Not all safaris require a 4×4 vehicle. If you’re the type of traveller who thrives on activity & seeks physical challenges, Africa offers abundant opportunities. Across its mountains, deserts, rivers, and forests, you’ll discover wild landscapes that are best explored on foot, by kayak, or with dust-covered boots. Whether you’re tracking a lion’s paw print in Zambia or paddling along the serene waterways of the Botswana Delta, these adventures are designed for the curious, energetic, and restless.
Here’s our selection of Africa’s best active adventures—experiences that require effort but offer unique rewards that will leave you exhilarated and hungry for more.

NAMIBIA – Desert Adventure on Foot and Board
Etendeka Walking Trails (Damaraland)
Ditch the vehicle. This Etendeka Guided guided walking trail offers a multi-day hike through Namibia’s remote northwest, where lava plateaus, desert-adapted wildlife, and star-filled skies take centre stage. Your gear is transported separately—so all you carry is water, sunscreen, and the time to enjoy your surroundings.
Climbing the Dunes of Sossusvlei
There’s no easy way up Big Daddy or Dune 45. But the views from the top—across a landscape carved by wind and silence—are unforgettable. Get there before sunrise for cooler air and the dramatic contrast the shadows on the dunes.
Sandboarding & Quad Biking in Swakopmund
If walking isn’t fast enough, ride the dunes on a sandboard in Swakopmund. Namibia offers adrenaline junkies a playground of steep slopes and sweeping turns, whether you’re carving sand or revving a quad bike across the desert.
Kayaking with Seals at Pelican Point
Launch from Walvis Bay and paddle into calm waters filled with life. Seals play in your wake, dolphins sometimes surface nearby, and flamingos wade across the shallows.

BOTSWANA – Wading and Walking the Wetlands
Walking Safaris in the Okavango Delta
With water levels dictating movement, much of the Okavango Delta is navigated on foot or by mokoro (canoe). Walk quietly through reed beds and island trails, eyes scanning for elephants, antelope, and cats.
Mokoro Excursions
These shallow-draft canoes glide silently through Botswana’s channels. While the poler does the work, you can enjoy the tranquillity of the Delta and its rich eco-system, in particular the glorious birdlife.
Mobile Tented Walking Camps
A true explorer’s setup: camp moves with you as you walk between destinations each day. Wake to the sounds of nature, lace your boots, and set off for another day of discovery.

SOUTH AFRICA – Trails, Peaks & Foot Safaris
Drakensberg Hiking
This UNESCO-listed mountain range offers world-class trekking—from rugged peaks to ancient San rock art hidden in caves. Come prepared for altitude, weather shifts, and moments of wonder.
Bush Walks in Greater Kruger
Track rhinos, buffalo, and lions on foot with armed rangers. Learn to read the bush like a book: scat, prints, scent. It’s not just about the big things but all the little critters as well. South Africa is a safari paradise.
Table Mountain Ascents (Cape Town)
Skip the cable car and take the trail. Skeleton Gorge and India Venster are popular routes, combining lush forests with epic rock scrambles and unforgettable summit views.

UGANDA & RUANDA – Jungle Treks That Push You
Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi & Volcanoes National Park
It’s steep, sweaty, and often muddy—but nothing compares. Hours of hiking through thick forest lead to an encounter with gentle Gorillas in Uganda. A privilege earned the hard way.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale or Nyungwe
Fast, loud, and agile, chimpanzees don’t wait for anyone. Expect a brisk pace through tangled vegetation, led by expert trackers who know the forest like the back of their hands.
Mount Sabinyo Climb
A trek that takes you to the tri-border point of Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC. Think ladders, steep trails, and mind-bending views.

KENYA & TANZANIA – Trekking with a View (and Wildlife)
Climbing Mount Kenya or Kilimanjaro
Africa’s two highest peaks offer very different challenges. Kilimanjaro is higher and busier; Mount Kenya is quieter, more technical, and arguably more scenic. Both demand grit, but the reward is summit magic.
Walking with the Maasai
Step into a different pace of life. Multi-day hikes through the Loita Hills or Ngorongoro Highlands reveal more than wildlife—they connect you to people, stories, and a way of seeing the land that runs deeper than any map.
Camel Safaris in Laikipia
Walk beside or atop your camel through the semi-arid wilds of northern Kenya. Rugged, beautiful, and deeply immersive.

ZIMBABWE & ZAMBIA – Raw, Rugged, and Rewarding
Mana Pools & South Luangwa Walking Safaris
South Luangwa is legendary for walking. There’s nothing quite like approaching a bull elephant on foot or tracking wild dogs through thick bush. You see more, hear more, feel more.
Canoeing the Lower Zambezi
A multi-day canoe safari is equal parts muscle and magic. Paddle between hippos, watch elephants drinking on the banks and sleep in wild fly camps under starlight.
Hiking the Victoria Falls Gorge
Go beyond the viewpoints—descend into the gorge below the falls and follow winding trails with mist on your face and thunder in your ears.

Your Safari, Your Pace (Just Not a Slow One)
There’s a different kind of safari waiting—one where you feel Africa beneath your feet and in every aching muscle. Whether it’s the slow burn of a dune climb or the rush of paddling a wild river, Chameleon Holidays crafts journeys that provide lifetime memories.