Walking Holidays & Safaris

From guided walking holidays in South Africa to a hike up Table Mountain. Or from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to tracking wildlife on foot in Zambia;  the memories of walking in Africa stay with you long after the dust has left your boots. There are so many ways to enjoy a walking holiday or walking safari in Africa that it helps to explore all your options.

Whether you crave the stillness of a forest path, the drama of a high mountain pass, or the joy of padding down to a deserted beach, there’s a trail here with your name on it. The only question is: guided, self-guided, or a little of both?

First, a small clarification: a walking holiday and a walking safari are entirely different experiences. So we offer separate pages dedicated to each. What unites them is the desire to step away from modern constraints and reconnect with the simple, grounding joys of nature.

These walking pages outline the best walking destinations in South Africa, plus a selection of private walking tours. Plus some of the best walking safaris in Zambia, Zimbabwe & Botswana.

Our Walking Pages

South Africa Walking Tours - A curated collection of scenic day walks and multi-day trails across mountains, vineyards and coastlines, pairing great routes with charming lodges and local insight.

South Africa Walking Safaris - A gentle introduction to big-game walking, offering guided bush walks in selected reserves where you can explore wildlife tracks, scents and sounds on foot.

Zambia Walking Safaris - Zambia’s walking safaris immerse you in the birthplace of the tradition. Thes are raw, intimate journeys led by expert guides through the South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi’s most wildlife-rich terrain.

Botswana Walking Safaris - Botswana’s walking safaris blend island ambles and big-game encounters in the Okavango Delta, Linyanti or Mashatu, revealing the bush’s subtleties at a quiet, absorbing pace.

Walking Destinations within South Africa

South Africa offers a wealth of hiking opportunities. In these pages, we guide you toward the best regions and lodges for walking. In high-profile walking areas, detailed maps and guidebooks help you choose suitable routes, and many lodges offer trails on their properties or close by.

We can tailor self-guided walking holidays using long-time favourites, and also offer privately guided walking tours in the Cape, the Cederberg and the Drakensberg Mountains.

Walking Safaris in Africa

"Walking is the way the bush tells its secrets."

A ranger’s favourite saying, and it holds true. On foot, you learn to read the wild:  the direction of tracks, the freshness of dung, the stories written in the sand.

For any adventurous adult, a walking safari is perhaps the most exhilarating way to experience wildlife.

So what do we mean by a walking safari? At its simplest, it’s a walk in the company of an armed ranger through big-game country. A chance to learn how bark becomes medicine, how leaves can become a formidable alcoholic spirit, and how an ecosystem knits together in ways a game drive can never reveal.

Walking safaris vary widely: a gentle 3–4 hour bush walk, a stay at a walking-focused bush camp, or a multi-day classic walking safari moving between fly camps. (A fly camp is a simple, mobile tented camp maybe with shared facilities. Whilst bush camps are more substantial with larger tents and en-suite bathrooms.)

We offer walking safaris in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia — all with their own rhythm, scenery and guiding traditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fit do you need to be for a walking safari?

This is a learning experience, rather than a strenuous route march. But general fitness will add to your enjoyment. And it’s always possible to come upon a herd of buffalo or rhino, so a walking safari can be an exhilarating adventure!

Best time for a Walking Safari or Tour?

Again, this depends on whether it’s a walking holiday or a walking safari! Southern Africa’s sub-tropical climate of rainy summers and dry sunny winters means the ideal season for walking safaris is May to September.

The Cape, with its Mediterranean climate, is best in spring and early summer - September to December and again in late summer and autumn - March to May. So this is the ideal time for walking tours in the Cape.

Useful Blog Articles on Walking Safaris in Africa:

• Five of the best walking safari camps in Africa
• Mila's Photo blog from her walking safari in Zambia
• Kate's Photo blog from her walking safari in Hwange, Zimbabwe