Tracking wildlife on foot travel guide

Africa walking safaris

African walking safaris were first pioneered in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, and today they are a regular feature on safari itineraries from Kenya to South Africa. In most cases they are an adjunct to game drives on a wider safari itinerary, but there are vacations that take place largely on foot. In Africa, because you’re in the territory of big predatory carnivores (though they will usually give groups a wide berth) your guides will be armed. But in fact the Big Five and other large wildlife are rarely the focus on this type of activity. Instead your guides will introduce you to other elements of the African bush that are near impossible to notice from a jeep: dung beetles at work, plants that can be used for sustenance in dire straits or for medicinal purposes, the intricacies of a bird’s nest. It’s about getting a feel for the many ecosystems at play and how they all depend on each other.

Practicalities

Conservation issues are a major theme of any wildlife tracking vacation. A particular example is the snow leopard, which is already endangered (thought to number only around 9,000 in the wild), and habitat reduction is bringing it into ever closer contact with humans. The value of wildlife tourism to conservation efforts is that it proves to local people, and official bodies, that these animals are worth something alive and should be protected. On some trips you will likely be involved with practical conservation work, be that be helping with educational programmes, or recording sightings to be passed on to researchers.

Another key aspect of wildlife tracking is the importance of your guide(s). When you book with a responsible operator you will be accompanied by expert guides, rangers, trackers drawn from the local community, often people that have lived in that area their entire lives and know it like the back of their hand. Their job is to get you close to the animals of course, and keep you safe, but they are also a deep well of information about the area’s culture, traditions, history and biodiversity. San Bushmen in Zambia might teach you desert survival techniques, Swedish guides might explain how moose or beavers form a significant role in their ecosystems. The satisfaction you will get from a quality guide cannot be overestimated.

Wildlife tracking on foot is an incredibly immersive activity – your senses will be attuned to the environment throughout. You are not constrained by road networks, with the freedom to go anywhere your guides think it suitable. Do note however that on many itineraries you will need to put in some effort. Apart from tackling arduous terrain that will require a degree of physical fitness, there will likely be frequent early mornings and late nights. That’s a) because many of the animals are nocturnal and b) because these are by no means cheap vacations – if you’ve come a long way and paid a lot of money to be there, you want to have the best chances of getting your sightings.

Trips can be small group or tailor made, and if you’re with other people you will be moving at a steady pace, though never rushing. Age ranges can vary. In Africa your typical walking safari might have a minimum age of 14, while in Central Asia it might be 18 due to the terrain. But if you have kids just below the cut-off that are fit and really keen to get out there, it’s always worth asking your operator if they can be accommodated.