Is wildlife tracking on foot safe?

How fit do I need to be?

Don’t worry, you don’t need to be able to outrun anybody. In fact, running is to be avoided at all costs – you don’t want to indicate to a carnivore that you’re some form of prey. Tracking wildlife on foot in Africa, you will usually be walking only for an hour or two, over uneven but fairly flat terrain – your main issue is staying hydrated. In other parts of the world such as the Himalayas or the French Alps, some hill-walking experience will naturally come in handy.

Wild animals sensibly tend to stick to easier ground whenever possible, so following them is usually not too challenging. Depending on where you are and the nature of your itinerary you might be trekking for between four and six hours, sometimes with a few ascents and descents involved, but always at your own pace. You might jump in the jeep from time to time when needing to cover longer distances, and in deep snow you could be snowshoeing or even riding on horseback.

Are these trips suitable for kids?

Again this is a question for types of animals you’re tracking, and where you are. In South Africa for instance, even though you will be walking for only an hour or so, under-14s must stick to the vehicles instead, because although the wildlife prefers to keep clear of humans, you are still talking big game out there. In Kyrgyzstan and India when you’re tracking snow leopards, the elevations involved and the harsh conditions mean the minimum age is usually 18. But tracking wildlife can be a fantastic and unforgettable experience for families, so if you want to bring the kids along then you might consider tracking wolves and moose in the forests of Sweden, where the easy-going pace makes it suitable for anyone aged eight and over.