Northern Africa and the Middle East - Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World - page 143

SAfArIS In THE Slow lAnE

Go on safari in a 4WD and you have the best of both worlds: a safe, secure vantage
point from which to spot wildlife, and the mobility to whizz off as soon as the news
comes over the radio of where to go for the best action. Go on walking or horse-riding
safaris and the pace is much slower, but you are able to follow tracks off-road, catch the
scent of animals, hear birdsong more clearly and get a closer connection to the bush.
And if you're lucky, you may just have that once-in-a-lifetime close encounter with an
elephant or a lion. Below are our five favourite slow safaris.

182 Trek to the roof of the world,
kenya
Follow an ancient game trail on foot up to
the Losiolo escarpment to one of the best
viewpoints of the Great Rift Valley, then tackle
a 3000m descent to a riverside camp in the
beautiful Lerachi gorge. And that's just day
one. Donkeys will carry all the equipment as
you follow a guide from one of the Ndorobo
tribes - accompanied by ten Samburu warriors
- among the isolated mountain ranges of
Samburu that are home to leopards, hyenas and
mountain reedbucks. Choose between a five-day
trip or a more strenuous eight-day trek into the
Rift Valley, including three days in the private
wildlife reserve of Mugie. En route you'll explore
several flat-topped peaks with views of the arid
plains below, swim in natural pools and visit
traditional Samburu villages in this ancient,
volcanic land.

Need to know For further details, info about
the Samburu region, prices and reservations see
W www.samburutrails.com; T [phone]
6635.

183 on foot in the Serengeti,
Tanzania
It's back to basics on this walking safari in the
Serengeti National Park. Walking in the mornings
only and in small groups of two to eight people,
the three-day to five-day treks begin in the
Longossa Hills and then follow ancient riverbeds
to the Orangi River, where you're likely to see
elephants, buffalo and hyenas. You'll camp in
the bush in canvas-dome tents, before returning
on the final day to Serengeti Wilderness Camp,
where there are several permanent water sources
that attract lots of game. This seasonal camp
has eight tents and a large dining area, but no
permanent structures (lighting is solar and there
are compost toilets) so that it can be transported
easily to follow wildlife.

On safari in the northern
Maasai Mara

Need to know The operators are
one of only a few granted a permit
to lead treks in the Serengeti.
The walking and camp teams
have radios, mobile phones and a
GPS, and you are accompanied
throughout by an armed Tanzania
National Parks guide. For dates,
prices and reservations see W www.
rainbowtours.co.uk; T +44 (0) 20
7226 1004.