Woodbridge Safaris
"however you wish to travel"
Travelling on Foot
Walking features in almost every itinerary that I prepare. Compared with travelling in a vehicle, "the bush" on foot is a very different experience. In a 4WD vehicle you can move freely in the environment, spectating on the game at close range. Step outside on foot and you become an integral part of the environment, sharing the same space as the wildlife. Your sensory experience is both sharper and broader, with every smell and sound potentially significant.
A good guide is an essential part of any walking safari. In addition to taking care of your safety, they will be able to help you interpret the tracks, and will point out the smaller sights that pass unnoticed from a vehicle. Who can forget the first time they lured an ant-lion into the open and captured it alive or when they tickled a spider out of its hole?
My personal on foot highlights include:
- Weeks and weeks of walking safaris in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia! A particular favourite are the Bushcamps which offer an intimate experience and outstanding service in wilderness settings in South Luangwa. One year I spent a fortnight in these camps, and saw no other people when out walking and driving - apart from the staff and other guests! Most Zambian bushcamps only operate from June to October, but there are two which are accessible in late April and then remain open through the first rains into the Green Season. Another favourite is Footsteps Across the Delta in Botswana, which takes only six guests and again offers a very high standard of guiding, with the emphasis on walking.
- A more extreme walking option is Mt Kilimanjaro on the border between Kenya and Tanzania. I first reached the crater rim in 1990, and returned to finish the job at Christmas in 2006, reaching the summit via a different route. This is undoubtedly one of the great walks of the world, but due to the extreme altitude not one to be undertaken lightly. It is essential to use a good operator to maximise your chances of success, and I would highly recommend starting with time in the Crater Highlands and perhaps an ascent of Mt Meru to aid acclimatisation. On my most recent trip is rained every single day, but we were rewarded by the most amazing summit views. There are a few photos online, and as ever please contact me if you'd like to discuss the best option for your trip.
- I've also enjoyed demanding walking in the Drakensberg in South Africa and the Simien Mountains in Ethiopia. The latter are an amazing landscape which holds unique wildlife, including gelada baboons. A trek in the Simiens combines well with the remarkable cultural sites of Ethiopia such as the rock churches at Lalibela.
- Another on foot safari experience is a trek to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda. Whilst you spend just an hour with these gentle giants, it's a unique experience which will live with you forever. When I visited Bwindi National Park we strolled for just twenty minutes before finding a gorilla family, but it can take several hours of hard walking on densely forested slopes. There's no doubting their intelligence and it's a very different interaction than watching plains game or even the big predators. Trips to this region can also include trekking with chimpanzees.