Walking safaris in Africa

An African walking safari

Walking in the bushveld with an experienced guide is a great way to learn about the details of nature. You will be shown the tell-tale signs that animals leave when they pass by and evidence of violent encounters between predators and prey. You get to see dew on a spider web and the detail of a tiny sunbird’s nest. 

And because you are out there without the protection of a vehicle, your senses will be alert to the sounds and smells we miss on game drive - a thrilling experience. You can ask for a short bush walk during most safaris, or embark on a full-blown walking safari that may last all day or several days, where that is your primary activity.

Should you do a walking safari?

Our curated walking safaris below are not the brief mid-morning stroll after your game drive, offered by many traditional safari lodges (which are also fantastic experiences, by the way). Instead, the goal is to cover a good amount of ground and to explore the vastness beyond the usual tourist haunts. And so, you should be prepared to spend most of each morning walking, and possibly part of each afternoon. The pace is slow, and the terrain is easy, but you should be walking fit.

This is not a route march, so every excuse to stop is taken – from bird-watching to wondering at a spider packing up her dew-drenched web after a night of hunting. And watching lions hunt buffalo or elephants playing in a muddy waterhole.

Indeed, walking safaris are for those who want more than the traditional lodge and game drive arrangement. That said, a combo of the two is just perfect.

As our CEO, Simon Espley, says, "Which do I prefer? That is like asking whether you prefer dessert or the main course. The question is what you want, versus what you need. The answer lies within you…"

Explore our favourite walking safaris below