4.7/5 Excellent
Excellent
428
Great
130
Average
9
Disappointing
2
Terrible
2
South Africa Tour & Trip Reviews
South Africa Tour & Trip Ratings
Tour Reviews
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O
OC
Dec 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
The trip itself, the countries and the experience was all amazing. But the booking process and customer service was poor and the onsite tour leader was not cut out f...
B
Brandon
Dec 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
This trip was great! Many opportunities to experience the scenic beauty and wildlife of South Africa. Accommodations were truly rustic when noted in the trip notes w...
B
Bridget
Nov 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
You are exceptionally lucky to have Andrew K as your guide on this trip. The trip is made by him. He is totally professional and goes well out of his way to deliver ...
M
Marie Louise
Nov 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
This is the perfect holiday for anybody wanting to experience the real South Africa and have the chance to do as many game viewing safari as they can. The accommodat...
South Africa Reviews
L
Luke
Nov 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
Definitely would recommend this trip. All the games drive was amazing seen loads ...
D
David
Oct 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
This trip is definitely full-on with early starts and late evening activities. That said, it’s packed with great experiences, sights, sounds and smells ! If you want...
G
Genevieve
Oct 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
Our tour was amazing, thanks to our fantastic leader Andrew. Highlights of the trip: Drankensberg Moutains, Hippos in St Lucia and seeing the big 5. Loved the huts ...
T
Trusted Customer
Oct 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
A really enjoyable trip, particularly if you enjoy wildlife spotting. Varied viewing opportunities. Early starts in the morning to enable better chances to spot anim...
T
Trusted Customer
Oct 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
Really enjoyed the holiday, well organised, excellent i...
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South Africa Reviews
T
Trusted Customer
Oct 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
This is billed as a ‘full on’ trip and it certainly was. However it might be worth Explore considering whether some parts, eg trip to Rorkes Drift, are actually wort...
T
Tunde
Sep 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
This was a fast paced trip through amazing places in the middle and east part of South Africa. We went to beautiful places, saw the Big5 and enjoyed the company of c...
T
Trusted Customer
Aug 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
Great trip with plenty of opportunity to see fabulous wildlife and varied scenery. A lot of time spent on the road but we covered a lot of ground. We feel our tour l...
South Africa Reviews
T
Trusted Customer
Aug 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
The tour leader named in the Final Details packet (Graeme Anderson) was not who we ended up with but we were not informed why there was a change. We also only had 1...
J
Judy
Aug 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
This is a very busy trip, a lot of long drives..but so very worth it to see so much of the eastern side of South Africa. Highlights included the wetland safari in St...
D
Dan
Jul 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
Hotels all good, , even the 'basic' Lodge inside Kruger. It was fun staying there and enabled us to do an early morning safari in the park. Itinerary was busy, but t...
T
Trusted Customer
Jul 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
The trip was amazing. Andrew was an absolute star from start to finish. His knowledge of South Africa's history, people, and nature added so much to the trip. He was...
Editor’s Take
What to Look For in South Africa Tour Reviews
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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