Field Notes

Walking safaris take travelers beyond the vehicle and into Africa’s wild heart — where every track, sound, and scent tells a story. Explore how this slow, sensory form of safari began in Zambia and continues across Botswana and beyond. Featuring insights from Bushtracks Founder David Tett’s 2025 walking journey.

Meet Tristan Allan-Reynolds, a professional safari guide at Tanda Tula in South Africa’s Timbavati Reserve. Raised between city life in Durban and the wilds of KwaZulu-Natal, Tristan brings deep conservation knowledge and heartfelt storytelling to every safari. In this interview, he shares how guiding on foot shaped his approach, why connection matters as much as wildlife sightings, and how his podcast Heart of the Wild brings Africa’s bush to listeners around the world.

Guides sit between wilderness and traveler — storytellers who transform sightings into stories and connect landscapes to people. More than field experts, they are interpreters of the wild: weaving together ecology, culture, and history to reveal Africa’s layered beauty. In their hands, each safari becomes a living classroom.

In March 2027, Bushtracks invites a select group of travelers to join us on an exceptional new journey: Timeless Lands, a privately guided expedition across the Indian subcontinent led by renowned historian, award-winning naturalist, and filmmaker Toby Sinclair, alongside our Founder & CEO David Tett.

We left Johannesburg on a Federal Air Grand Caravan, flying at low altitude over the plateau and descending into the legendary Mala-Mala. There, the incredible Mike climbed into all our hearts, gently guiding us into the rhythm of the African bush.

Our Safari Legends journey began this morning at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. By 10 AM, our full group had gathered—four returning Bushtracks travelers, two new to the brand, and me. It’s a great mix of personalities, and there was instant camaraderie.

Good evening from the veranda outside my room at the stunning Victoria Falls Safari Lodge! Today brought more unforgettable moments — full of fun, joy, and deep appreciation for Africa.

Good morning from the Intercontinental Johannesburg! My name is Alex, and I am on Day 1 of my reconnaissance trip in Zimbabwe with my husband Liam. We got married August 24, 2024 and this is our (belated) honeymoon. Admittingly, this is an unconventional way to spend a honeymoon. But we both share great passion for Africa and were dying to go on safari, no matter the pace. I look forward to taking you along on this journey and hope to convey the absolute joy that Africa brings.