeys and red-tailed monkeys, among others, Kibale is well known for chimpanzee tracking Safari experience. The cheeky monkeys can be extremely interactive on a walk through the jungle, but they may also want to hide due to their wild nature. A “swamp walk” through the wetlands to visit nearby communities and see rare wildlife is another option for Kibale walking safari adventure.
- WALKING SAFARI IN ZAMBIA
Kafue National Park
The walking safari originated in Zambia, where all of the tour guides are highly trained to offer this adventurous safari experience with a level of detail and knowledge that may surprise you. Despite being the oldest and largest national park in Zambia, Kafue receives fewer visitors than South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi.
The critically endangered African wild dog, spotted hyenas, enormous crocodiles, cheetahs (this is the best national park in Zambia for cheetah sightings), elephants, leopards, lions, and buffalo, as well as more than 400 bird species, are just a few of Kafue’s wildlife highlights.
Lower Zambezi National Park
Southeast Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park, a rich wildlife haven, is situated on the northeastern banks of the Zambezi River, directly across from Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools. Explore the park’s flora and fauna on a bushwalk to learn more about what makes this incredible ecosystem unique.
Safari favorites like buffalo, zebra, waterbuck, impala, bushbuck, and African wild dogs can be seen congregating around the river and grazing on its fertile banks. Additionally, there are elephant herds here that can number up to 100 individuals.
North Luangwa National Park
The remote North Luangwa is a virgin wilderness that is only half as big as its southern sister and was once only accessible to researchers and conservationists. A walking safari is the best way to take in the large concentrations of wildlife living in the true wild because there are few roads and fewer people there.
To see lions, hyenas, buffalo, zebra, and the endemic Cookson’s wildebeest, stroll along the Mwaleshi River. The black rhino, which was brought back to the national park in 2003 and made Zambia a Big Five safari destination once more, can only be spotted in North Luangwa.
South Luangwa National Park
South Luangwa is one of Zambia’s most beloved national parks and is known for its big game and big cats. It is also home to a variety of diverse and abundant wildlife populations. Four of the Big Five can be seen here; the rhino can only be found in North Luangwa. You can also see endemic Thornicroft’s giraffes and uncommon African wild dogs. All of these sights are accessible on foot.
- WALKING SAFARIS IN ZIMBABWE
Mana Pools National Park
One of the best-known safari locations in Africa is Mana Pools, where the Zambezi River floods the plains and big game are drawn to the area’s plentiful water sources. Here, you can see the Big Five, rare African wild dogs, and engage in activities like hiking, game drives, birdwatching, and stargazing. You can go on private walking safaris and stay in tented camps to further enhance your genuine safari experience.
CONCLUSION: WALKING SAFARI IN AFRICA
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