Is a walking safari safe?

Yes — walks are led by licensed guides (and armed rangers where required) trained to read animal behaviour and keep a safe distance at all times.

Do I need to be very fit?

No for standard bush walks. Primate tracking in Bwindi or Volcanoes National Park can be more physically demanding depending on terrain — we match the route to your fitness level.

Closed, comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots and neutral-coloured clothing — khaki, green or tan, avoiding blue or black, which attracts tsetse flies.

Walking Safari Packages — East Africa | Divine Travel Nest Safaris

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A different way to see the wild

A walking safari trades the engine for footsteps. You move slower, get closer to the small things — dung beetles, bird calls, animal tracks — and build a far deeper understanding of the ecosystem than a game drive alone can offer. It is also the only way to experience gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.

Focus

Intimate ecosystem discovery, tracking wildlife on foot, and learning about local flora, fauna and ecology from the ground level.

Style

Guided active treks ranging from gentle bush walks to challenging primate mountain treks in Uganda and Rwanda.

Best for

›Travellers who want an active, immersive experience
›Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda and Rwanda
›Photographers chasing a lower, more intimate angle
›Anyone wanting to learn bush-craft, not just spot animals

Good to know

Usually included free or for a small conservation fee at private lodges, but gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda are limited and should be booked months in advance.
Best paired with at least one full vehicle-based day so you don't miss wider park sightings.
Not available in every park — national parks generally have stricter walking restrictions than private conservancies.

Top destinations

01Maasai Mara Conservancies, Laikipia Plateau and Hell's Gate National Park (Kenya)
02Serengeti wilderness zones and Selous Game Reserve / Nyerere National Park (Tanzania)
03Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Kibale National Park, for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking (Uganda)
04Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe Forest, for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking (Rwanda)

What to expect

Inside a walking experience.

Every itinerary is tailor-made, but here's the shape of what's typically included with this style of safari.

Armed, certified guides

Every walk is led by a licensed guide and, where required, an armed ranger or tracker for your safety.

Shorter daily distances

Standard bush walks are paced for comfort (2-4 hours). Gorilla trekking involves unpredictable mountain hiking (2-7 hours).

Closer to the small things

Tracks, dung, termite mounds, birdlife — the details a vehicle drives past.

Often paired with game drives

Most itineraries mix walking mornings with vehicle-based afternoons in Kenya and Tanzania.

Let's build your walking safari.

Tell us your budget, dates and who's travelling. Our experts choose the best parks, lodges and routes and send a free, no-obligation proposal — usually within half an hour.

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A different way to see the wild