Best Active Adventure tours in Africa 2023/24

There’s more than one way to go on safari.

We like to mix things up in Africa – a little horse-riding on the beach here, some desert trekking there, maybe a cheeky detour for a swim in a volcanic lake. Why search for zebras and ring-tailed lemurs from a Jeep when you can see them from a mountain bike, or on your own two feet? We venture into the canyons and gorges of Madagascar, the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, and the off-grid wilderness of South Africa – but not so off-grid we can’t enjoy a glass of the local pinotage. Active adventure in Africa is about breaking a sweat and having a roaring old time. Leave your binoculars at the door.

Active Adventures in Africa

Morocco: Hike & Bike

9 Days From 833

Get active and explore Morocco on a 9-day hiking and biking round-trip tour from...

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Tailor-Made trips

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Create your own Active Adventure

There aren't many places Intrepid hasn't been, so even if you've got a destination in mind that isn't on our list of Active Adventures, our Tailor-Made team is here to help. We'll use our 30 years of experience and regional specialists to help you create your perfect active escape.

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Why choose Intrepid

Adventure is in our genes

We’ve been running our Active Adventures for over a decade, which means we know the best local suppliers and experts on the ground to give you an exciting and safe experience.

Expert leaders

Don’t know what a carabiner is? Or how to secure a harness? No worries! Our experienced local leaders will show you the ropes and give you safety briefings – while also showing you the sights.

Safety first

Our leaders are specially trained to run Active Adventures, so you're well taken care of. We run safety assessments on all our activities to meet local standards as well as our own comprehensive safety policy.

Learn new skills

Our trips are about discovering a new destination and unlocking new skills – like horse riding, canyoneering or mountain biking. They're designed to teach you something new (and maybe even make you an enthusiast, too!).

Support the locals

We use travel as a force for good. We have close relationships with the communities we visit and always use local adventure providers on our trips. By travelling with us, you'll also be empowering local communities.

Sustainable travel

We use travel as a force for good. We’ve been officially certified as the world’s largest travel B Corp, which means when you choose Intrepid, you can rest assured you’re travelling to improve the planet.

Highlights of Africa

Trek in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco

Walking through the Moroccan desert is a world away from the fanfare of Marrakesh’s Djemaa el-Fna, and yet full of surprises. After a heart-warming homestay in the dramatically located mountain town of Aroumd, you could lace up your hiking boots for an epic walk over the High Atlas Mountains. These stark and jagged landscapes are simply not done justice in pictures. In the afternoon, descend into the valley and find yourself in the instantly loveable fishing town of Essaouira, where some seaside r’n’r is in order.

Safari in style on a mountain bike in South Africa

In wondrous, wine-country South Africa, the rigours of the trail are never without reward. Before retiring to an individually decorated, solar-powered wooden cabin by the sea, you could take part in a 10-kilometre (6.5-mile) mountain bike trail among antelopes, zebras and ostriches. Not into the dirt? There’s a smoother, easier option for those who like their cycling trails a little less rugged. The day might end in Cape Columbine Nature Reserve, a pretty bayside spot from which to sit by the fire and watch the sun set over the Atlantic.

Ride a horse along the beach in Essaouira, Morocco

Morocco’s most iconic bohemian beach town is full of surprises, from its aromatic backstreets to its seaside fortifications complete with 18^th-century cannons. But it’s not every day you get to ride a horse in the spray of the Atlantic Ocean. You could saddle up at the Ranch de Diabat and set off across the dunes to find the house of the Black Sultan, skirt the shoreline of Diabat with views of Mogador and its Portuguese castle, and finish with a detour into mimosa-filled forest.

Hike the weird and wonderful trails of Madagascar

Quirky, friendly and French-infused, Madagascar is East African adventure that’s a little left of field. You could trek past mimosas and palms and bizarre boabs; spot lizards and chameleons and a massive array of different lemurs; tackle everything from canyons to rice fields to eucalypt forest; be greeted by Barabory folk in small villages; and see the old-school woodcarving trade of Zafimaniry folk in action. The hiking here is like nothing else on earth.