Walking safaris in Tanzania are about the authentic eminence of your game-watching experience. Depending on the fitness of the individual and the nature of the terrain, a bush walk can be a gentle amble of one or two hours to half a day, immersing yourself in the natural world, or it can be a more demanding adventure during multi-day fly-camping expeditions. The key to a successful African walking safari is being in the presence of a specialist walking guide and a strategic game-walk location, alongside a realistic assessment of your own capabilities and open-mindedness about the safety and dangers of being out in the wild on foot.
The prime reason to walk on safari is to become one with the landscape and the wildlife, disturbing it as little as possible — becoming just another animal, alert and aware of every nuance of the wilderness: sight, sound, texture and smell. Guided walking safaris close to most luxury, deluxe and value accommodations let you become familiar with ambient wildlife, birds, insects, plants and larger animals from their scat, footprints and reverberations. Walks are best taken in the early morning as life begins to stir; botanical walks, elephant-cave visits, bird watching and butterfly expeditions are all available at specialised locations, such as Gibb's Farm in the Ngorongoro Highlands.
The Great Migration can be observed from rocky kopjes rising above the plain, though it is never advisable to get close to wild animals which are easily spooked. You may walk only on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, with its montane forest and fantastic views amidst resident highlands game. The Rift Valley Escarpment, including Mount Meru and Ol Doinyo Lengai, offers demanding and rewarding treks to mountain ridges, soda lakes and magma craters. Lake Manyara offers a superlative birding experience.
Take a cultural walking tour with Hadzabe bushmen around Lake Eyasi, or with the Maasai in their northern Tanzania homelands. A Mount Kilimanjaro climbing trip presents a choice of tropical forest walks of varying lengths and difficulty, or several days of acclimatization and trekking to its snow-crowned peak — Uhuru. Whatever your choice, we can organise your Tanzanian guided walking safari based on your preference, comfort and safety threshold.
Issy Adventures