The best walking safaris in Africa in 2026 are in Zambia's South Luangwa, the home of the walking safari, with Time + Tide Chinzombo, Robin Pope Safaris and the Bush Camp Company, and in the Greater Kruger at Plains Camp, Africa on Foot and Bateleur Safari Camp; SANParks' Napi Wilderness Trail and RETURN Africa's Pafuri walking camps are the best-value multi-day walks.
Walking puts you on the same level as the animals: you track by footprints, smell the bush and notice the small things that vehicles drive past. Walks are led by armed, specially qualified guides, usually with a tracker, and groups are small.
South Luangwa in Zambia is where the walking safari was pioneered and is still the benchmark; in South Africa, the Greater Kruger reserves and SANParks' wilderness trails offer some of the best walking in the region. Prices per person sharing per night: $ under $150 · $$ $150–400 · $$$ $400–1,000 · $$$$ over $1,000.
Walking safaris from six tents with private pools on the Luangwa River.
Chinzombo has six large tents under ancient msikizi trees on the Luangwa River opposite South Luangwa National Park, and Time + Tide runs walking safaris through the park, the experience South Luangwa is famous for.
Good to know: Combine with Chongwe in the Lower Zambezi.
Time + Tide Chinzombo, South Luangwa, Mfuwe, Zambia
A family-run Zambian operator known for walking and mobile safaris.
Robin Pope Safaris has operated since 1986 in Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe and is known for walking safaris in South Luangwa.
Good to know: Ask about a mobile walking safari between camps.
South Luangwa, Zambia
Six bushcamps on 140,000 acres of South Luangwa, built around walking.
The Bush Camp Company runs six bushcamps in an exclusive 140,000-acre area inside South Luangwa, where walking is the centerpiece; camps include Bilimungwe by a waterhole and Chamilandu's treehouses over the river.
Good to know: Walk between camps for a true walking safari.
Mfuwe Lodge, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
A four-tent walking camp on a private Kruger concession.
Plains Camp, run by Rhino Walking Safaris, has four tented suites on a 12,000-hectare concession inside Kruger, where guided walks with armed rangers are the point of a stay.
Good to know: Add a night on the sleep-out deck.
Plains Camp, Rhino Walking Safaris, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Morning bush walks and evening drives across 13,000 hectares of the Klaserie.
Africa on Foot is famous for guided walking safaris, with morning walks and evening drives on 13,000 hectares of traversing in the Klaserie; if the weather turns, a drive replaces the walk.
Good to know: A relaxed, good-value walking camp in the Greater Kruger.
Africa on Foot, Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, Limpopo, South Africa
Extended walks with trackers in the heart of the Timbavati.
Bateleur Safari Camp specializes in extended walking safaris, with trackers teaching you to read the bush on foot, and luxury tented suites.
Good to know: Ask to tailor walks to your fitness.
Bateleur Safari Camp, Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, Limpopo, South Africa
Walks, canoeing and drives in the uncrowded Lower Zambezi.
Chongwe has eight classic tents in the Lower Zambezi, with walks, drives, boat cruises, canoeing and tiger fishing depending on the season.
Good to know: Canoe the channels for elephants at eye level.
Time + Tide Chongwe Camp, Lower Zambezi, Zambia
SANParks' three-night trail through Kruger's granite country, with rhino.
The Napi Trail explores the granite country between Pretoriuskop and Skukuza along rivers lined with big trees, where black and white rhino are regularly seen; the trails camp has four safari tents.
Good to know: Book up to a year ahead through SANParks.
Pretoriuskop Rest Camp, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Small walking camps on the Luvuvhu River in Pafuri.
Hutwini and Nkula are small walking camps among croton thickets on the Luvuvhu River in the Makuleke Contract Park, an area with few roads that is ideal for exploring on foot.
Good to know: Bring binoculars for Pafuri's birds.
Pafuri Camp, Makuleke, Kruger National Park, South Africa
A family-owned Sabi Sands camp with daily walking safaris.
Nottens is family-owned, with nine suites, and offers daily walking safaris to show guests the smaller details of the bush, on top of two game drives a day.
Good to know: Join the walk to learn tracks and trees.
Nottens Bush Camp, Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Zambia's South Luangwa valley is widely called the home of the walking safari, and it remains one of the best places in Africa to walk.
Yes, with qualified guides. Walks are led by armed guides who keep a safe distance from dangerous animals and brief you on how to behave.
Usually 12 to 16, depending on the operator; SANParks wilderness trails require hikers to be at least 12.
Yes. SANParks runs three-night wilderness trails such as Napi, and RETURN Africa runs walking camps in Pafuri.