How to Survive a Walking Safari in Africa

Wildlife Safari
By praxis On January 27, 2022

Do you have a death wish?” “Are you crazy?” “Did you make out your will?” These were all questions posed to me by friends, family, and neighbors when I told them I was off to South Luangwa National Park in Zambia to take a walking safari, where, instead of seeing wildlife from the relative safety confines of a tricked out Jeep, I would be traversing the grasslands on foot. Regular safaris – once you get past the initial excitement of seeing your first lion, zebra, leopard, rhino, or elephant in the wild – are safe (or at least safer as you are in the confines of a metal structure) but can be… challenging.

A normal day in a safari camp goes like this: Wake up at dawn, have breakfast, get in a truck and go find some animals for up to four hours. Return to camp, have lunch, take a siesta and go back out for an evening drive at around 4 p.m. During the evening drive, you will likely stop at some beautiful spot with expansive views of the sunset for a “Sundowner” – a drink next to the vehicle. This is usually the only point during the drive in which you are allowed out of the truck. After drinks are drunk and the sun has set, you re-enter the vehicle and try to spot night hunts, returning to camp around 8 p.m. for supper. Repeat this schedule for the next few days until you leave.

“I sink under the weight of the splendour of these visions! A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring”

At first, it is exciting. Visitors get to see every animal they’ve ever heard of or spied on the small screen.

But by the third day, seven to eight hours in a vehicle can wear on one’s patience. And the unimaginable happens – what was initially so exciting becomes quickly mundane. Especially if you don’t come across a pride of lions or any actual action.

Tips for Walking Safari

  • Always start out early in the morning. In the mornings, the predators are presumable sated from catching and killing some prey the night before and trying to catch some sleep. Therefore, they are less likely to surround you and rip your throat out. This is a good thing.
  • You can walk for as long as you like but should stop around 3 p.m. when the predators wake up from long naps and start to realize they might be hungry again. I ended up walking for around four hours every day and was happy to head back once the midday sun went into full effect.
  • Wear muted colors
  • Walk in a single file line. At the head of the line will be a guard from the National Park services who carries a rifle (just in case). Behind him is the head guide, the visitors and finally, another guide.
  • Keep voices low. If you talk too loudly all the animals will run off.
  • If you should happen upon a pride of lions (and we did) – stop. Group together and follow the guide and guard’s suggestion (which usually means be quiet and move slowly out of the way).
  • Drink plenty of water. In the mornings it is cool but it heats up real quick! Dehydration is real and there’s nothing worse than being stuck out in the bush with dry mouth.
  • Avoid all bodies of water – they are likely full of crocodiles and hippos.
  • Be aware of what’s in the trees and the tall grass. Lions and leopards are masters at camouflage and often, unless you are a trained expert (which, thankfully, your guides are), you won’t notice them until you are literally on them. Or under them.
  • While big cats may be the scariest animals, elephants, buffalo, and hippos are just as – if not more- dangerous. Keep a good distance from them at all times.
  • Relax and have fun.
  • The first day on foot was relatively calm. Fred led me through the bush and from distances I spotted impala, puku and other antelope, but it was more about what Fred called “behind the scenes.” He taught me how to identify scat – important signs to know where animals have been, what they are eating and if they are healthy – different trees, ground plants and other parts of the ecosystem. We went through a vast area of dead trees and stumps left over from the poaching in the 1970s and 1980s.
  • “There used to be over 100,000 elephants and 4,000 black rhino in this park,” Fred said. “The elephants are very destructive. They will eat the bark of trees and rub against them until they fall down. However, through their scat, the trees get replanted. In less than ten years starting in 1976, 90 percent of the elephant population and 100 percent of the rhino population were wiped out but poaching and this area never recovered. It never got the chance to get replanted.”

King of the Forest

On the second day of walking, we hit paydirt. We followed a group of impala to a small herd of giraffe who allowed us to get relatively close. Suddenly, they galloped off and, in the distance, baboons started barking.

“Lions are near,” said. Ahead of us, in tall grass, a pride of lions was lounging, camouflaging perfectly into their surroundings.

The End

My heart was pumping. Our guard had his shotgun at the ready just in case, but it only had four bullets. There were five in the pride.

Following protocol, we silently grouped together, and slowly circumvented the pride.

It was thrilling. And fascinating. And as we made our way back to camp, we caught a herd of impala and zebra, walking single file, just like us, the other way.

It felt as if I had become part of the bush, part of the daily drama of life and death in the Luangwa crater. And that was worth it all.

Related Blogs

5 of the Best Luxury Safari Lodges

Whether it’s the ultimate honeymoon holiday or a once-in-a-lifetime getaway with your family and friends, there are a handful of exquisite luxury safari lodges. Scintillating safaris, spectacular scenery and surreal sophistication, s geared perfectly for honeymoon couples…

Read More
praxis - January 27, 2022

Why we should explore africa by walking safari?

There are five species of rhino that can still be found in the wild, namely the black (5000 animals) and white (19000 animals) rhinos of sub-Saharan Africa, the greater one-horned rhino of India, (3500 animals) the Sumatran rhino (80 animals) found on the Indonesian is…

Read More
praxis - January 27, 2022

Back

Have You Decided Your Destination?

Yes No

Where would you like to travel?

South America

North America

Africa

Europe

Asia pacific

Where would you like to travel?

India United Arab Emirates Singapore Hong kong Australia Newzealand French Polynesia Indonesia Japan Veitnam Combodia Laos Thailand Israel Turkey Maldives Nepal Sri Lanka Tibet Bhutan jordan

Duration of Your planned trip?

2 - 5 Days 6 - 12 Days More Than 12 Days

What is your budget per person without Airfares?

30,000 INR - 1,50,000 INR 1,50,001 INR - 3,00,000 INR More Than 3,00,001 INR

When are you planning to travel?

This Year Next Year In Future

Which month did you intend to travel?

January - march April - June July - september October - December

Specific experience you would like us to plan for your holiday?

Family Holiday Romantic Holiday Adventure Beaches Heritage Pilgrimage Culture Nature Wlidlife safari's Honeymoon Luxury Holiday

How many of you are planning to travel?

1 - 2 PAX 3 - 6 PAX More Than 6 PAX

Any other additional information you would like us to know?

Let us know if you prefer 4 or 5 star hotel, meal preferences etc.


Leave your details below so that one of our Travel consultants can prepare your itinerary and get in touch with you





Your Enquiry Sent successfully

Thank you for your enquiry. Our team will get back to you soon with all your needed requirements.

something went wrong

Get in Touch