Walking Safaris

Mobile walking safaris usually last 2-4 days. Our active—but by no means strenuous—walks range from about eight to ten kilometers each day, and take place only during the cooler parts of the day, with a siesta in between. Guests walk only at the most advantageous hours, when conditions are more comfortable and animals are more active. Guests spend each night at a different location in a fully catered mobile camp. We move the camp while you walk, so that when you finish your walk, you arrive to your camp already set up and waiting.

The primary activity of our mobile walking safari is a morning walk, which lasts about 3- 4 hours, during the ideal morning hours. A maximum of eights guests are led by a professional walking guide and an armed UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) ranger.

During the walk, you can expect to see a variety of wildlife (kobs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hartebeest, hyenas). We also pay close attention to other parts of wildlife habitat, which cannot be observed from vehicles. You will learn about (and touch, smell, observe and hear) a variety of plants, trees, birdlife, reptiles, and insects. In some areas, we will track animals by their footprints and droppings. In addition to all the appeal of a typical safari, walking safaris offer the more nuanced pleasures of an unmediated encounter with the savannah ecosystem: experiencing a variety of fascinating flora and birdlife up close, hearing all the nature sounds in near silence, following animal tracks along hoof-beaten paths.

As an example, a walk through the dry Nyamsika riverbed showcases a diverse ecosystem in all it’s glory: wildlife coming to drink, warthog or kobs sprinting across the rolling landscape, colonies of red-throated bee eaters flitting about high cliffs, elephants grazing the gentle slopes around the river, hyenas crossing the stream in the early hours, hundreds of animal tracks in sandy soil, hippo bones scattered on the ground, baboons shrieking high up on trees, and more birds than you can count swooping across the sky. Being on foot, like the animals around us, allows us to participate in this spectacle, rather than just being a spectator to it.

We follow pre-determined routes, but there are no trails—it is truly a wilderness experience. If we do happen upon a trail, be sure that it was carved by animals, not man. When walking, we become part of the landscape ourselves. This means animals perceive us humans differently than they do when we are in a vehicle—exposed, we have to treat them with more care. When you are on foot and realize the massive size of an elephant in comparison to yourself, you will understand why it’s best to avoid getting too close. The objective is to exist in the same habitat as the animals, but that means treating them with a healthy respect: Murchison is the true wild; it is no zoo.
The morning walk ends in a fully-prepared camp, where lunch and refreshing drinks await. Midday is spent in siesta: relaxing in camp, perhaps napping or reading a good book. After a healthy rest, we typically venture out for a shorter walk around 4 or 5 pm to explore nearby destinations. We might, for example, scale a hill to take in a view, explore the dry riverbed, or wade down to seasonal waterholes with large concentrations of birdlife. If you enjoy a drink, picture enjoying a sundowner at the destination, and then relaxing by riding back to the camp afterwards on a vehicle. The evenings are spent enjoying simple but delicious food and sharing the stories around the fire.

Don’t worry that you will have to choose between a walking safari and the other attractions that Murchison offers! We are happy to customize your trip to make sure you have the full safari experience. Typically, each safari includes complementary activities after the walk: afternoon game drives, morning boat trips to the famous Murchison Falls, and The Top Of The Falls visit.