It was in South Luangwa National Park, that the now famous ‘walking safari’ originated, when Norman Carr, who was originally a ranger in the game reserves in the 1940s, began to operate wilderness safaris in the area.
Sometimes, your own two feet are the best way to experience the wild wonders of the African bush. Walking along the banks of Zambia’s Luangwa River, watching the antics of kingfishers and African fish eagles over the water, all while following a guide tracking giraffe prints… this is what a wild African safari entail.
South Luangwa is the perfect place to get out there, awaken your senses and really experience Africa…on foot. When you walk in the wild, you become a part of your environment and enjoy an authentic African safari experience. Depending on the time you have, your fitness level and your need for modern creature comforts, you can choose between a classic multiday walking safari, sleeping in luxury tents in temporary camps in the middle of the bush, or short nature walks between other safari activities.
Watching animals on foot at a safe distance, is a primal experience and your own instincts and excitement will kick in, heightening the experience emotionally. Although you may be able to travel further in a vehicle, on foot you can reach places that a 4×4 vehicle cannot. You will also be closer the tapestry of smells, sounds and signals of the bush, like noting where a porcupine dragged its quills during the night, where frogs have spawned or how dung beetles tackle their crucial task so diligently. Walking safaris also provide you with a freedom incomparable to any other safari activity. Once on foot, you are not constrained by roads and can go almost anywhere you like. The guides each boast an extensive knowledge of the flora and fauna in the area, and you will learn more on foot about Africa’s smallest and greatest creatures and plants than when driving in a vehicle.
