Walking safaris in Africa

Yes, when properly guided. Guides on our walking safaris are certified as trails guides (qualifications vary by country) and are trained to assess risk, interpret wildlife behaviour, handle firearms and administer first aid. The likelihood of encountering dangerous animals is lower than on a game drive, because animals are deliberately given a wide berth. You reduce risk further by walking in single file, staying quiet, following your guide's instructions at all times - and never running if an animal is encountered.

Most guided walking safaris in Africa set a minimum age of 12, and some require 16. Big 5 areas tend to set higher minimums than areas with less dangerous wildlife, and the rules vary by lodge, country and the nature of the walk. Shorter, hands-on bush walks designed for younger children are available at many lodges, particularly in private conservancies. Tell us who is travelling, and we will find an itinerary that suits your family.

Yes, they do, in areas with dangerous wildlife, including much of Zambia, Zimbabwe, northern Botswana and the Greater Kruger. In Zambia, each group is accompanied by both a licensed walking guide and an armed scout. In Tanzania, walking guides are required by law to carry rifles. Firearms are a last-resort tool and are almost never fired; safety comes from situational awareness and animal knowledge.

It depends on the itinerary. A focused walking safari, with walks twice a day over several days, requires you to be fit enough to walk five to eight hours daily with regular breaks. A more relaxed itinerary, with one walk a day complemented by game drives, asks for two to three hours. The pace is slow, and the terrain is usually easy, but you need some endurance. The most underrated element of walking fitness is conditioning your feet to resist blisters.

This varies widely by camp and country. Many lodge-based walks run around two to three hours and are usually cover a small area near the lodge. Multi-day trails in Kenya's Laikipia can cover roughly 15km over up to five hours, tailored to the group's fitness. Distance is never the point; this is not a route march, and every excuse to stop is taken, from bird-watching to examining tracks or watching a herd from a safe distance.

Zambia's South Luangwa is the traditional answer; the birthplace of the walking safari, with camp-to-camp trails and generations of guides trained in that lineage. Zimbabwe's Mana Pools and Chitake Springs rival it for sheer drama, and Zimbabwe's guiding qualification is among the toughest on the continent. Beyond those, consider Greater Kruger, the Okavango Delta, the Serengeti, Tsavo, Laikipia, Lower Zambezi and Namibia's desert regions. The right answer depends on when you travel and what you want to see.

Encounters range from elephants, lions, leopards, wild dogs, buffalo, and hippos to the details that game drives miss: tracks, dung beetles, termite mounds, spider webs, bird nests, and medicinal plants. The goal is not to get as close as possible but to approach safely, observe natural behaviour, then withdraw quietly. What you see depends entirely on the destination and season, and a good guide can make a dung beetle as compelling as an elephant.

Yes, and most travellers do. Many lodges offer a short morning walk as an alternative to a game drive during a classic safari. Alternatively, you can build several nights of dedicated walking into a longer itinerary - walking between bushcamps in the Luangwa, for example, before moving on to a lodge elsewhere. Even on dedicated walking safaris, there is usually a game-drive vehicle based at camp.

Most walking safari destinations - including Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Tanzania and South Africa's Kruger - are malaria areas. Consult your doctor or a travel health clinic well in advance to discuss antimalarial medication. Practical precautions include wearing long sleeves and trousers at dusk, using a DEET-based repellent, and sleeping under a mosquito net. Malaria-free alternatives exist in South Africa, including Madikwe Game Reserve and reserves in the Western and Eastern Cape.

Carry as little as possible while walking: comfortable neutral-coloured clothing (brown, green, khaki or tan), a long-sleeved top and light raincoat for the conditions, closed-toe hiking boots or tough sandals, a sun hat and sunblock, thick plasters and blister ointment, a lightweight camera or phone, a water bottle that clips to your belt, snacks and a small backpack. Pack for camp as you would for any African safari.

The dry seasons offer the best conditions: May to October in Southern Africa, and January to March plus June to October in East Africa. Sparse vegetation and wildlife concentrating at water sources make for exceptional viewing. Late dry season delivers the most dramatic encounters, though October and November can be very hot. Green-season walks (roughly November to April) bring dramatic skies, newborn animals, spectacular birdlife, lower rates and fewer people.

Our safaris typically cost from US$700 per person, per night, depending on the accommodation comfort level and activities. This price usually includes accommodation, all meals, game drives, experienced guides, airport transfers, and 24/7 support from our team, but excludes a private vehicle and other exclusive services.