Trailing and walks in the nature of the African bush, Africa walking safari, trekking safaris or hiking safaris, whatever the name, is a unique way to enjoy nature in a close encounter. Fauna, vegetation and people.

Walking safaris, like bike safaris, guarantee an exciting up-close-and-personal experience of the jungle. Hikes and trails or walks must be led by an experienced trail guide who must also have basic guiding skill, i.e. must be a qualified tour leader/guide. The experience and knowledge of trained forest leaders is a prerequisite for the success of this type of alternative wilderness adventure. This type of adventure is a unique opportunity to enjoy the original safari outfit of the early explorers.

Kenya walking safaris are very rich in cultural experiences as they are led by local guides and are also full of nature memories. You walk and walk in the most remote, virgin and exquisite places. But how do you choose the best walking safari? When you compare prices, you will see that almost all tour operators are offering a tour of Cerro Loita. This is an area very rich in wildlife and culture and borders the Masai Mara National Reserve. But is this the only area that offers the best view or experience?

Go north and see a different area that one can have as a walking safari destination. Here I am not going to talk about Mount Kenya since that park is unique because it is the only park where you can hike and trek all year round. I will talk about a walking/trekking safari in Tumaren in Samburu

Tumaren is an impressive 3,000 acre property dedicated solely to the management and conservation of wildlife. With 360 degree panoramic views of Mount Kenya to the south and the vast Border District to the north, Tumaren is a window into the romantic wilderness of northern Kenya. Neighboring a number of other large conservation areas, Tumaren is also blessed with its fair share of game and predators. Kenya. An evening walk around the ranch will typically show gerenuk, impala, steinbuck, common zebra, Grevy’s zebra, elephant, Grant’s gazelle and Dikdik. If you spend several days in the area, you are likely to encounter more shy or less common species such as the lesser kudu, eland, hyena, eared fox, reticulated giraffe or the endangered Lelwel’s hartebeest. The lucky visitor may see the local lions, leopards, cheetahs, aardvarks or wild dogs and night walks turn up anteaters, zorillas, caracals, bobcats or white-tailed mongooses. In Tumaren, visitors can enjoy the property as a starting point for a camel safari or as a base camp for exploring. Game drives, mountain biking and trekking are included options for guests of Tumaren.

A typical walking safari will look like

First-day visitors are greeted at the Nairobi or Nanyuki airstrip with a cool drink.

A beautiful stone outcropping shadows the camp and you will have seen the feature for miles as you drove up. The local Laikipia Masai call these rocks Nayusere and stone fragments suggest they have been used as a camp site for millennia.

We too will use the rocks starting with a refreshing lunch and a short rest in our classic and spacious safari tents. After lunch they go for a short walk in search of animals and getting acquainted with the country. When the sun begins to set we will meet at the crest of the Nayusere and there a blanket with drinks and snacks. As we enjoy our sunsets we will continue to watch the game from our vantage point and watch the baboons come back to roost on the rock face. A short descent will find us back at camp for a delicious hardy dinner.

The second day I would leave early after breakfast to see as many game as possible on our trek north to camp. Throughout our trek we will walk through large plains and mixed scrublands. Herds of zebra, oryx, and Grant’s gazelle predominate on the great plains with smaller numbers of Jackson’s gazelle and Thompson’s gazelle. In the mixed scrub we find Dikdik, Gerenuk, Impala and Lesser Kudu if we are lucky enough to see them. We will be in a camp at lunch time. After lunch we will do it, resting, and later another walk in the afternoon to a nice place to sunbathe.

The third day is a busy day heading towards the Ewaso Nyiro River, which runs along the eastern edge of the Laikipia Plateau and then turns east towards the Samburu National Reserve. Along the way we will look for Eland, Steinbuck, Giraffe, Waterbuck, Grevy’s Zebra, as well as all the hard to see predators such as Wild Dog, Hyena, Lion, Leopard or Cheetah. You will also search for elephants from high open points like us, the shy buffalo that hides during the day in the thick undergrowth. For security reasons, you will have armed rangers, blind walks are discouraged through thick bush where we cannot know what is around the corner. Arriving at the Ewaso Nyiro, you may want to take a quick swim before lunch. After lunch, our rest and sunsets on a high rocky slope.

The last day consists of a farewell party to your track, the local guide cooking and other members left behind. Then take a flight to Nairobi or drive to your next adventure destination in Kenya.

After this king of walking safari, you can truly say that you have had a walking safari in Africa and even more so in Kenya.

The benefits of this tour are:

Although it has a high price, it directly helps the local population, since they are the guides, the cooks and are involved in the planning and execution of the program.

Minimal ecological disturbance as people use camels instead of vehicles to transport camping material and food.

The money paid to the conservancies is used for the conservancy of the very ranch on which you undertake the trek.

Time saving as it uses more airspace than driving.

You learn more about the culture of the people as you are with them compared to custom safari where you are confined to safari vans and lodges.