Top South Africa Nature Tours & Packages In 2025/2026

What travelers are saying

"A Travesty of Trust - Beware of andBeyond Travel & Ryan Powell! I feel compelled to share my deeply frustrating and incredibly disappointing experience with andBeyond Travel, a company I once considered reputable and trusted for providing premium travel experiences. My trust was shattered when they displayed an appalling lack of professionalism and a sense of entitlement to our money. AndBeyond’s business practices during a period of crisis has forced me to caution fellow travelers to BEWARE OF ANDBEYOND and the hidden pitfalls of dealing with andBeyond Travel. My husband and I had planned an extensive trip with andBeyond, costing a considerable $31,580. We paid $7,588 by bank transfer and $23,992 by credit card. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the cancellation of all flights to South Africa and andBeyond closing all their camps led to the cancellation of our trip. During this tumultuous time, andBeyond offered us a deferment for a period of a year to a later date, without considering our preference for a refund. Due to the uncertainty of the future, we decided that we wanted to rebook when we felt comfortable and confident about traveling again. This unscrupulous behavior didn't end there. Once they had our money, they seemed determined to hold onto it, no matter the cost. Our dispute with the charges led us to approach Citibank, which after careful review, decided that andBeyond had no right to retain our money. They provided us with a full refund for the $23,992 we paid by credit card standing as a bulwark against andBeyond's subsequent attempts to reclaim the funds. from Citibank. However, the company, in a blatant disregard for our concerns, refused to refund the $7,588.00 that we had paid through bank transfer. With the pandemic now behind us I proposed to andBeyond that they permit us to utilize our money for future travels, given that we had received absolutely nothing in return for our payment of $7,588. This proposal was met with yet another refusal. It felt like our money was being held hostage, with us left helpless. Throughout the process of planning this trip, we were under the assurance of Jomandie Dempers, who convinced us that we were dealing with a trustworthy company. However, our actual experience was in stark contrast to this assurance. The way andBeyond handled the situation showed anything but reputability. In this day and age, where consumer reviews guide our choices and purchases, I feel it's my duty to alert others about this horrendous experience. Proceed with caution if you consider booking with andBeyond Travel. Their actions reflect a significant breach of trust, and a gross disregard for their customers' rights, comfort, and peace of mind. Be warned - don't let them ruin your travel dreams as they did ours!"

What travelers are saying

"Went on 14 day Gorilla overland trek Kenya and Uganda. It was amazing, wild life was top priority for the trip. Pete and Francis, our tour guide and driver were absolutely amazing individuals. They were personable, food was excellent and campsites had everything you need"

What travelers are saying

"Went on 14 day Gorilla overland trek Kenya and Uganda. It was amazing, wild life was top priority for the trip. Pete and Francis, our tour guide and driver were absolutely amazing individuals. They were personable, food was excellent and campsites had everything you need"

What travelers are saying

"Until Covid clears, I would steer clear of Backroads. We were partially through their June 2020 Costa Rica tour when a guest tested Covid positive. She and her husband were isolated. The rest of the group were offered wimpy masks. Nobody was offered Covid testing daily and masks were not required of the guests or staff. The guides kept repeating "not in the CDC guidelines." Our group of six decided that the Backroads response was inadequate so returned home mid-excursion. The hotel and food was excellent, but the provided bikes were inadequate. The front derailleurs were poorly adjusted, and most of the riders had the chains come off during the first ride. Hikes or bike rides were conducted in downpours. Disappointed for charging such a premium price."

What travelers are saying

"Went on 14 day Gorilla overland trek Kenya and Uganda. It was amazing, wild life was top priority for the trip. Pete and Francis, our tour guide and driver were absolutely amazing individuals. They were personable, food was excellent and campsites had everything you need"

What travelers are saying

"Went on 14 day Gorilla overland trek Kenya and Uganda. It was amazing, wild life was top priority for the trip. Pete and Francis, our tour guide and driver were absolutely amazing individuals. They were personable, food was excellent and campsites had everything you need"

What travelers are saying

"Went on 14 day Gorilla overland trek Kenya and Uganda. It was amazing, wild life was top priority for the trip. Pete and Francis, our tour guide and driver were absolutely amazing individuals. They were personable, food was excellent and campsites had everything you need"

What travelers are saying

"We booked a National Geographic expedition Holland and Belgium by River. The promotional literature promised a 14-day deposit refund window. The “invoice” was marked “non-refundable” deposit. We completed the National Geographic Traveler Information. About 8 days later we received the “Travel Agreement” to be signed. We both approved and signed the National Geographic documents. A Cruise Line Travel agreement was enclosed but had no signature line. This document contained language which was unacceptable. We submitted the signed NatGeo documents. The following day we canceled the trip due to the unacceptable Cruise Line language. Cancellation was made 12 days after booking and no deposit was returned. We were told on the phone that the refund deadline was triggered by the 14 day window OR signatures on the Travel Agreement which ever came first. This was NEW information. To date, we have received NO refund of our $1000. We cancelled our trip within the advertised 14 day window."