5 days ago
5 Jeep-Free African Safari Adventures You Did Not Know Existed
Each year, in July and August, Kenya draws travelers eager to witness the Great Migration, when more than 1.5 million wildebeest, along with 250,000 zebras, 300,000 Thomson's gazelles, and other antelope species, roam through the southern Serengeti and the Maasai Mara in search of fresh grazing grounds.
Full-day safaris during this time are popular for good reason. Still, other uncharted experiences offer equally unforgettable moments, said William Santian, a member of the African Private Guides Network, in an email interview.
For international tourists, a safari often evokes images of game drives and sightings of the Big Five. And with 80% of tours focused on wildlife, nature-based tourism has become a cornerstone of Africa's economy, according to Johannesburg-based research firm In On Africa.
"But safari actually means 'journey' in Swahili. And I think it should be so much more than just viewing wildlife. It should be about experiencing the land in every way possible," said Dr. Purvi Shah, head of sustainability and senior travel planner at Kampur Travel Diaries, in an email interview.
Dr. Shah explained that she had recently helped a guest who was worried that daily game drives might feel repetitive. To add variety, she designed a 13-day Kenya itinerary that included a camel safari near Amboseli, horseback riding in Loisaba, a hot-air balloon safari over the Maasai Mara, and a walking safari with overnight fly camping in Naboisho Conservancy.
Whether visitors are seeking ethical wildlife tours, daredevil adventures like swimming at the edge of Victoria Falls, or aiming to support conservation efforts, Africa offers a depth of experiences that go far beyond the traditional safari game drives.
Kayaking With Elephants In Northern Kenya
At Mugie Conservancy in northern Kenya, the safari experience does not stop at game drives. This 50,000-acre private reserve offers a range of activities, from bloodhound tracking and giraffe encounters to kayaking alongside elephants organized by Ekorian's Mugie Camp.
Setting off across a 100-acre dam, paddlers pass reed-covered islets dotted with egrets before approaching the main island. If luck is on their side, a herd of elephants may appear, wading into the water to drink, bathe and cool off in the midday sun. Calves splash and stumble in the shallows, mothers guiding them gently with their trunks as they learn to swim.
With no engine noise to break the silence, guests float quietly nearby or are anchored to a branch, while nature unfolds before them. The safari trip concludes with a picnic in the shade, allowing the experience to settle in.
'Water is always therapeutic for me, and I have enjoyed canoeing and kayaking in the ocean and on lakes. However, this was different. Being at eye level with the animals (always at a safe distance from them) was simply magical. Not sure I have the words to describe the feeling. It really gives you a difference sense of connection and speaks to the soul,' said Dr. Shah.
Water Safari To See Hippos In The Ugandan Wildness
While Uganda is best known for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, few travelers realize it also offers one of East Africa's most unique water safaris.
From Volcanoes Safaris' Kyambura Gorge Lodge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, guests can cruise the 20-mile Kazinga Channel, which links Lake Edward and Lake George.
The Kazinga Channel is about 25 miles long, 1,640 feet wide, and 26 feet deep, linking two lakes: Lake George and Lake Edward. "It is a dominant feature of Queen Elizabeth National Park, attracting a varied range of animals like elephants, buffalos, antelopes, leopards, lions, hyenas and many species of water birds, and boasting one of the world's largest concentration of hippos and numerous Nile crocodiles," said Francis Kiwanuka, senior head guide at Volcanoes Safaris, in an email interview.
Ideal for nature lovers and photographers, the experience offers shaded comfort, light refreshments, and a rare chance to observe wildlife behavior up close and quietly. Coordinated directly through the lodge, it is a perfect add-on after a morning chimpanzee trek.
Tracking Black Rhinos On Foot In Namibia
Namibia is home to Africa's second-largest rhino population after South Africa. Jacada Travel organizes rhino tracking safaris on foot in the over 1.1 million-acre Palmwag Concession, where the world's largest free-roaming population of desert-adapted black rhinos lives.
The journey begins at Wilderness Desert Rhino Camp with a short drive to the headquarters of the Save the Rhino Trust. Here, guests will meet their dedicated trackers to embark on a captivating nature drive, keeping a keen eye out for desert elephants, oryx, zebra and springbok.
Once the trackers pinpoint the endangered desert-adapted black rhinos' location (or their distinctive trail), guests will leave the vehicle behind and continue on foot.
"Your chances of spotting the black rhino are very good. The trackers do an incredible and important job. Without them, a sighting would be virtually impossible," said Jody van Merode, an Africa specialist and senior travel designer at Jacada Travel.
Samburu-Guided Camel Safari Through Northern Kenya
"Luxury does not mean marble bathtubs or infinity pools. It means silence. It means stars. It means the thrill of waking to elephant tracks just outside your tent, and sharing stories by firelight with people whose ancestors have roamed these lands for generations," said Andrew van den Broeck, brand manager at Yellow Zebra.
Yellow Zebra teamed up with Karisia Walking Safaris to offer a slower, more intimate way to explore Kenya's Laikipia Plateau by skipping jeeps and instead going on foot, with camels carrying all necessary gear. Guests will stay in traditional safari tents that are moved daily.
This walking safari follows ancient game trails and pastoral routes, still used by local communities, leading to remote areas otherwise unreachable by road.
Guides from the Samburu community serve not only as expert trackers but also as cultural ambassadors, sharing stories of the land, its rhythms, and the generations who have called it home.
"My favourite moment was following a honeyguide and finding a beehive and digging out the honey with the guides. They are great at creating a story and telling it," said Emma Dunn, sales manager at Yellow Zebra, about her recent experience, in an email interview.
"Camels are a better fit than horses for long walking safaris in Laikipia," Dunn continued. "They are built for the dry, rugged conditions. They can go for days without water, eat tough shrubs that horses cannot digest, and handle the heat far better. Their padded feet are perfect for the rocky, sandy terrain, and they do not tire as quickly. Camels are long embedded in the local landscape and cultural tradition."
Cycling To See Zebras In Botswana
Each year between November and February, more than 30,000 zebras embark on a 1,500-mile migration from Botswana's Okavango Delta to Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.
The journey takes about three weeks, with the herds grazing in Makgadikgadi through February before making their return in March.
A guided Botswana cycling safari organized by Jacada Travel takes visitors across the vast landscape of the salt-crusted Makgadikgadi Pans to see the zebras, who call this region home for a short time.
'Not only does this cycling safari reduce carbon impact, but it also deepens guest immersion, enhancing understanding of the intricate ecosystem dynamics. The cycling safari leaves zero tyre tracks in sensitive zones and funds support habitat protection and human-wildlife conflict mitigation initiatives,' said Jody van Merode, an Africa specialist and senior travel designer at Jacada Travel.
Are You Ready For A Different Kind of Safari?
What happens when travelers let the journey and not the checklist define their adventure? Are they ready to leave the vehicles behind?
These experiences challenge outdated ideas of what an African safari should be like by offering a deeper, more sustainable ways to explore the Old Continent. Moving at the pace of nature can give travelers a rare access to landscapes and cultural insights that traditional game drives may miss.
