Safari guide Norman Carr pioneered the walking safari in the South Luangwa National Park in the 1950s. An early conservationist, he realized that local communities needed to be involved and supported by responsible tourism to achieve success in protecting wildlife. Walking safaris in the North & South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi & Kafue National Parks can be done as a half-day activity or really getting your steps in by walking from bush camp to bush camp (no duffle lugging necessary!).
I did my first walking safari in Zambia in October 2024 in the Lower Zambezi at Chiawa Camp with our amazing guide Moses and a park ranger bringing up the rear. Queuing into a single line with Moses in the front, we made our way into a dry riverbed and immediately came across a pair of fresh paw prints in the warm sand. Crouching low with a stick in hand, Moses pointed out the key characteristics – 4 “toes” with the longest in the middle, and no visible claw points. Likely, a male lion had made his path right where we stood not 20 minutes prior.
Continuing past towering baobabs amongst the cacophony of birds, we stop at a termite mound to learn how to identify if it was active or dormant, and how old it may be (some can be over 1,000 years old!) and the role they play in the ecosystem. Finally, we ended up skirting at the edge of the remnants of a lagoon in dry season where some hippos were lazily wallowing, as we identified a buffalo skull, and watched a baboon fight break out for the best of the tamarind fruit in the trees.
I loved the slower paced & up-close observation of the flora, the lack of engine noise, and stretching my legs while emersed in the thrilling wild environment. I highly recommend getting your boots on the ground, or in the dry riverbed, as soon as possible!
Ever onwards,
Grace Oken
