Best walking safaris in South Africa

Home > Walking Holidays & Safaris > South Africa Walking Safaris

Overview

For us, a walking safari is the ultimate wildlife experience. You will never forget the moment when, crouched low in the aromatic golden grass beside your armed guide, you watch elephants cross the river towards you! A walking safari is a gentle walk so it is suitable for any adventurous adult.

Dedicated walking safaris in South Africa

Rhino Walking Safaris offers two to three night stays at Plains Camp, a private concession in the Kruger National Park. You also have the opportunity to enjoy a sleep-out. This is in elevated tree-houses (on the 3 night safari). Similarly Simbavati Trails Camp , and the more rustic Africa on Foot both focus exclusively on walking safaris in the Timbavati Game Reserve.

Whilst in the far north of the Kruger, Pafuri Walking Trails is a 3 night walking safari in the dry winter & spring months. This is a very scenic part of the Kruger and ideally suited to walking safaris.

Down in the Cape, both Sanbona in the Little Karoo and Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape offer their 'Explorer camps'. These rustic walking camps are run from Friday to Sunday (2 nights). Gondwana Game Reserve also offers a three night walking safari trail staying at different tented camps each night.

In the Marakele National Park in the Waterberg Mountains, the stylish and eco-friendly Marataba Mountain Lodge is perfect for more adventurous souls. Combine safari walks with game drives for an adventure out in the bush.

Some Camps only offer walking safaris above. Whilst other safari camps offer a mix of walking or game drives. Usually with game drives in the hotter afternoons.

Morning Walks

If you aren't 100% sure, there are alternative ways to enjoy a walking in the bush. Many game lodges offer a short morning bush walk on request. However, some safari lodges - mentioned below - have a greater emphasis on walking than most. They offer longer 3-4 hour bush walks. These are not arduous but rather gentle explorations of the bush, giving you the opportunity to observe the game at close quarters, track spoor and gain a holistic sense of how the wilderness.

Popular tours & safaris

Rhino Walking Safaris in the Kruger

This three night luxury Rhino walking safari combines the best of both worlds with one night at Rhino Post Safari Lodge to enjoy 4x4 game drives, followed by two nights on a walking safari in the...

WHEN Apr - Sept

DURATION 3 Nights

FROM ₤ 961

View

South Africa & Victoria Falls Adventure

Our South Africa & Victoria Adventure trip is ideal for anyone who's keen for some adventure whilst on holiday. We've included a number of active excursions in Cape Town and Victoria Falls so that...

WHEN Apr - Oct

DURATION 12 Nights

FROM ₤ 3,559

View

Simbavati Wildlife & Walking

This is a fantastic combination of a top-notch private game lodge safari at Hilltop Camp. Followed by 2 nights of slowing down and enjoying a digital detox experience at Simbavati Trails Camp.

WHEN Mar - Oct

DURATION 5 Nights

FROM ₤ 2,103

View

Download our Free Safari Planning Guide

20 pages of Useful Tips: Best time to Travel, Safari Costs, How to Get Around, Special Interests and more... Get our Free Guide

Accommodation

Marataba Mountain Lodge

Marataba Trails Lodge is a stunning eco-friendly camp situated in a remote part of a beautiful 23,000ha concession within the Marakele National Park. Marataba Trails has been designed for seasoned...

RATING Premier

BOOK NOW

Rhino Post Safari Lodge

Rhino Post Safari Lodge is set on the banks of a dry riverbed within a 12,000 hectare private concession in the Kruger. This unique wilderness area offers the ideal place for encounters with the...

RATING Premier

BOOK NOW

Tanda Tula Safari Camp

Tanda Tula Safari Camp is situated in the Timbavati private game reserve - 20 000 acres of prime bushveld which forms part of the greater Kruger National Park. The emphasis is placed on a quality...

RATING Premier

BOOK NOW

View More Accommodations

Mr Guy Crabb - Ginny

"Ginny listened to what we wanted and delivered an itinerary that pretty much blew us away. " - Mr Guy Crabb

All your arrangements/transfers worked like clockwork

"We have had the most fantastic holiday and that all your arrangements / transfers etc worked like clockwork. The accommodation and food was excellent everywhere we stayed. It has left us hungry for more (especially Victoria Falls) so we had better get saving for a return trip! This was our first trip to South Africa and we had no idea how stunningly beautiful your country is. " - Laughton Family, UK

Incredibly well organised

"Everything was incredibly well organised and left nothing wanting. We did not see all of the animals that we had hoped for but the experience we had was so much more than that. Hopefully we will return to Africa one day – maybe Namibia / Botswana next time. Thank you so much for organising everything for us it is very much appreciated. " - Mr James Coleman

Everything was brilliant

"Ginny Russell and the Cedarberg team have arranged many trips to Africa for us over the last 25 years. Each holiday has been wonderful and we love planning them with Ginny. When we think Africa & safari we always think Cedarberg. Thanks again Ginny, we are already looking forward to our next safari. Val & Frank " - Mrs Val Cummins

We honestly had the trip of a life time and it was a magical time for our whole family.

"We honestly had the trip of a life time and it was a magical time for our whole family. From the animals in the Serengeti to the palm fringed perfect beaches of Zanzibar it was two weeks we will never forget. We had a superb guide and saw the big 5 on safari which was really special. Thank you so much Milandi. " - Jos Palmer

South Africa Walking Safaris | A deeper dive

Relief from the drought – Rhino Tracking at Desert Rhino Camp

“What do the Norwegians say?” is often the question my family ask when we want to know the weather forecast. For some reason the Norwegian weather website (www.yr.no) seems to be the most...

READ

7 must-visit lodges for walking safari enthusiasts

Some people enjoy nothing more than the feeling of being directly and intimately close to nature and wildlife. There is surely no more thrilling experience, and what better way to do this than by...

READ