Originating and cultivated in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley in the 60’s, the appeal of walking safari’s has recently grown in popularity across the African continent. In itself it is far more than an activity, it is the most immediate way to awaken all of your senses and begin to use them to interpret, experience and immerse yourself in the natural world around you. 

Europe doesn’t immediately appear to be the setting for a walking safari yet it holds areas not only of outstanding beauty but also areas that exhibit intact ecosystems, centred around apex predators and heavyweight herbivores. 

European walking safari is geared towards amplifying participants connections to the natural world as well facilitating wild and raw adventure experiences in nature. The knowledge gained through activities and workshops will help you better understand the relationship you share with nature on your doorstep and beyond.  

CARBON FOOTPRINT COMMITMENT

We offer a range of nature connection courses and expeditions within the Netherlands but also run expeditions to foreign countries within Europe. This obviously asks participants to travel long distances. In the current climate crisis many people are taking the decision to not travel by air. All our destinations in Europe are reachable by train. For Romania it is a 22 hour trip from Amsterdam to Timisoara via Frankfurt and Budapest. For Belarus it is a day travel from Amsterdam to Minsk via Berlin and Warsaw.

For those wishing to still travel by air we pledge to invest from profits 40 euros pp into the carbon offsetting program Sustainable Travel International  (https://sustainabletravel.org) that specifically invest in retaining continuous forest cover rather than in plantation schemes. 

If these travel conditions mean that travelling abroad is not for you then please do scroll down in our expedition segment and see the nature courses that are available in the Netherlands and the city nature tours in Amsterdam. 

TRAIL BISON IN PRISTINE FORESTS, WATCH BEARS AS THEY PREPARE FOR HIBERNATION IN THE STUNNING CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS 

Destination: Armenis, Carpathian Mountains, Romania

Duration: 7 days 13th-20th September 2024

Group Size: 6-8 people; places still available

Age: 16+

Cost: 1299 euros

In collaboration with WWF Romania we will be running an expedition that focuses on the ecology of the European Bison and the European Brown bear. In the true spirit of the walking safari ethos we will camp out on mountain meadows that lace across spectacular ridge lines as we follow the Bison herd and explore valleys full of Brown bear spoor and pick up their trails that forage to nearby village orchards. The scenery, traditional culture and wilderness here are something to be experienced. Such beauty in Europe is unrivalled. Alongside learning about the reintroduction and ecology of European Bison and learning how to trail such animals in a truly wild setting we will also be running various workshops on track and sign, rewilding, trailing, bird language and natural awareness. This truly is the trip of a lifetime and on your European doorstep!!

The itinerary for the trip starts with our arrival in Timisoara and then taking a transfer to the town of Armenis that sits at the base of the Tarcu Mountains.

This trip is based on hiking within remote wilderness areas so a good level of fitness is required. 

Wild camping is also scheduled on the itinerary however this is not a bushcraft experience rather an engagement with natures intricate networks and your own relationship to it

For all bookings & enquiries please contact: europeanwalkingsafari@gmail.com