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