The Original Zambia Safari - Luxury Walking Safaris

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Over 50 Years of Walking in the Bush

Norman Carr pioneered the concept of walking safari tours in Zambia over 50 years ago. Today they are becoming more and more popular.  

It was in 1950 that Norman Carr established the first photographic safari camp in Zambia. Previous to this an "African Safari" was exclusively a hunting affair.  The idea was borne from the concept of guiding those friends or family members that accompanied the hunter on his trip to Africa.  Soon this style of gameviewing safari caught on and the bush was opened up to people from around the world that had never previously considered a wildlife safari holiday.

Norman always maintained that to view the bush from a vehicle was to observe, but to get out on foot was to become instantly a part of your surroundings.  Anyone experiencing a walking safari tour will concur that to stand and see the flick of a lion's tail as he disappears behind a bush 100 yards away, incensed and mystified by your presence, is infinitely more exciting than to sit in the safety of a jeep within inches of the same creature.

The Luangwa Valley is regarded as the home of walking safari tours and Zambia the original destination for such activities.  In recent years many private reserves and National Parks across Africa have caught on to the trend but nowhere yet comes close to Zambia.  The level of training required before qualifying as a walking guide and the concept of an armed escort as well as the naturalist guide leading each walk, mean that the emphasis in the Luangwa is on getting guests up close and personal to big game. 

50 years on and it is fair to say that few African wildlife safari holidays today do not involve some element of a walking safari.

 

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