Walk on the wild side.
Zimbabwe has some of the best walking guides in the world and is renowned for its exceptional guide training. A walking safari here is an absolute must.
Zimbabwe is one of the best places in the world to do a walking safari and is something we highly recommend you include within your trip. Engage all your senses as you feel the leaves of different bushes, listen to every rustle and keep your eyes sharply peeled on the horizon. A walking safari is both very relaxing, taking your time to explore the bush and to learn about and appreciate the smaller animals, as well as the flora and fauna, and also completely exhilarating as you feel your heart pounding wondering what is around the next corner.
Guiding
Zimbabwe is blessed with an exceptional quality of walking guides, and a higher volume of these than are found in other countries. It takes a minimum of four years to become a walking guide and the practical and theoretical knowledge required to achieve the qualification is rigorous and well-regulated. As a result, tourists that choose to walk in Zimbabwe are rewarded with the best possible experience; walking up close to members of the big five on foot is a common feature of these walks, but it really is the detailed translation of the small things in the bush that tends to wow clients. People are blown away by what they learn about the intricacies of ecology, coming away with an enlightened appreciation of the wild’s connectedness and our own link to it.
Safety
The guides carry a weapon in case of an emergency, but their goal is always to avoid using it and their training has meant they follow impeccable degrees of safety. A walk in Zimbabwe in an acclaimed safari area like one of those mentioned with the right guide is a second-to-none experience.
Where to do one
Walking safaris are permitted across Zimbabwe including in all National Parks (whereas in other countries it is often forbidden here). Hwange and Mana Pools National Parks are the best-known walking areas, but Gonarezhou, Matusadona and Zambezi National Park all offer great safaris on foot too.
Fitness
The walls tend to last 2-3 hours and are conducted over variable terrain that whilst typically not challenging, it does require some degree of fitness. It is also possible to enjoy multiple day walking safaris where you walk from one camp to another.
Zimbabwe: The Best of the West
- Victoria Falls
- Hwange
- Matobos
As well as the iconic Victoria Falls and Hwange you will be able to visit the beautiful Matobos National Park, one of the most scenic and culturally important parts of Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe Trip Inspiration
Our Zimbabwe specialist , Alistair, says:
"Zimbabwe is one of the very best places in Africa for a walking safari. The guiding standards here are exceptional, and that makes all the difference. On foot, you notice the details you’d miss from a vehicle; the tracks in the dust, the smell of wild herbs, the warning call of a bird before you even see what it’s spotted. It’s exhilarating without ever feeling rushed, and it gives you a much deeper connection to the bush. Many people tell me it’s the highlight of their safari, and I’d absolutely agree."
Best places to stay in Zimbabwe
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Alistair
