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Where to Go in 2026: My Picks
My 2026 picks: Uganda, Kenya, Australia and Zambia, plus Guyana and Northern Albania. Places that cap visitor numbers and still feel wild if you plan them well.
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On a walking safari you slow down and take in the bush through sound, smell, and tracks. Zambia is where walking safaris began, and it still leads Africa in guiding, safety, and the quality of its wilderness.
On foot, you read the bush the way guides do. This guide covers the best walking regions, South Luangwa, Kafue, and Lower Zambezi, what to expect from each, and what else Zambia offers between walks.
Walking slows everything down. Instead of scanning the horizon from a vehicle, you feel the temperature change, hear baboons give alarm calls, and start telling one antelope's tracks from another's. It's the part of a safari people remember longest.
It's a guided walk through the bush. You walk with trained guides who interpret:
The aim is to understand the landscape, not chase animals. You go from watching to taking part, which is why experienced safari travelers love Zambia's walking culture.
Three parks do it best, and each feels different on foot.
Norman Carr pioneered the walking safari in South Luangwa in the 1950s, and it's still the best-run walking destination in the world.
What makes it special:
Best For:
travelers who want a rustic, old-school safari with strong guiding.
Kafue's size allows long walks across some of Africa's most varied terrain:
Best For:
travelers looking for space, solitude, and remote, trail-less wilderness.
Walks here often follow river terraces busy with elephants, among giant trees, cool shade, and escarpments. Expect:
Lower Zambezi has the best combination of walking, canoeing, boating, and game drives in Africa.
Best For:
those who want walking combined with canoeing, boating, and scenic riverside camps.
Walking safaris aren't mainly about getting close to big animals, though you often do. On foot, your attention widens from big game to everything that makes the ecosystem work. You learn to read:
Walking is the reason most people choose Zambia, but it isn't the only one. The country sees far fewer visitors than Kenya, Tanzania, or South Africa, and that changes the rest of the safari too. Animals behave more naturally, and you rarely queue with other vehicles at a sighting.
Predators. South Luangwa is one of the best places in the world to see leopards. Lion, wild dog, and hyena are all present across the main parks, and Kafue adds cheetah. You often have a sighting to yourself.
The river. In the Lower Zambezi, the water is as much a part of the trip as the walks: canoeing past elephants on the bank, boat safaris, tiger fishing, and sunset drifts among hippos and crocodiles.
The camps. Most are small, built from canvas and timber rather than concrete, and set on rivers, lagoons, or forest edges. Hospitality is warm and low-key.
Zambia sets the highest standard in Africa:
Guides pick up signs of stress in an animal long before a guest would notice them, which is why walking here is safe and exciting.
June–October: Best
November–December: Wetter but dramatic
Walking isn't recommended January–April because of heavy rain. The green season (roughly November to May) still has a lot going for it if walking isn't your main goal: green grasslands, newborn animals, and very good birding. My season-by-season guide to Zambia covers the whole year.
South Luangwa (Walking-Focused Bush Camps)
Kafue (Remote Wilderness Camps)
Lower Zambezi (Mixed-Activity Camps)
Travelers come back from Zambia talking about:
None of that happens in a vehicle.
Is a walking safari safe?
Yes. Zambia's lead and backup guides are among the most rigorously trained in Africa, and safety protocols are strict.
How close do you get to wildlife?
That depends on the animal's behavior. Guides keep a safe distance and don't intrude.
Do you need to be very fit?
Moderate fitness is enough. Walks are slow and steady.
Can you see big animals?
Yes, but the real highlight is learning to read tracks, signs, and behavior.
Is Zambia good for leopards?
Yes. South Luangwa is one of the best places in the world to see them, and leopard density there is high.
What should I pack for a walking safari?
Neutral clothing, good boots, water, a hat, and lightweight layers.
If you'd like to add a walking safari to your trip, I can plan it for you.
Every itinerary begins with a 20-minute planning call. From there, a $250 planning fee, credited in full toward your booked trip and non-refundable if you don’t book. I brief the property before you arrive — that's what the fee funds.
Plan your trip
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