Travel story of Mariette

March 25, 2024

Travel Story Mariette

In 2022, my parents joined me on a walking safari for the first time. At that time, I was still completing my trails guide qualification under the guidance of Massimo Rebuzzi from African Bush Company. Now, several years later, I collaborate with this company to offer primitive trails.

We stayed at a lodge in a Big 5 reserve, where each morning began with a walking safari, and the afternoons were filled with game drives. My parents, who had visited South Africa several times before, had never experienced a walking safari. Curious about their experiences? Keep reading to discover what they thought of this unique experience!

Adventurous Morning: Our First Walk among the Wildlife

We stayed at a lodge situated in the heart of a Big 5 reserve surrounded by wildlife. The next morning, our first walk was scheduled. Initially, I found it incredibly exciting and didn’t sleep very well. We rose early and departed from the lodge at 6 a.m. We drove to an area where we would be walking that morning and received clear instructions from Massimo and Daphne on what to do if we encountered wild animals. Then, we embarked on our first walk.

I quickly realized how much I liked walking in nature, enjoying the calmness, and seeing lots of interesting things. It’s easier to stop and look at everything you see, and you learn a lot, making the walk much more enjoyable. We saw impalas, wildebeests, and zebras, and stumbled upon a quill from a porcupine and a feather from a lilac-breasted roller (a very colorful bird). We learned about the tracks and droppings we encountered, distinguishing between fresh tracks or droppings and those that were several days old. We also learned how to determine whether an animal had run away quickly or had walked very slowly, potentially still resting nearby.

Encounter with Buffaloes and Rhinos: An Exciting Day in the Reserve

The next day, we walked in another part of the reserve and saw a group of buffaloes in the distance. We decided to walk towards them to see if we could get a closer look. It was quite thrilling, but thanks to Daphne and Massimo’s calm approach and clear instructions before we set off, I felt confident. As we got closer, my heart started beating faster. We noticed that there were also some zebras walking with the buffaloes, and we were able to watch them from a safe distance as the buffaloes and zebras grazed peacefully.

Later on, Daphne heard two oxpeckers flying up behind us in the tall grass. These birds eat parasites off various mammals and are often found on giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, and rhinos. The grass was so high that we couldn’t see any animals, but as we cautiously continued, we spotted a white rhino! It was probably sleeping and sensed or heard us as we walked by, causing it to get up. However, it didn’t notice us, and we were able to follow it from a safe distance for a while.

Magical Encounters: My Last Morning on Walking Safari

On the final morning of our walking safari, we were peacefully enjoying the beautiful surroundings when Daphne suddenly stopped. She saw the ear of a black rhinoceros sticking out above the tall grass, right next to us! We had to be very quiet and were instructed to walk very slowly and quietly behind Daphne, while Massimo followed behind us to ensure our safety and keep an eye on the rhinoceros.

Safety always comes first, and Massimo and Daphne gave us clear instructions when we encountered rhinos and buffaloes. They always made sure we were comfortable and could observe the animals from a safe distance. They also emphasized the importance of checking the wind direction constantly. They didn’t want to disturb the animals, so they made sure we viewed them from a spot where the wind wasn’t blowing towards them, so they couldn’t smell us.

It was an incredible experience! Despite sometimes feeling nervous, I would do it again in a heartbeat. I thoroughly enjoyed my first walking safari and would recommend it to everyone to experience at least once! Contact us today to book your walking safari.