Gosh – that’s a hard one – where is the best walking safari in Africa? Many questions spring to mind! Is that the safari with the best walking guides, as when walking one invariably does not see as much wildlife as in a vehicle and therefore, the quality of guiding has to be that much better. Yes, that’s true… Does that mean the walking safari which offers the greatest opportunity to see wildlife – yes, that could be a part … Does that mean the best scenery – or does it in fact mean, a safari which encompasses all three elements? Well, that makes you quite a hard task master, as we say!! Many walking safaris will offer a component of these factors, but certainly not all of them!

However, let’s say that you DO want all three aspects on a safari – then that narrows our choice quite considerably. The South Luangwa in Zambia must offer the best walking safari – alongside the Mana Pools region in Zimbabwe. They are equally as good, offer breathtaking scenery, extraordinary wildlife and some of the best guiding in Africa! There is also fantastic walking in the Serengeti  in Tanzania – where game viewing and scenery is phenomenal and we have some fantastic guiding too. The Kruger National Park in South Africa also offers walking safaris, but one comes back to the same camp each evening. These are proper, dedicated walking safaris – of several days, if not weeks. This to me, is one of the best ways of going on safari, alongside horse riding and canoeing.

What do they have in common? They are completely silent, allowing you to get as close as possible to wildlife without disturbing them – in other words, observing them in their natural state.  And let me tell you, I have got closer on walking safaris to wildlife than many vehicle safaris!

There is one anecdote of a walking safari – walking with one of the doyenne’s of the safari world in Zambia, stumbling upon  a pride of lion on a kill and setting up tea at a table as there was nothing else to do – before leaving several hours later. We were entirely safe, with Africa’s best safari guides who were armed and all I can say, is that it was a privilege! It certainly made my heart beat quite a lot faster too …. but this is what makes for good stories around a dinner table!

Best walking safari with AfricanExplorations.com

Another time in Mana Pools with one of Zimbabwe’s finest guides, watching a herd of buffalo from behind  a large termite mound on the right and a pride of lions on our left – who were oblivious to our presence. Again – with armed guides who would keep us at  a distance and downwind of the wildlife so they could not pick up our scent.

Best walking safari with AfricanExplorations.com

Then one returns to the safety of the camp, with huge smiles welcoming you, cold flannels and a chilled glass of wine or beer (or water!), to have a hot bucket shower and then recount your stories around an open fire with your fellow travellers… (or even simply with your guide and other half) if you choose. But coming from Africa, what do I love the most? Being in a park at sundown, when everyone  else has left and you watch all the birds come to roost in the trees as the sun begins to sink, enveloping everything in a orange purple hue and you walk towards your chair next to the fire, feeling incredibly smug – that you have this experience all to yourself, whilst the chef busies himself with creating a wonderful meal over the fire…..

Now, isn’t this what dreams are made of?