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A walking safari to Kenya is travel experience that brings back the memories of early safari pioneers who traversed the country on foot. They may have come to Kenya with the intention of farming, building the rail or as administrators but the guys had itchy feet and were always on the go. The landscape, the scenery, the plants and of course the wildlife that kept them outdoors is still out there though it has been much overshadowed by today's fast-paced vehicle safaris. Unknown to many walkers, it is possible to take your Kenyan safari as a walking holiday with all the modern comforts that yester-year travelers did not have. Successful walking holidays in Kenya require more careful planning than vehicle-confined safaris and with so many safari operators offering walking safaris, it falls on each walker to seriously evaluate all aspects of their tour before booking. Here is a 7 points checklist to guide you in planning your walking tour in Kenya: 1) What's your fitness level? Discuss with your walking holidays operator how many hours per day you will be out in the field. Find out if there are options to do part of the walks. If the information on his web site and his email correspondences are foggy, pick up the phone and drill him on the daily schedules. 2) Where will you walk? There are many places for a fulfilling walking holiday in Kenya and your choice will mainly depend on what you want to see and the number of days you have for your walking safari. A good rule is to give each destination (walking base) a minimum of 2 nights, if possible 3. It helps that all mornings are not scheduled for road transfers and that you have a home-away-from-home to come back for a couple of evenings. Note that in Kenya, walking is prohibited in most national reserves and no matter how much your walking safaris operator may want to give you a "thrill", be very careful that you do all things within the law and with your personal safety as the top priority. What type of game are you likely to see? On most walking holidays in Kenya expect to see plains game such as giraffes, gazelles, zebras, warthogs and a wide variety of colorful birds. 4) What support will you have? For you to enjoy your Kenya walking safari, the burden of the daily chores should be removed from you. It will also greatly help if your luggage, except your day pack is carried by mules, camels or support vehicles. Should you go on a scheduled group or a private walking tour? If booking into a group walking holiday , confirm that walking is the main theme of the holiday and not vehicle game drives. Where walking is listed as "optional" find out if enough time and guides are allocated? This could be a sign that walking as an activity is not being taken seriously. 6) What type of accommodation will you have on the Kenya walking tour? In essence you should stay close to the walking sites to avoid wasting a lot of time on road transfers. It is possible to still get a good walking tour even when staying in safari lodges but, if your budget allows treat yourself to a stay in small tented camps which gives a better compliment your walking tour in Kenya. Basic camping is also another option but, however romantic this is described, note you are working on the word "basic" and possibly the price will vindicate this. If you are not experienced in camping, consider seriously if you should take this as a choice in your walking holiday. 7) The safari guide/s on your walking holiday: The success of your walking holiday will be very much influenced by the quality of your safari guides. They should be accomplished naturalists and must enjoy being out in nature. No use in going for a walk with someone who is operating on a morning and afternoon game drive mentality. Now that you know how to plan a walking tour to Kenya, hit the keyboard for a walking holiday that suits you.
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Anne Huysman is the co-owner of Ontdek Kenya, a walking holidays operator based in Kenya. With 13 years experience, her specialty is in small groups and private walking tours, birding tours and responsible wildlife safaris away from mass tourism. For a free consultation on your Kenyan walking holiday and for inspiring on-safari photos that give you a glimpse of the tours, please go to: => www.ontdek-kenya-safaris.com/walking-tour.html
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