Many of our visitors take advantage of one of our walking safaris, as these are slow-paced, wonderful opportunities to experience wildlife without being in a vehicle. Your guide can point out all sorts of fascinating details which escape your attention while on game drive from inside a vehicle. You can view animal footprints as well as droppings and be amazed about what can be learned from all these with the help of our guide. Obviously, you are no longer inside a vehicle and so there are a few extra safety considerations to think about. Here’s how to stay safe while on a walking safari:-
Keep to the trails
Official trails are maintained by Park authorities who spend both time and money ensuring that they are safe for use by visitors. It may not be obvious to visitors but the terrain away from designated paths can be unstable, rough and slippery. In short, it can be downright dangerous to stray from the trails.
Stay close to your armed ranger
All of our walking safaris are done in the company of an armed ranger (an employee of the Park). Follow his instructions at all times since he is experienced and can spot danger signs which may not be apparent to you the visitor.
Drink plenty of water
Outside of the vehicle, it is even more important to keep yourself well-hydrated. So drink plenty of water on your walking safari.
Protect yourself from the sun
Wear a hat, wear long trousers (pants), a long-sleeved shirt and apply plenty of sunscreen.
Wear appropriate footwear
Good-quality hiking boots will protect your ankles, while decent walking socks will protect you from getting blisters and so ensure that you come along with both.
Bring your own first-aid kit
Foot cream and blister plasters are useful items to include in your first-aid kit. Sanitizing hand-gel and wipes are also advisable to have.
Check the weather forecast and wear layered clothing
As in most countries, the weather in Kenya / East Africa can change very suddenly. Wearing the right clothes is important and by choosing lightweight layers you give yourself the flexibility to adapt to variations on temperature. Long trousers and long-sleeved shirts will help you cover up against the sun while also keeping insects away as you protect yourself against scratches.
Don’t discard food!
After you’ve taken a snack or enjoyed your packed lunch, take a good look around to ensure that you are not leaving any scraps of food or wrappers behind. Living off scraps left behind by human visitors can create dependency and make animals aggressive in future. This can sometimes lead to the need to destroy them – a tragic consequence of your carelessness.
Use insect repellents
A good DEET-based (or alternative) insect repellent helps to keep away mosquitoes, ticks and insects. Wearing long trousers (pants) and long-sleeved shirts also deters them as does spraying your clothing with insect repellents.
