Overview
South Africa is a wonderful country for walking. With plenty of wide open spaces, scenic beauty and varied terrain. Whether it’s the solitude of the mountains or the silence of a forest path. Or perhaps the joy of heading down to an inviting golden beach from a coastal trail? There are few better ways to enjoy its beauty than on a walking holiday in South Africa.
But how exactly you want to enjoy walking in South Africa is up to you. You can choose one of our privately guided walking tours in South Africa - see below. You can simply add in a couple of guided day walks. Or you can just walk independently on one of hundreds of walking trails.
We also often put together self-guided walking holidays in South Africa where you stay at country lodges which have their own walking trails on site or close by. Lots of our favourite hotels have walking trails on their property. Some even have mapped GPS co-ordinates to help self-guided walkers! The best ones are mentioned below under Where to Stay.
Best Destinations for Walking in South Africa?
The Cape province offers some superb hiking trails. Admire mystical mountain ranges including the renowned Table Mountain and the Cederberg. Enjoy the indigenous fauna and flora, verdant wine farms and vineyards, lush forests, waterfalls and golden sandy beaches.
Hermanus, on the southern Cape Whale Coast, and the Garden Route offer fantastic coastal trails in the natural fynbos. The possibility of seeing a whale is an added bonus in the 'whale season' (July to November). The Tsitsikamma coast on the Garden Route offers some popular hiking trails through lush indigenous forests, sandy beaches and magnificent mountains with breath-taking views.
The magnificent Drakensberg Mountains in KwaZulu Natal offer both high mountain challenge and more gentle valley trails. In addition to the panoramic views there are also stunning waterfalls, forests and magnificent escarpments. Indeed, many hotels are particularly well equipped for self-guided walkers with detailed trail maps. Some even have daily guided walks with their in-house guides.
See HERE for more on walking safaris in Africa.
Highlights
- It's a land of staggering natural beauty yet also varied in terrain. Choose between classic mountain hikes, coastal trails or even desert walks.
- Lots of country lodges have laid-out walking trails on their property
- Many well-maintained and well-used walking trails in National Parks and Reserves
Ginny Russell
Co-founder & Director
Popular tours & safaris
We arrange trips to more than 100+ destinations throughout the African continent.
