How it all started

Walking has always been the ultimate freedom to me. It became all the more apparent during COVID when no matter where you looked - the TV, the newspaper, social media - the world seemed all doom and gloom. But if I was out walking, all that noise fell away: it was just me and the bush. One foot in front of the other, the world governed by nothing more than the unforgiving laws of nature.

I have long wondered how I could share this feelings with others. In a world that is only the remnant of what it once was in terms of wildlife and unspoiled nature, I believed – and still do – that everyone should experience Africa on foot and, with nothing more than a backpack on their shoulders, reconnect to their body and mind.

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I met Brian and then Christian a few years later as they both worked with me in the Waterberg, north of Johannesburg. We were not in the same place together very long, but it was enough to build friendships I knew would pass the test of time… and distance!

Then in February 2023, I got a call from Brian. Back in Pietermartizburg where he had grown up, he told me he was unsure what his next steps were going to be. Knowing how much we both enjoyed being out in nature, an idea sparked in my head that I immediately shared with him. Before either of us could think twice, the idea of Tsala Trails came to life.

A few weeks later, I then got a call from a tired Christian who was working in the Sabie Sands area of the Greater Kruger Park. “I am gatvol of running around and carrying bags”, he told me. Without missing a beat, I said, “Join us”. He immediately said yes before even thinking to ask, “Join you for what?”. I explained the idea, excited to have him on board.

Our idea is simple and yet one we have not come across in the industry, despite our combined 32 years of guiding experience. We know there is a lot of interest for walks from guests coming on safari but it is not easy to find a lodge with a permanent trails guide. And even when there is one available, bush walks always seem to be last on the list of priorities, often scheduled between game drives. Having to walk in midday heat, the experience is inevitably rushed. Primitive trails offer an exciting alternative but roughing it out in a sleeping bag, cooking on a fire and digging for fresh water is not for everyone.

That’s where Tsala Trails comes in. A solution to the above issues where raw guided walks can coexist with luxury and comfort. Three friends, now business partners as well, with a single goal to create unique experiences where guests intimately reconnect with nature while also enjoying the comfort and premium service South African lodges have to offer. Our vision is to make walking safaris easy: all you need is good walking shoes, strong ankles and an open heart. We take care of everything else.