5 Incredible Walking Adventures

For travelers who want to feel connected to the earth beneath their feet, nothing compares to a walking safari or hiking adventure in Africa. Approaching wild animals on foot attunes all your senses in a way you don’t often experience on a vehicle. The sights, smells and sounds become more intense and you feel more at one with the nature surrounding you. Follow in the footsteps of trained guides who open your eyes to the large and the small creatures and different vegetation that make up each unique ecosystem. Here are 5 of our absolute favorite adventures on foot:

1 – Old Fashioned Walking Safari In South Luangwa, Zambia

National Geographic Traveler Magazine included this adventure as one of their Trips of a Lifetime, and it’s easy to see why. Mark Nolting wrote of his experience in the South Luangwa  ” On a walking safari we saw very good game, including a huge herd of more than 500 buffalo, elephant (including a huge tusker), many hippo, including a large pod with several humorous juveniles, Thornicroft’s giraffe, bushbuck, greater kudu, lion, serval and genet. On an evening game drive we spotted our first Pel’s fishing owl (a lifer), and then were able to watch a leopard stalking some guinea fowl in a bush and pounce – came away empty handed.  One morning when we arrived at the confluence, we walked down to the river to a pod of over 100 hippos. As we approached, more than 50 ran out of the shallow water across the dry riverbed to deep water a few hundred yards (meters) away. The sight of 50 one-ton “bums” of bouncing fat running together was too funny for words!” See departures for 2019

2 – Desert Dune Safari To Namibia

On this adventurous journey, traverse the highlights of Namibia, visiting the iconic red dunes of Sossusvlei, tracking black rhino at Desert Rhino Camp, and exploring the dramatic Skeleton Coast Hoanib Camp with its historic shipwrecks, seal colonies, and incredible desert wonders, including animals such as elephant, lion, springbok, gemsbok and ostrich that have adapted to the harsh environment. See departures for 2019

3 – Eyes On Elephant Of The Pools And Pans, Zimbabwe

Spot the Big 5 from a different perspective on this safari to Zimbabwe. Combine nature walks in Hwange National Park, canoeing, up-close walking encounters with elephant and Wild Dogs, and game drives in Mana Pools. Add tracking rhino in Matobo Hills and some cultural visits to round up this stimulating safari!

Another National Geographic Traveler Magazine award winner, this AAC exclusive safari made it onto their penultimate “50 Tours of a Lifetime” list. The guides—Nic Polenakis, Dave Carsons, Nick Murray, and Paul Hubbard—are some of the best in Africa, and are often the highlight of the trip. Special departure in 2019 – Jul 11

4 – Our Point Of View – Gorilla trekking in Rwanda

This trip lets you experience trekking to find the gorillas of Rwanda on foot in a kaleidoscope of unique settings. It may be a two to three hour trek into the rainforest to see the Sabyinyo Group, or maybe an easier trek to view the Agashya group in the lower foothills. Daily departures in 2019 

5 – Walking Adventurer’s Safari To Tanzania

Get out of the jeep and explore Tanzania on foot! Go for a guided game walk near Arusha National Park and Tarangire, hike and mountain bike in the forest on the Lake Manyara escarpment and hike near the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. Also consider a week safari in the south to Ruaha and Selous parks which are more remote destinations and a walker’s paradise. Departures in 2019 – weekly on Friday