Walking

Walking Tours & Holidays and Walking Safaris

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From a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, to a diverse walking tour in South Africa, to a hike up Table Mountain, the memories of walking in Africa will stay with you forever. There are so many ways to enjoy walking on your safari holiday that it’s helpful to look at your options.

Walking under your own steam
South Africa, and Namibia to a lesser extent, offer plenty of hiking trails. In the main walking areas, you will find detailed maps and guide books to assist you in choosing a suitable walk. Many lodges have walking or hiking trails on their property or nearby and provide basic maps. In this website we aim to guide you towards the best walking areas and best lodges for hiking. In particular look at the Drakensberg Mountains and the Cedarberg Mountains and the Garden Route, all in South Africa. Our South Africa walking pages below have recommended lodges.

Slackpacking Trails
South Africa also offers several guided walking trails where you walk from place to place each day carrying only a day pack. You stay in comfortable guesthouses of simple restcamps and your luggage is transported to your next night’s stay. These vary in terrain and in accommodation quality and so we’ll advise on which one may be right for you. Examples include the Wild Coast Meander in the Eastern Cape, the Dolphin Trail in the Garden Route and the Wupperthal Trail, one of the Cederberg Heritage Routes. See our Editors Choice...

Walking Safaris
For any adventurous adult, a walking safari has to be the ultimate wildlife experience! The walking safari is a concept unique to Africa, as it is a walk in the company of a game ranger, usually armed, through big game country. There is nothing to compare with the exhilaration of walking through the bush as your ranger explains the way in which the bark of one tree may be used as a toothbrush, and the leaves of another can be distilled to make a formidable alcoholic drink! This is primarily a way of gaining a deeper understanding of the whole ecosystem rather than a strenuous walking experience, though general fitness will add to your enjoyment. However, it is always possible to come upon a herd of buffalo or rhino, so a walking safari can be an exhilarating adventure!

Walking safaris come in various formats – from a 3-4 hour bush walk instead of a game drive, to staying at a bushcamp specializing in walking safaris, to a specialist walking safari of several days walking from one simple camp (flycamps) to another. Contact Us to discussing what will suit you best...

There's more information and sample tours in our walking safari pages in South Africa, Zambia and Botswana.

Wilderness Trails
South Africa and Namibia also offer self-guided wilderness trails where you stay in simple restcamps and carry all your own gear (food, bedding, clothing). These trails are some of the best in the country but tend to get booked up months ahead so you need to plan well in advance. You also need to be well-organized and fairly fit to be able to carry your gear for several days.

When to Walk
With the exception of the Cape in South Africa, (which has a dry Mediterranean climate), Southern Africa is characterised by hot rainy sub-tropical summers and dry sunny winters. Thus the only time you can contemplate walking safaris or holidays in most of the region is between May and October. Walking safaris and tours in Africa, as in any part of the world, are an adventure!