Trekking tours in Africa

The best time to travel for trekking in Africa varies by region – but there is a common denominator: hiking tours are usually most pleasant during the respective dry season. Then you can expect clear visibility, stable weather, more pleasant temperatures and trails that are easy to walk.

In East Africa, for example on Kilimanjaro in Tanzania or on Mount Kenya, the months from January to March and from June to October are the ideal trekking time. During the rainy seasons in April, May, November and December the trails are often slippery, visibility is limited and the weather is changeable.

In southern Africa too, the best time to travel is mainly based on the drier months. For regions such as the Drakensberg in South Africa or the Ugab Valley in Namibia, the months from May to September are particularly suitable, when clear air and pleasantly cool temperatures create the best conditions for hiking.

An exception is South Africa's Western Cape province: there the rainy season only ends in September. The wildflower bloom then marks the start of the ideal season for trekking tours in the Cederberg Mountains. Until April, the mountains around Cape Town and the coastal trails along the Garden Route also offer excellent conditions for hiking tours.

You can find detailed information on the best season for gorilla trekking in our blog.

In eastern and southern Africa there are some impressive mountains – from technically easy trekking destinations to demanding expeditions. East Africa is home to Africa's highest mountains, while southern Africa delights with impressive mountain landscapes. Here is a small selection by region and difficulty:

East Africa

Tanzania

• Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) is Africa's highest mountain. Technical climbing is not necessary, but very good fitness and altitude adaptation are important.
  E.g. on our Kilimanjaro trekking: Machame route
• Mount Meru (4,566 m) is less crowded and has great views of Kilimanjaro. Well suited as an acclimatisation tour for “Kili”.
  E.g. on our Mt Meru trekking

Kenya

• Mount Kenya (5,199 m) is Africa's second-highest mountain. Easy trekking is possible to Point Lenana. Technical climbing is required for the Batian summit.
  E.g. on our Mt Kenya trekking: Chogoria route

Southern Africa

South Africa

• The Drakensberg (3,482 m) is the highest mountain range in southern Africa and delights with dramatic rock faces and countless trekking possibilities. The summit is mostly not the goal, but rather some of the fascinating rock paintings, of which there are several thousand here.
  E.g. on our South Africa hiking tour: mountains & wildlife

Namibia

The Brandberg (2,573 m) is Namibia's highest mountain

Trekking in eastern and southern Africa is generally considered safe if you travel well prepared and trust experienced guides. Every year numerous travellers successfully undertake hikes and mountain tours – for example on Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya or in the Drakensberg. Nevertheless, some risks should not be underestimated.

On higher mountains such as Kilimanjaro or Mount Kenya, altitude sickness is the most common challenge. A slow ascent and enough time for acclimatisation reduce the risk significantly.

Likewise, weather and terrain play an important role: strong heat can make hikes physically very demanding, while rain quickly makes trails slippery, muddy and harder to walk.

Wildlife is rarely a problem on guided tours, as long as you follow the guides' instructions and keep a sufficient distance.

Of greater importance in remote regions is the often limited rescue and healthcare infrastructure. Medical help or ambulance transport can take considerably longer than in Europe. Good travel insurance with rescue and repatriation cover is therefore particularly important.

The preparation for trekking in East and southern Africa depends greatly on the challenge. In many cases average fitness is enough. But for mountains such as Kilimanjaro or Mount Kenya you should be organised, because they require good physical preparation, slow acclimatisation, suitable equipment and mental strength. If you would like to read more about preparing for a Kilimanjaro climb, you can find out more here.

Physical preparation

• Fitness: Train your endurance for multi-day hikes by regularly walking long distances (with a filled daypack on your back), getting used to differences in altitude in the mountains and doing some strength training for legs and core.
• Acclimatisation: For the slow adaptation to altitude on demanding mountains, plan an extra day on site for acclimatisation at around 3,500 – 4,000 m.

Equipment and clothing

• Wear lightweight, breathable clothing in layers so you can put it on and take it off depending on the weather. Make sure you have a waterproof layer and also bring warm clothing for cold nights. Do not forget sun protection (sun cream, hat, sunglasses).
• For equipment, make sure you have good hiking boots, ideally sturdy and waterproof. Your rucksack should be packed light and functionally. Remember trekking poles, which can help on steep sections and slippery trails. You can sometimes also hire these on site.

