Comments on: The thing about African wilderness trails

By: Ralph Pina

Ralph Pina — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 08:11:07 +0000

Potentially, yes. That's why the training of trails rangers is so important and why it's important to know that the ranger guide is appropriately qualified, for example, to Field Guides Association of South Africa Level III SKS Dangerous Animals (Special Knowledge and Skills) or equivalent. I can happily say that all the guides that I have walked with have been extremely careful and concerned both for human and animal safety. None has succumbed to any pressure from visitors, and the best make it clear what the rules of the bush are before embarking on the trail.

By: Clarissa Hughes

Clarissa Hughes — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:13:59 +0000

Leon, you raise a valid point, something I’ve been uncomfortable about for a long time. As any guide will tell you the pressure is on to deliver. Whether it is a close up photo of an elephant or a lion, the client comes to Africa to see big game. When I guided in Botswana and we did walks on Chief’s Island, I always used the excuse of not having a weapon to avoid walking closer to potentially dangerous game. But that only worked because I could promise the clients that we would see the very same game from the vehicle, and up closer, later in the safari (if we hadn’t done so already). But how many guides will do that i.e. stand up to the clients in a way that they don’t mind? Most people grow up with “the customer is always right” and the pressure really is on to deliver.
A particularly illuminating example of just how unfair humans can be when they make a mistake was this incident that happened in Zambia a few years ago. Two Zambian Wildlife officials were walking home in the dark through a national park. They came across a herd of elephant and one of the men was killed by an irate matriarch. The next day an elephant was shot in retribution. No-one knew if it was the one. And no-one acknowledged that the men were breaking the national park rules by walking at night.
So I tend to agree with you. Walking in big game country is potentially as dangerous to the animal as it is to the human.

By: Leon Marais

Leon Marais — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:13:15 +0000

I’m in two minds about walking in the bush. I’ve been in the industry and taken my fair share of game walks (not overnight trails, just 2- 3 hour morning walks from the lodge) and I don’t believe that a large scale increase in walking safaris is good, because it immediately puts the lives of the animals that you are there to see at risk. There’s always a risk of coming across an animal and the situation becoming dangerous, and it’s usually the animal that suffers. To think of, for example, a lioness with small cubs who has let us in the vehicle into her personal space countless times being shot because a walking party has stumbled upon her lair makes me wonder if it’s actually worth it. Of course 99, 99 percent of the time nothing happens, but with an increase in foot traffic in the bush more animals will be shot. I’m not saying they shouldn’t be done, but the consequences should be thought of.

Leon Marais.

By: James Christian

James Christian — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:44:15 +0000

The original safari was a walking safari and it is a shame that too many people never get to feel the experience of walking on african soil. I highly recommend walking safaris as an alternative to the ‘game drive’ safari.
Cheers, James Christian
Karisia Walking Safaris

By: Natasha

Natasha — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 14:54:45 +0000

I have been on a wilderness trail in Botswana and it was simple breathtaking, i highly recommend them