Zimbabwe’s walking safari trails explained

When most people hear the words walking trail, they already know what to expect. A clearly marked route. A map in hand. A path that begins and ends in the same place, perhaps with a mountain to climb or a scenic viewpoint waiting somewhere along the way. It’s one of the world’s most familiar outdoor activities, built around following a route that somebody else has already created. Zimbabwe, however, has a habit of doing things differently. Here, a walking safari trail isn’t simply another activity added to an itinerary, nor is it a longer version of the guided bush walks offered at many safari lodges. Instead, walking becomes the safari itself. The destination still matters. But everything discovered between the start and finish matters even more. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that there often isn’t a trail to follow at all. Not one built by people, anyway. Instead, each day unfolds along ancient elephant paths, seasonal riverbeds and well-worn game trails shaped by generations of wildlife moving through the same landscape. The route changes constantly. Fresh spoor may lead one direction, a breeding herd of elephants another. Even the wind can influence where the day begins. The ...