Walking Safaris
Explore spectacular wilderness areas on foot in the company of a Maasai warrior escort

Walks range from brief one-hour strolls to longer full day hikes and are located in the  Ngorongoro Conservation Area / Southern and Eastern Plains. This is just outside the Serengeti National Park but is contiguous with its ecosystem.  A walking safari can easily be incorporated into nearly any safari itinerary, but may require additional days depending on the length of your hike.  Walking safaris can be done during any month of the year, though certain seasons are better for wildlife viewing.

   Walking in the bush could prove to be one of the highlights of your safari as you track lion footprints and learn about ecology and the local culture from your Maasai guide.  Walking safaris provide for a great opportunity to stretch those safari legs.  Not only does it help to break up the daily routine of game drives but it provides for a completely different perspective.  Walking will compliment your game drives and provide for a diverse and well-rounded experience. 
   On foot you can really take notice of the little things passed quickly over while driving in a vehicle.  Learn to recognize different animal footprints and see and touch the different plants and grasses that form the bottom level of an immense food chain.  Watch curiously as a dung beetle recycles waste from the plains or take a minute to watch a butterfly or hummingbird move from flower to flower.
    Wildlife viewing on your walking safari comes down to chance but you may see giraffe, gazelles and maybe a predator during the dry season plus wildebeest and zebra during the wet season.  Regardless of the quantity of wildlife seen, you will undoubtedly enjoy the peacefulness and solitude that a walking safari provides, and your are safe with your Maasai Warrior.
   Walking is generally not allowed in the National Parks of Northern Tanzania.  It is strictly prohibited in the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater.  There are smaller walks available from some lodges in the Serengeti but these are really just walks around the respective properties.  In order to embark on a true walking safari, you must head out into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.  The best walking here can either be done from Olduvai Camp on the southern plains of the Serengeti ecosystem (on the NCA side) or from Nasera Rock or Lemuta Hill on the eastern plains.
    There are also good walking options in the Ngorongoro Highlands at either Mount Lemagrut or Empakaai Crater.  Lastly, the remote southern area of Tarangire offers superb walking options including perhaps the best dry season hiking opportunities.  While walking is not allowed in Tarangire National Park, the remote southern area of the park has been recently set-aside as a wilderness zone and walking is now available here.  Walking in this wilderness area can easily be incorporated into you safari with a two- night stay at Oliver's Camp in southern Tarangire.