A safari is unquestionably an outdoor experience. But, in Africa as elsewhere, just being outdoors does not always imply high activity. Mornings you’ll set out in your open vehicle accompanied by a guide to seek wildlife. Later, as animals retreat for a mid-day rest, you may take a nap or relax with a book. In the afternoon, you’ll embark on a second game drive often in a vehicle. Although every safari is an adventure, it is not necessarily high exertion, unless, of course, you design it that way.
Mountain Biking in Tanzania near Lake Manyara, Serena
Many of our guests, particularly those traveling with teenagers, ask how they can incorporate their active interests into their safari. We’re more than happy to answer them. We are cyclists and horse enthusiasts ourselves, and we have ridden mountain bikes on elephant trails, been on horseback amongst herds of giraffe, and even trail run with Maasai. The camps and lodges we recommend are inherently the best for pursuing a more active agenda, as many of them are located in private reserves which encourage guided excursions outside of a vehicle.
Canoeing, Bushwalking, and more…
Canoeing on the Chongwe River, Camp Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia
The Lower Zambezi River is an excellent place for a multi-sport game viewing safari. It is, in fact, the only place where you can canoe, powerboat, go on bush walks, and take game drives and night drives. Its proximity to Victoria Falls is also a plus, if you want to take things to the next level with white-water rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping and other adrenaline activities.
Horseback riding at Limpopo Valley, Mashatu Game, Reserve Botswana
If horse riding or mountain biking is of interest, Mashatu Private Game Reserve in Botswana offers guided cycling and horseback safaris as ways to explore this diverse habitat, home to elephant, buffalo, lion, giraffe and eland. To see how all of these experiences are incorporated in a single safari, discover our Adventure Safari in Botswana and Zambia.
Gorilla or Chimpanzee Trekking
Gorilla Trekking, Bwindi Forest, Uganda Another clear exception to sedentary safaris is gorilla or chimpanzee trekking in Eastern Africa, because you have to hike to the action through dense forest. The effort is indescribably rewarding when you spend an hour in the company of primates, charmed by their complex social interactions and behaviors. These programs are typically limited, however, to ages 15 and older.The beauty of custom safaris, however, is that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. We can add a day of cycling to your safari, or we can build an entire trip around your interests.
We can recommend safari camps where some in your party explore on foot, while others relax poolside. The important thing is that your safari reflects your interests, and if they run to the sporting variety, Africa will not disappoint.
The first version of this article was posted on 3 Jun 2014 at 4:18 PM.