Discover your inner explorer in Zambia’s wild heart
Our early pioneer, Norman Carr, believed that you never truly knew or understood a country and its wildlife until you had walked it. It’s for this very reason that Zambia has been crowned home of the Walking Safari as this philosophy has been instilled in generations of Zambians.
At Time + Tide Safaris, we invite our guests to follow the road less traveled with our Walking Safari Guides – some having trained with Norman himself – and immerse themselves in the unspoiled wilderness of South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi and Liuwa Plain.
The traditional Walking Safari is the ultimate way for guests to slow down, reconnect with nature and experience Africa in its entirety. Although you may be able to travel further by vehicle, being on foot allows you to experience and embrace a new array of scents, sounds, and signals of the bush such as where a honey badger lay the night before or how dung beetles tackle their crucial task so diligently. The magic is in the finer details of the wild world that surrounds us.
History of the Walking Safari
The legendary Norman Carr was a man ahead of his time. He was a bold innovator of the Walking Safari which initiated a far-reaching concept that was to pave the way for modern conservation and ecotourism. Back in 1950, he encouraged Senior Chief Nsefu – Paramount Chief of the Kunda people in the Luangwa Valley – to set aside a portion of tribal land as a game reserve and built the first game viewing camp open to the public in Zambia.
His dream was to secure the future of this unique wilderness by ensuring that the local population would benefit through the conservation of the wildlife and habitat of the Luangwa Valley. It was during this time that Norman Carr pioneered the Walking Safari experience.
Routes + Journey Information
Begin your journey at our Seasonal Camps – open from the 20th of May to the 15th of November every year – exploring the wilds of the South Luangwa in the tradition of the Walking Safari from camp to camp. Originally sited by Norman Carr decades ago, the camps are located in the best game areas of the whole National Park.
As with all of our journeys, Walking Safaris are flexible itineraries that we design to your preference based on your choice of Seasonal Camps and the length of your stay. Whether you opt for our most popular five-night walking safari itinerary or extend it to 10 nights for the full circuit with 2 nights spent at each Seasonal Camp, this raw, authentic experience will transport you to a whole different world.
The distances and walking times between each of our Seasonal Camps:
+ Luwi to Nsolo – 9.5 km (approximately 2.5 – 3 hours)
+ Nsolo to Kakuli – 14 km (approximately 4 – 4.5 hours)
+ Nsolo to Mchenja – 12 km (approximately 4 hours)
+ Kakuli to Mchenja – 7 km (approximately 2 hours)
For every Walking Safari experience, our guests dictate the pace and are accompanied by a Time + Tide Guide and a scout. Zambia has exceptionally high Walking Safari Guide standards and exams, therefore allowing guests to be at ease and feel safe in the wilderness. The recommended minimum age is 12 years old and is at the discretion of our Guides.
Walk as much or as little as you please, as there is always the alternative option of a vehicle transfer between camps with all luggage being transferred ahead of you. In addition to your morning walking safari, game drives are available in the evening too.
Take a Walk on The Wild Side
In a world where everyone is seeking real wellness, connecting with wild places and embracing the present moment, a Walking Safari offers all these and more. Whether you’re a first-time safari goer, a seasoned one, or a family joining us on a safari adventure, we invite you to follow in the footsteps of early conservationists and immerse yourself in the abundance of wildlife in an unspoiled wilderness.
FOLLOW THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
Book your safari and experience Zambia with us
travel@timeandtideafrica.com and our Time + Tide travel designers will reply to you.
“Tsara Komba was everything we wished for our first Madagascar getaway. The lodge is beautiful, with breath taking sea views and incredible gardens. To Nava and the entire team, thank you for your gracious hospitality. Thank you for going the extra mile to ensure we had a comfortable and memorable stay. The food was delicious, with fresh, local ingredients prepared to perfection. We can't recommend Tsara Komba highly enough.”
Shetil, Guest at Time + Tide Tsara Komba
"The uniqueness of being in a camp with only four safari tents is the ultimate feeling of luxury. Luwi overlooks a wide open grassland that on my first morning we watched a high speed chase - a pack of Wilddogs on a hunt. It was exhilarating to watch and sent our heart rates through the sky adding a lot of chatter and laughter once the pack had passed by."
Jessica, Guest at Time + Tide Luwi
"The authenticity and remoteness of the seasonal camps will be a special experience that I will long to return to. There really is no place on earth that you can really escape like you can at the seasonal camps. Falling asleep at Kakuli to the distant lion roars and waking to the call of the fish eagle - really what a magical walking safari!"
Lara, Guest at Time + Tide Kakuli
"This is the most magical place you're ever likely to experience. Nestled under a grove of imposing Albida trees, it is clearly favoured by the many elephant who graze on the Albida pods. Their presence adds an incredibly special energy to the camp. "
Charles, Guest at Time + Tide Chongwe Camp
"To my sheer joy and amazement, I walked into the main camp area one morning after sleeping in, to witness a herd of elephants crossing the Luangwa River. I was alone in camp at the time and that sighting will be the highlight of my trip to Africa… somehow, the solitude, the sound of the beautiful animals swishing through the water and me being the only one to witness it made it quite a spiritual experience."
"Our family had the most joyful time at Chongwe, really everything was perfect and every detail taken care of. The team ensured we had the best time at every activity (even tiger fishing!). We felt privileged to spend a few days here and look forward to returning."
Richard, Guest at Time + Tide Chongwe
"Our stay at Nsolo was truly unforgettable! We were captivated by the authentic and secluded setting, and the sleepout under the stunning African stars was the absolute highlight of our trip. We highly recommend this unique experience to anyone looking for an adventure off the beaten path."
Lotte, Guest at Time + Tide Nsolo
"Chinzombo is a stunning lodge in a beautiful location of the South Luangwa. The rooms are luxurious and spacious, with a deck and plunge pool overlooking the Luangwa River. There is always an abundance of wildlife around the rooms, we had a banded mongoose, bushbuck, elephants and hippo's - just to name a few."
Michael, Guest at Time + Tide Chinzombo