Walking Safari in Tanzania
To walk through the African bush is to experience Africa close-up. Smells are suddenly subtle and varied and every sound has significance.
Tanzania classifies its wild areas in different ways, each with different rules - meaning that the practices, and standards, of walking safaris differ widely. We have some first-rate walking safaris in Tanzania, with great guides - chosen, as usual, by seeing them first hand. Some of the real stars are the walking safaris done on fly-camping trips.
A walking safari is normally designed to fit into your safari schedule, and can be scheduled early in the morning or late afternoon when tropical temperatures are cool. Until recently walking safaris were offered mainly in the Selous Game Reserve and Wildlife Management Areas and restricted to a few National Parks like Gombe Stream, Mahale Mountains, Rubondo Island, Udzungwa Mountains, Kitulo, Mt Kilimanjaro and Arusha (Mt Meru) which may be extended into trekking. Today visitors can enjoy safaris on foot in Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area including Ndutu, and within some designated locations in the Serengeti hitherto restricted to game drives and balloon safaris only.
The walks are guided and normally accompanied by an armed ranger. A walking safari is an excellent break from game drives, where visitors will learn some fascinating facts about nature, birds, reptiles, insects and medicinal uses of local plants, which you may not fully appreciate from the seat of your safari car. While the scents and sounds of the African bush are better sensed on foot, it is without doubt an adventure and a thrilling experience especially when the walk extends into wildlife habitats where encounters with freely roaming animals are the norm like in the Selous, Ngorongoro including Ndutu and Tarangire game parks.
Walk the Serengeti plains on an amazing safari experience
Arguably the most famous destination for safari in Africa, the vast, open plains of the Serengeti epitomise, for many, what Africa is all about. In the Serengeti National Park the grasslands are roamed by millions of wildebeest, zebra and others, while being stalked by some of the continent’s fiercest predators; the mighty lion, the leopard, the cheetah, to name a few. To experience a Serengeti safari and witness the daily fight for survival is like nothing else in the world, where life seems so precious and yet so cheap…welcome to the Serengeti!
Best time to walk in Serengeti: The Serengeti offers a number of different walking areas that can be selected at different times throughout the year depending on the headline act at the time. During the dry season of July to October, head to the far north of the park and catch the drama of millions of wildebeest chancing their luck across crocodile infested waters of the Mara River. Then later in the season as herds head south into rolling hills and valleys of central Serengeti - a stunning location for incredible game viewing.
The Selous Game Reserve walking safaris
The main area to consider for a walking trip is the southern park of the Selous Game Reserve. As a Reserve rather than National Park, the regulations are slightly different than in more famous parks such as the Serengeti but, with a vast range of different environments and topographies that the park comprises, there is plenty to keep you interested for anything up to a week.
Best time to visit Selous: As with other parks the Selous flourishes in the dry season from July to October as game gathers around remaining water sources and also the vegetation begins to thin out making for easier game viewing. However, if you are motivated by more than animal numbers don't rule out visiting the Selous outside the dry season to experience the green glow and experience a quality of game viewing that will be hard to beat.
Walks in the tracks of Elephants at Tarangire National Park
Tarangire has a rare water source flowing through the area, drawing in great herds of elephant and other wildlife. This, combined with mild weather conditions creates the ideal environment for walking safaris. Spend anything from a morning to a couple of nights on foot, as a trained guide leads you on an interpretive wilderness journey, examining all the links, from the Siafu ants to the mighty bull elephant, in the circle of life.
Best time to walk in Tarangire: Particularly great walking in the dry season (late July to late October) when the last remaining source of moisture is the Tarangire River - guaranteed to attract a significant amount of animals including notable attendees of elephant, wildebeest and zebra. In the green season from December to May, Tarangire's birdlife comes alive in all its plummage.
Arusha National Park Walking Tour
The often overlooked Arusha National Park offers some of the most breathtaking scenery in Northern Tanzania. Arusha National Park includes Mount Meru, the second highest mountain in Tanzania and game highlights consist of giraffe, cape buffalo, elephant, zebra, flamingo and hippo. Several primate species including black and white colobus monkey, Syke’s monkey and vervet monkey thrive in the tropical forests. The patient ornithologist will be rewarded with the chance to spot elusive forest birds such as Hartlaub’s Turaco. We can organize guided bush walks, too.
Best time to walk in Arusha: Wildlife viewing in Arusha National Park is good throughout the year but is at its best in the Dry season, from late June to October. The beautiful scenery is most impressive in the Wet season, from November to May, although March and April can be very wet and grey. The clear skies from December through February give you the best views of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro.
Walk with the Maasai at Ngorongoro Conservation Area
This scenic walking safari takes place in the Ngorongoro Conservation area with the largest unbroken caldera in the world; the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater. During this remote walking safari you will explore extinct volcanoes, diverse landscapes, wildlife and meet the local Maasai who live in this area. Immerse yourself in these beautiful highlands, away from the crowds.
Best time to walk in Ngorongoro: Wildlife viewing inside the Ngorongoro Crater is superb at all times. However, grass on the crater floor is short in the Dry season (June through September) and this makes animal spotting easier. The scenery is lush and spectacular in the Wet season months (from November to May).