Walking safaris in Zambia
Zambia is currently one of Africa's best walking destinations. Combining an ideal landscape, great game and top guiding, and the capability to walk within National Parks, Zambia is hard to beat on two feet. The Luangwa National Parks and Lower Zambezi are particularly well known for the quality of the walking.
Walking with wildlife is a completely different experience to driving. The experience is more intense and exciting (even if you are just looking at an impala), you get to appreciate the small but very interesting things that you would totally miss in a vehicle, and of course you are out there in the African bush, on the same terms as the animals (except of course you have a very experienced guide).
There are a number of ways to enjoy walking here. Most camps and lodges will offer daily walking activities from the camp itself in the mornings or evenings, in addition to game drives and possibly boat trips. These are normally a couple of hours, not very strenuous ambles. The Bushcamp Company's camps such as Kuyenda and Chamilandu in the South Luangwa National Park are geared up for both walking and game drives.
Secondly, you can choose a camp that specialises in walking. Normally it will be located in the best possible area for walking. Roads may be scarce or access tricky rendering game drives impossible. Here you will make the most of the area on foot each day. Mwaleshi Camp and Kutandala in the North Luangwa National Park are camps where you can only walk. In South Luangwa Tafika Camp and Chikoko Tree Camp are both semi permanent camps (re-built each year) with no road system so you can only walk.
Finally, for those determined to spend as little time in a vehicle as possible, you can opt for mobile walking safaris. Here you will spend each night in a different spot, walking between the camp-sites as the camp moves ahead of you each day. The walking will be a bit more strenuous (but you certainly don't have to be an ultra-athete to participate) and you'll spend more time on the trail. However it is a fun and liberating way to see a place. In South Luangwa we recommend Robin Pope's mobile camping safaris along the Mupamadzi River or Norman Carr Safari's; pioneers of walking in Zambia.
More articles that you might find helpful
What is there to see in South Luangwa?
I want to visit Vic Falls on my safari
A note on scratchy, biting things in Zambia
What are mobile safaris?
What is there to see in North Luangwa?
For videos, articles, ideas and news from Africa:
Have a look at our blog at safarigeek.com
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