Kenya walking safari
Walking and trekking is widely available throughout East Africa and allows you to experience the bush in a totally different way to a game drive. Without the sound of an engine, your senses come alive and you hear, smell and see things that you miss from a vehicle. In addition to getting a little exercise, walking safaris also allow you to learn about the smaller aspects of the bush- plants, tracks, insects, birds, and dung among others. Of course, coming across an elephant, giraffe, warthog, impala, buffalo, bee eater, robin chat, and while on foot can also be highly rewarding and can occasionally get the heart racing.
Many safari properties offer nature walks as individual activities (for just a few hours), whilst across Africa there are a limited number of more serious walking trails, which can include walking over several days and staying in fairly basic tented camp under the stars in the wilderness. However there are also certain permanent both luxury and standard camps which offer comfortable accommodation but specialize in walking. More so to any walking safari is the guide, not only from an enjoyment point of view but also in terms of safety. Rules and regulations on carrying firearms do vary, but it is usual for either your guide to carry a firearm when walking, or for you to be accompanied by an armed ranger. In a few places walking is conducted without a firearm. It is usual for a maximum of six guests to accompany one guide on a walking safari.
In terms of more serious mountain trekking, Africa offers limited options. Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) and Mount Kenya offer the two highest peaks in Africa and are both quite serious treks. Uganda’s Ruwenzori ‘Mountains of the Moon’ are mysterious, remote and not for the faint-hearted, However, there are good ‘hiking’ opportunities throughout Africa, including (but not limited to) Rwanda’s Virunga Volcanoes, Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Highlands, Kenya’s ,loita hills and Laikipia Plateau.
