Overview
From guided walking holidays in South Africa, to a hike up Table Mountain...Or from a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro to a walking safari in Zambia... The memories of walking in Africa will stay with you forever. There are so many ways to enjoy a walking holiday or walking safari in Africa that it’s helpful to look at all your options…
First, we should declare that a walking holiday and a walking safari are two completely different trips or activities. So we have separate pages on each type of walking vacation in Africa. However, both are ideal for people who want to get away from the modern constraints of life and connect with the simpler joys of nature.
These walking pages offer a selection of private walking tours, 'slack-packing' walking trails & the best walking destinations in South Africa. Plus some of the best walking safaris in Zambia, Zimbabwe & Botswana...
Walking Destinations within South Africa
South Africa offers plenty of hiking trails. In these pages, we guide you towards the best walking areas and best lodges to stay. In the popular walking areas, you will find detailed maps and guide books to help you choose a suitable walk. Many lodges have walking trails on their property or nearby. We tailor-make self-guided walking holidays in South Africa using some of these favourites.
We also offer some privately guided walking tours in South Africa; in the Cape, the Cederberg and the Drakensberg mountains.
Walking Safaris in Africa
For any adventurous adult, a walking safari has to be the ultimate wildlife experience! So what do we mean by a walking safari? At its simplest, 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 medicinal remedy. Or the leaves of another is distilled to make a formidable alcoholic drink!
This is a way of gaining a deeper holistic understanding of the whole ecosystem, rather than a strenuous walking experience. (But 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, to staying at a bush camp focused on walking, to a classic walking safari of several days walking from one 'fly camp' to another. (A fly camp denotes a simple mobile camp often with dome tents and shared facilities. It contrasts with a bush camp which is also a simple tented camp but with larger meru-style tents and en suite bathrooms.)
We offer walking safaris in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. See our dedicated pages below...
Best time for a Walking Safari or Tour?
Again, this depends on whether its a walking holiday or a walking safari! Most of Southern Africa is characterised by sub-tropical rainy summers and dry sunny winters. Thus the ideal time for walking safaris is between May and September.
However, the Cape of South Africa has a Mediterranean climate so there we recommend between August and December (spring & early summer), and again between March and May (late summer & autumn).
Useful Blog Articles on Walking Safaris in Africa:
Highlights
- Tremendous variety in walking terrain from Kilimanjaro to a relaxed coastal trail.
- Choose between simply adding in some walking into your holiday or taking a guided walking tour.
- Walking safaris are on offer in South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe with specific bush camps focused on walking.
Ginny Russell
Co-founder & Director
Popular tours & safaris
We arrange trips to more than 100+ destinations throughout the African continent.
Top picks for Walking Holidays & Safaris
- MeaningThe word 'safari' means journey in Swahili
- Bush CampsBush camps are rustic tented camps, in remote wilderness areas, usually open only for part of the year
