4.7/5 Excellent
Excellent
428
Great
130
Average
9
Disappointing
2
Terrible
2
South Africa Tour & Trip Ratings
Tour Reviews
Trusted Customer
Sep 2023
An amazing trip with a lovely tour guide.
Trusted Customer
Mar 2023
Good tour leader, good group, climbing table mountain, Elephant Safari Park, amazing coastline
Trusted Customer
Mar 2023
When I arrived at the hotel in Cape Town on the 10th I was informed that they didn’t have a room reservation for me. Luckily I had the documents to show that I had b...
Christopher
Feb 2023
Table top mountain The views
Carol
Feb 2023
I have been travelling with Explore since 2000 and I've enjoyed every holiday but this one has to be one of the best. Everything about this holiday was fabulous. W...
Philip
Dec 2022
Well paced tour taking in a lot of sights including stunning shoreline and beaches and plenty of marine life from Penguins to whales. Plenty of group activities bu...
John
Nov 2022
Table Mt. Hermanus. Cape point. Brede River
Trudi
Oct 2022
This was a great trip and our guide Bianca was fantastic; nothing was too much trouble and she was friendly & knowledgeable. One negative is the night at Round t...
Emma and Alf were very professional, the amount of detail Emma went into when explaining the local cultures and area was incredible. They were both very friendly, ha...
Alfred and Emma made this a great trip. Their patience, sense...
Trusted Customer
Oct 2023
The amazing wildlife with stunning and varied scenery. Andrew our guide / driver / cook couldn't do enough for us. This was our first family Explore holiday (althoug...
Gill
Sep 2023
We had an amazing trip which I think was a combination of good planning, so that the journeys weren't ever too long for the kids, nice accommodation with swimming po...
Trusted Customer
Aug 2023
A wonderful holiday with a great group and leader. Kids really enjoye...
Trusted Customer
Aug 2023
Trip of a lifetime. We did so much and saw so many animals that it really exceeded our expectations. We also appreciated the exposure to the local culture and the di...
Emma
Aug 2023
The trips to Kuger and Kosi bay were highlights . Our trip organiser Andrew m...
Yasmeen
Aug 2023
What an AMAZING trip! LOVED every minute of it....we had the best gude ever in Andrew and would not hesitate to do another trip with him. The best part was seeing th...
Editor’s Take
Most trip reviews tend to focus on some or all of these 5 key areas, not all of which may be relevant to you: the tour guide, travel company, service level, country or countries traveled in, and the trip itinerary.
Remember, just because you see a 1 star review doesn’t necessarily mean that person disliked the country.
First, for a majority of travelers, the flight to South Africa is long. From many spots in the United States, you’ll spend near 21 hours each direction in the air. Australia and Asia experience similarly long flights. For travelers who find themselves having a layover, consider an overnight layover, where you can spend a night sleeping in a bed. This helps ease exhaustion, especially for those who can’t sleep on planes. You’ll arrive ready for your South African adventure.
There are some security issues when it comes to South Africa, which can be a shock for some travelers. Especially if you go to Johannesburg, you’ll feel the more “dangerous” sides just by being outside and driving through the city. This should not discourage you from traveling to South Africa!
Being prepared and knowing your surroundings, it can help immensely. Many homes have bars on the windows, and security guards, even in the higher end areas. Violence was a huge concern, and can still be, but don’t let this break your trip. There will be a shock but shortly after, travelers see this is just the way of life in South Africa.
Many travelers have mentioned South Africa as one of the best experiences of their life, which is no surprise. Between the ocean, the mountains, the wineries in the capelands, and the wildlife, it’s pretty hard to not enjoy yourself. There is surely something that everyone will enjoy. South Africa is filled with history, art, and great food. There are endless adventures, and the pace of life is very relaxed.
Many reviewers mentioned the safari. Some may say a day or two is enough for a safari. You can see these animals at the zoo. This is far from the truth. There are very few things that beat seeing a family of elephants strolling during sunrise, or watching the hippo crossings between dusk.
Looking in the brush for the lions trying to hide from the hot sun, and zebras running through the grass. All of it is amazing and every game drive is different. Every animal encounter is magical.
Another South Africa “hot spot” among reviewers is Cape Town with a side trip to the wine area, either Stellenbosch or Franschhoek. Stroll through the cute towns filled with restaurants, shops, and markets. Hop on the wine tram, that transports you between wineries in the region.
Consider a stay in a bed and breakfast. Transportation between wine country and Cape Town is about an hour, and there are numerous buses that leave each day between the two. While this is an easy day trip, you may want to consider staying overnight. The region makes for a great weekend trip!
If you want a professional take on traveling in South Africa, see the Travelstride South Africa Guide »
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