Mental preparation

• You need self-motivation & patience for long, strenuous and mentally demanding days at altitude. Prepare yourself mentally for challenges such as rain, wind and cold. Accept that the ascent is slow and strenuous. Go at your own pace and listen to your body.

On trekking and safari tours in eastern and southern Africa (in countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa or Namibia), the daily hiking time depends greatly on the type of tour. There are, however, typical guide values:

On classic trekking or walking safaris you usually walk 4 – 7 hours per day, interrupted by a lunch break. On more demanding treks, e.g. mountain tours, it can average 6 to 8 hours per day and on summit days, e.g. on Kilimanjaro, even 10 – 14 hours.

On safari walks (bush walks) walking times are rather shorter at 2 – 4 hours per day . The focus is on the nature experience and wildlife viewing, not so much on distance.

The meals on hiking and trekking tours in Africa (e.g. in Tanzania, Kenya or Namibia) are well organised and varied. What exactly you get depends on the comfort level of the tour – from simple camp cooking to multi-course safari menus.

On our trekking tours we are happy to accommodate special diets such as vegetarian or vegan meals as well as individual allergies and intolerances.

Guests with special dietary requirements can also look forward to varied, nutritious and fortifying meals during their trekking tour in Africa – please inform your travel expert of your requirements as early as possible.

The cost of a hiking or trekking tour in eastern and southern Africa varies depending on trip length, season, group size and desired comfort.

In general: the more exclusive the accommodation, the more private the trip arrangements and the closer to peak season you travel, the higher the trip price.

Simple trekking tours in a group, such as our trip “Hiking in South Africa, Eswatini & more”, start from about 175 euros per person per day. More demanding tours, such as a Kilimanjaro climb, are usually around 220 euros per person per day. Particularly exclusive nature experiences such as gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda start from approximately 390 euros per person per day.

Many offers already include accommodation, most meals, local guides, transfers and National Park fees. As a rule, these come in addition: international flights, drinks, optional meals, tips, insurance, visas and any activities not included.

Safaris and trekking tours can be combined superbly in eastern and southern Africa – especially in countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia and South Africa.

In Tanzania, many travellers combine climbing Kilimanjaro with a safari in the Serengeti or Ngorongoro Crater.

In Kenya, trekking tours on Mount Kenya go ideally with safaris and even a subsequent beach holiday on the country's tropical beaches.

Uganda delights with a unique mix of gorilla and chimpanzee trekking as well as classic safari experiences in species-rich National Parks.

Namibia offers spectacular desert and canyon hikes, for example in the Fish River Canyon or the Ugab Valley, combined with wildlife viewing in Etosha National Park.

South Africa, with its good infrastructure, is in turn particularly well suited to varied combinations of trekking and safari – from the Drakensberg via the Garden Route to Kruger National Park.

Which combination suits you best depends on your interests, your travel time and the comfort you want.

Our travel experts will be happy to advise you personally and work with you to find the ideal combination of trekking, safari, nature experience and relaxation for your individual Africa trip.

Yes, when trekking in eastern and southern Africa you have the chance in many places to watch animals in the wild.

However, a trekking experience differs clearly from a classic safari: wildlife viewing is usually more subtle yet more intense, as you experience nature on foot. Which animals you can see depends greatly on the region and the type of hike.

Some trekking areas in East Africa offer particularly good opportunities. On Mt Meru in Tanzania you can often see giraffes, buffalo, baboons, colobus monkeys or antelopes during the first days of hiking.

In Kenya too, the lower regions of Mount Kenya as well as areas such as Hell's Gate National Park or Lake Naivasha offer lovely nature and wildlife experiences.

In Uganda the focus is above all on encounters with primates – for example gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

In southern Africa, wildlife sightings on hikes are usually somewhat rarer, but the scenery is particularly impressive. In South Africa, on hikes at the Cape of Good Hope you can see ostriches, baboons or various antelope species, among others.

In Namibia, in the desert landscapes around Sossusvlei, with a bit of luck you may encounter springbok, jackals, ostriches or other desert animals.

In addition, there are also special guided trekking tours – for example in Kruger National Park – on which you spend several days on foot through the African wilderness together with experienced rangers.

Contact our travel experts for individual advice and planning to make your trekking adventure in Africa an unforgettable experience full of nature, wildlife and culture.