Walking Safaris
In most of Tanzania's National Parks, you must stay inside the cars and within the campsite areas, to minimize our impact on the game. Animals in the Parks are therefore relaxed around cars, but frightened by the site of people on foot. Conversely, in many areas outside the Parks the game is not used to seeing cars and can be surprisingly relaxed about people on foot.

Our interest in walking safaris emerged from Peter's experiences in the bush looking for archeological sites and observing people that live from the land. All our walking trips include encounters with local tribes that live a traditional life. These people are always hospitable and are as curious about us as we are of them. As old friends, we can visit local communities, photograph, and observe their lifestyle. It is very important to us, due to Peter's long-standing relationship with people in the areas, to be unobtrusive as possible. Walking is the very best way to visit and understand the people and their lifestyle. Walking trips are undertaken with local guides: Maasai warriors and Dorobo hunters. They have an intimate knowledge of the landscape and are excellent game spotters.

Our light walking camp is easily set up by a small crew and transported by pickup from location to location. Your beds consist of thick foam mattresses made up with sheets blankets and pillows. Toilet and shower facilities are in separate tents and shared by two tents. Depending on the season you dine in a tent or under a "fly" sheet. Our aim is to provide all the basic comforts of our luxury camp in a form that is easily moved each day.

On all-day walks you carry your own water and picnic lunch, and you will need a light backpack or "day-pack". Most of the walks are on level ground at altitudes of 3,000 to 4,000 feet above sea level. The time spent walking depends very much on you - this is not an endurance test. On some trips we walk for over ten miles each day, while on others only two or three miles are covered in short excursions from the camp. Some walking trips involve walking from camp to camp, while others are simple excursions out from a base camp.

Walking and stalking game is exciting and rewarding, adding a new dimension to your experience of the country. Two favorite walking areas (aside from Ndarakwai Ranch) are Engaruka, where we walk with Maasai, and the South Maasai Steppe where we walk with Dorobo hunters-gatherers.

Engaruka is in the Rift Valley surrounded by volcanoes. This dramatic area is the heart of Maasai Land. We spend part of our time walking to find game, and part of our time visiting Maasai villages. This area is close to most of the National Parks in the North and can be visited for as little as two days. Walks of up to four days are easily done here too.

The South Maasai Steppe is a vast area South of Arusha that is featured in Ernest Hemingway's "Green Hills of Africa". The Dorobo are hunter-gatherers who live from what they can get from the bush - wild honey, roots, berries, and hunting game with a bow and arrow. This is a much wilder, more remote area that will need more time to get to and from. A minimum of four days is required.

Peter carries a rifle, first aid kit, and radio on all walking trips. Wild animals are always frightened of people and it takes skill to get close to animals on foot. A great deal of game can be seen on walking trips - though the National Parks offer the best opportunities for photographing game.