| The first step in planning a walking safari is to decide | | | | night (set-date) safari that includes five days of |
| on the type of safari that suits you best. | | | | walking on the Mupamadzi River. Combines with |
| The following summary offers some explanation of | | | | Nkwali and Nsefu camps. Robin Pope Safaris |
| the differences between: | | | | Nsefu Walking Safari, Luangwa Valley, Zambia: a |
| "wilderness trails", | | | | seven night (set-date) safari that includes three days |
| "backed up" walking safaris and | | | | of walking in the riverine areas of the Nsefu sector. |
| trails from fixed bases (tented camps, seasonal | | | | Combines with Nkwali and Nsefu camps. |
| bushcamps and lodges) | | | | The Lion Trail, Matusadona, Zimbabwe: A four day |
| Wilderness Trails | | | | backed up walking safari on the Matusadona shoreline. |
| These walking safaris are well suited to active and | | | | The area is famed for its lions - a boat is used to |
| adventurous participants. They offer a rare and | | | | compliment the walking on this safari and is an |
| intimate opportunity to explore and learn about the | | | | invaluable aid for getting into areas where lion and |
| African bush, its game and birdlife. | | | | other game activity is high. Black rhino tracking is an |
| These are "full participation" camping type safaris on | | | | option on this safari. |
| which trailists and camp staff carry all gear and | | | | The Selinda Trail, Selinda Reserve, Botwana: a four to |
| provisions in backpacks. | | | | six day walking safari for up to six guests utilising the |
| In all cases the safari is lead by an armed Professional | | | | Motswiri, Zibalianja and Selinda camps, definitely the |
| Guide and the group size is limited to a maximum of | | | | best way to explore the Linyanti. |
| six members. | | | | Walking safaris from fixed bases |
| The wilderness trails are usually a four-day excursion | | | | The tented camps, seasonal bush camps and lodges |
| in a big game area. | | | | serve as fixed bases from which walking trails are |
| Water availability (springs and rivers), weather | | | | conducted. In all cases, these bases are located in |
| conditions, game activity, fitness and the interests of | | | | areas of exceptional beauty, usually tucked away and |
| members on safari generally determine the route and | | | | blending with the bush and terrain - all are within |
| pace of these trails. | | | | relatively simple reach of areas that have big game |
| Traditional tracking methods are used - the objective | | | | (elephant, buffalo, antelope and smaller mammals are |
| is often to find specific game species including lion, | | | | fairly common residents at some of these camps). |
| leopard or black rhino where they occur. | | | | Generally speaking, the smaller tented and seasonal |
| Bush skills are put to a fine test on these safaris. | | | | bush camps are located well within the boundaries of |
| These safaris are not military-style "route marches" | | | | National Parks and game reserves - permanent |
| but a fair degree of fitness is required. | | | | lodges are usually found bordering on the outside of |
| Camps are generally basic, often consisting of little | | | | these areas. |
| more than two-man dome tents for sleeping - | | | | The tented camps are usually centre around a tented |
| mosquito nets alone, are in many cases a preferred | | | | communal lounging/dining area. Accommodations are |
| shelter. | | | | in large walk-in tents often with en-suite facilities. |
| The best wilderness trails are found in Zimbabwe's | | | | Standards range from "traditional" to luxurious. |
| side of the Zambezi Valley; both Mana Pools (Chitake | | | | The seasonal bush camps tend to incorporate some |
| Springs) and Matusadona are particularly good areas. | | | | tented accommodation but are largely made from |
| There is one wilderness trail with a difference - a | | | | local materials including reeds, thatch and timber. They |
| grand portered trail over a week in the Zambia's | | | | close in the wet season and are often rebuilt from |
| Luangwa Valley is available on special request only. | | | | scratch at the beginning of the dry season. As with |
| "Backed up" Walking Safaris | | | | the tented camps, bush camps tend to be small, |
| The "backed up" walking trails generally trace a | | | | often accommodating a maxiumum of six guests. |
| specific walking route through a wilderness area to | | | | Lodges are generally larger, usually accommodating |
| rendezvous points en route where overnight camps | | | | over sixteen guests in individual chalets and |
| have been established by a support team. Each one | | | | bungalows. In many cases lodges offer better |
| of the backed up walking trails that we offer is | | | | standards than those found at some of the best |
| unique in character, they tend to focus on specific | | | | hotels in Southern Africa's capital cities. |
| wilderness areas known for their remoteness, natural | | | | Walking safaris from these fixed bases usually take |
| beauty or particularly good wildlife conditions. | | | | place in the early mornings and evenings when game |
| In each case, the Professional Guides who lead the | | | | is more active. Vehicles are often used to get within |
| safaris are recognised as being amongst the best in | | | | closer reach of areas where game is more prolific. |
| Africa. | | | | There's always a lot of flexibility - as with the |
| Accommodation standards vary from deluxe-tented | | | | wilderness trails and backed up safaris, routines are |
| camps to relatively basic fly camps. | | | | largely determined by the elements, game conditions |
| Similarly meals range in quality from regular | | | | and guest interests. |
| "home-cooked" fare to "bush meals" - in all cases | | | | Professional Guides are resident at all of these |
| food is wholesome and provided in sufficient | | | | camps, often supported by learner guides and scouts. |
| quantities. | | | | Armed and appropriately qualified personnel |
| The backed up walking trails are often used in | | | | undertake all safari activities. |
| conjunction with semi-permanent tented, seasonal | | | | Fixed bases generally have more resources and |
| bush camps and permanent lodges. | | | | additional staff on hand - creature comforts and |
| These safaris generally provide more creature | | | | extra activities are often more readily available. |
| comforts than the wilderness trails. | | | | In some areas, e.g. Zimbabwe's Matusadona, boats |
| They're usually highly personalised and often limited | | | | and pontoons are available for some game viewing |
| to a maximum of 6 guests. | | | | activities, birding and fishing. |
| Zambia and Zimbabwe boast the better backed up | | | | In the Kafue, Okavango, Matusadona and Mana Pools |
| walking safaris, Botswana has one particularly good | | | | areas, canoes are also often on hand - a unique |
| backed up walking safari in the Selinda Reserve. | | | | dimension to game viewing and birding. |
| We strongly recommend the following backed up | | | | Night drives are permitted in Zambia and private |
| walking safaris: | | | | reserves and concessions elsewhere - they provide |
| The Zambezi Odyssey Safaris - a selection of trips | | | | an excellent opportunity to spend time seeking out |
| concentrated in Mana Pools and the Chitake | | | | nocturnal species (they also add more game viewing |
| concession with the option of combining canoeing on | | | | hours to the day). |
| the lower Zambezi. | | | | There are a wide variety of camp and lodge options |
| Mupamadzi Safari, Luangwa Valley, Zambia: a nine | | | | to choose from in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana |