Selous Riverside Camp on the banks of the Rufigi river are no different. The walks are relatively short lasting around 1-2 hours and covering no more than a mile or two. Walking safaris are particularly challenging and you can wear trainers or similar comfortable shoes.

But don’t forget to cover your legs and arms and put some insect repellant cream or other mosquito prevention treatment to stop the pesky mites making a meal of you!

You’ll find some tips on mosquito bite prevention here –> Click here

The walking safaris at Selous Riverside start early. We were given a 5am wake up call.30am for a 6am start. Before boarding of safari vehicles there was just time for a quick cup of tea. As Selous Riverside is located outside the Selous National Park, we were also going to walk outside the park. Our destination was around 10-15 minutes away and we were soon on our way, heading through a nearby village and down one of the many side roads where we pulled over.

There was fairly thick vegetation all round us but paths that had been cleared by passing elephants and hippo were clearly visible so we followed these. Our group of 6 walkers was accompanied by an armed ranger and a local tracker. Once the short briefing had finished, we commenced on our walk. The ranger led the way and we all followed in single file with the tracker falling in behind.

Although it was fairly unlikely that we would come across any larger wildlife such as elephants or leopards mainly due to the noise we made, our ranger did tell us that he has seen a large selection of such animals during walks. Insects, plants and birds are the focal point of this type of walking safari. The first item of interest we came across was a termite mound that stood at least 2 metres tall. The ranger explained that although the termite mound looked quite large, two-thirds of the system was underground. When you consider the size of the little creatures who built it, the termite mound is quite an impressive sight.

The one inescapable sound was the almost deafening sound of cicadas which were all around us. Cicada are similar to locusts and if you look carefully, you can see them on the branches of the trees. They go through a 17 year life cycle and are preyed upon by pretty much everything in the wild. We were also shown plants like the Sausage Tree which takes its name from the sausage shaped fruit it produces. However, the fruit is much large than the traditional English breakfast sausage as it grows up to a metre in length and can weigh over 10kg.

The walk lasted for an hour and although it was all too easy to get the feeling it wasn’t much different to a walk in a wood back in England, the occasional tracks we came across gave us a reminder that we were very much in Africa. Once back at the safari vehicle, we were soon on our way to camp for breakfast before heading out on another day on safari in the Selous Game Reserve.

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Backpack for Hiking in The Summer

For day hiking you will need a backpack capable of carrying 1,500-2,000 cubic inches or 25 to 35 liters. Iincrease this total to 2,500 or 3,000 cubic inches (40 to 50 liters) if the trip lasts for two nights.

For hiking that takes three to five nights maximum, the backpack should be able to carry 3,000-4,000 cubic in (50 to 65 liters). The capacity should be 4,000 to 5,000 cubic inches or 50 to 65 liters at the minimum if it is for at least five night.

Spring and Fall / Autumn Hiking Backpack

For a day hike, the capacity should be 2,000-2,500 cubic inches (equal to 35-40 liters). If you’ll be camping out for two evenings, the backpack size / capacity should be 3,000 to 3,5000 cubic inches or 50 to 55 liters.

The capacity should be 4,000 to 5,000 cubic inches (65 to 80 liters) if you’ll be hiking for a minimum of three nights (maximum five nights). The capacity should be 5,000 cubic ft minimum for a hiking trip that lasts at least five days.

Backpack for Hiking in The Winter

Winter hiking requirements are a bit different. The backpack size of 2,500-3,500 cubic inches (40 to 55 liters) will be ideal for day hiking. If the trip lasts for two nights, increase this total to 4,000 to 5,000 cubic inches (65 to 80 liters).

For a 3 to 5 night trip, the size should be 5,000 cubic inches or 80 to 90 liters. The capacity should be 5,000 cubic feet, that’s equal to 50 to 65 liters if the trip lasts for five days minimum.

Types of Backpack

Daypacks are very popular among summer hikers. These are basically small backpacks. Their small size makes them ideal to carry during hot days. When shopping for daypacks, think of the trip duration.

If you’ll be hiking for at least a couple of days, make sure the backpack has enough room for extra clothing. The backpack size for winter hiking needs to be a little bigger. You’ll need thicker clothes.

Backpacks use internal or external frames. The internal frames are more popular nowadays because it provides mobility and balance. This is most suitable for hiking and mountain climbing. However the external backpack is preferred by some as there is space between the backpack and one’s back.

What to Carry

Food, water and clothing are the bare necessities. Make sure to carry the amount of clothing needed; you don’t want to run short, but don’t fill your backpack with stuff you won’t use. Don’t forget to carry medical kits, including nets, creams or lotions to prevent insect bites such as from mosquitos

Having a compass with you is also a good idea. A flashlight, batteries and a cell phone are also essential especially for new hikers.

While manufacturers may use the same backpack size measurements, each has its own nuances. Spend some time trying them to see which one you’re most comfortable with.

looking for some extreme mountain hiking? check this out:
How High is Mount Everest?
How High is Mount Kilimanjaro?

related reading: Travel Bag Dimensions

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Elephants treck through hotel while we were on safari in Africa

My wife and I love Africa and we couldn’t resist the temptation to visit our friends in Africa and visit the continent, when Juliette was nearly two years old we travelled from South Africa to Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania both the mainland and Zanzibar.

We had a marvellous safari and really had no difficulty with finding food for our daughter or cots in the hotels. In fact the whole trip was just perfect. We made sure that we used Mosquito nets , and to cover her with a strong mosquito repellant she wasn’t bitten once in the whole trip.

So if you are thinking of travelling to Africa with your family but are worried whether your children will enjoy the safari and whether they will be safe, we hope you will be encouraged with our personal experiences. Our daughter Juliette has enjoyed safaris from the very earliest age and have friends who have raised their children so the easy answer is yes children do adapt well to the wild but with some conditions.

Children tend to love the wildlife and a safari is usually a wonderful experience for children of all ages. It can get a bit long and hot for children so we have some suggestions for you;

• take with you some animal spotting safari games
• learn the Swahili names for the animals which will help the children build a relationship with your driver and should provide fun.
• Download safari games available from the web at no charge, this will keep them busy. We have a FREE children’s activity pack which you can view or download and print free of charge and includes a safari animal check list with Swahili animal names, plus some other fun stuff.

An amazing experience that we had and would like to mention because it might be useful for other parents travelling with young children while on safari…

We went on a night drive in Zambia in an open vehicle with other guests from the lodge.This was so exciting and turned out to be one of the most amazing we have ever done. We discovered a young leopard where we later found ourselves right in the core of a herd of buffalo that was suddenly being ambushed by four hungry female lions. The lions prey escaped. In all the excitement our daughter began crying, it took seconds for the lions who characteristically think vehicles as just part of the landscape began to think the vehicle as a promising prey, like a small animal in distress. Fortunately our guide acknowledged the change in mood and drove us away quickly to safety with a pack of lions following us.

The food in safari lodges tends to be quite relaxed so no problems here either. There should be no problems keeping children interested in this new and stimulating world where they will face a different way of life and maybe poverty for the first time, but I think the lifestyle of Africa can play an essential part in the education of our sometimes pampered children.

Common sense is if the parents are sensible and make the children abide by the safari rules no danger will come to the children. Certainly the first thing to do is sit down with your children before departure and explain that Africa is a different world from the one they are used to, where there is danger around.

There is no need to overemphasize but camp rules are there for your protection and must be followed, because if they are not, the consequences can be serious. For very young children I propose you pick your camp carefully and make sure your travel advisor knows you are travelling with children so they can find the most suitable for children. We can guide you on this from personal experience as we have been on many safaris with our children. We also have a lot of information for going on safari & travelling in Africa

It is recommended that young children should not be vaccinated and are excused in most countries for yellow fever but truthfully I don’t feel this should be of concern. This is a rare disease which you should not meet in a safari lodge. Your focus of concern should be malaria which is a problem all over the tropics. The local population catch it repeatedly and it is generally deemed no worse than a bout of flu. However depending on the strain, it can be dangerous and the solution here is good prevention. Young children cannot take malaria tablets we advise you to get advice from your doctor. Before the sun goes down make sure that you put insect repellent all over their arms and legs making sure any exposed area is covered then check to make sure they are sleeping under mosquito nets. These safety measures will help you to reduce the risk of malaria to just about zero.

Don’t be scared about taking your children to Africa, it is a wonderful experience for them and we have been back with Juliette many times, but do cover them up well and no safaris in open vehicles for very small children

Note: The above information is advice given on the basis of the author’s experience at the time of writing and the author cannot take responsibility for any traveller choosing to take the advise above. Before travelling you should speak to your GP and take advice from the relevant authorities before travelling.

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Hiking in itself is an excellent way to get a cardiovascular workout which is why you need the right hiking and backpacking gear. You need to take a few supplies and water on your hiking trip. If you have not been hiking before and it has been some time since you were physically active, get a good check from your doctor before commencing any physical activity. Hiking is an enjoyment and the added bonuses are that you keep fit and healthy, while enjoying the scenery.  Nobody wants to plan a hiking trip to somewhere far away and then not be able to enjoy being there because you are not fit enough to take on the task.  Before leaving, start walking to build endurance and make each walk a little longer than the day before.

Many people do not want to plan a trip to a far away place, but rather take some daily trips closer to home.  This is easier to plan and can be done without spending much money.  Even when taking a day trip, be sure to talk to your doctor before beginning.  When your doctor passes you as fit and you have walked around your neighborhood to build up strength, you can think of tackling a day hike.  Plan your first day of hiking on level terrain and set a short distance to travel.  It is okay to vary the time and distance of each trip, once you are comfortable with going farther and walking across more difficult terrain. If you are only considering one day hiking trips you still need to have a hydration pack for hiking.

When you are out hiking, the sounds of Mother Nature are beautiful compared to the sounds of the city and hiking can become very addictive.  Hiking can be therapeutic, because all of the things that stress you on a daily basis will slip away while walking.  Your body feels the difference and the feeling that comes over you is very addictive. It makes your body and mind want more serenity and peace. It allows your body to lower blood pressure and become tuned in to the hike. The enjoyment of hiking maintains your health, while lifting your spirit. So grab your hiking gear backpack and enjoy life.

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