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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Sandra
Jul 2024
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
This was a great trip. We fell on our feet with our group leader, Andrew, as there is nothing this man doesn’t know about his country and the wildlife within it. He ...
T
Trusted Customer
Apr 2024
Written on
South Africa and Swaziland
The incredibly beautiful wildlife and amazing scenery.
R
Rachel
Apr 2024
Written on
South Africa and Swaziland
All the safari drives, as each park was different. Walki...
South Africa Reviews
T
Trusted Customer
Apr 2024
Written on
South Africa and Swaziland
Highlight was being in such a lovely country, seeing the animals, tour guide was brilliant.
P
Paul
Feb 2024
Written on
South Africa and Swaziland
Come on Explore, you can do better than this. I am a Premium customer so hope you will heed this feedback. The tour bus was good for safaris but entirely inappropria...
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South Africa Reviews
T
Trusted Customer
Feb 2024
Written on
South Africa and Swaziland
Seeing wide dogs in Kruger Park was incredible, as was the 5 hippos strol...
T
Trusted Customer
Nov 2023
Written on
South Africa and Swaziland
A review should focus on improvement, not highlights!! - and do not patronise me my putting "good start" after my first sentence - now followed by "perfect" After t...
T
Trusted Customer
Nov 2023
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
Guided safari and night safari. Fantastic small group of 8 people...
T
Trusted Customer
Nov 2023
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
Great, fast-paced trip around South Africa and Swaziland. Wonderful guides in Graeme and Steph, under at times trying conditions. Graeme in particular is a fountai...
South Africa Reviews
J
Jan
Nov 2023
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
Eswatini loved the Mlilwane Rest Camp and would have liked an extra...
R
Robert
Nov 2023
Written on
South Africa and Eswatini
Although the experience was good, the amount of time spent driving in a very uncomfortable vehicle made it hard going for most of us on the party, there were very lo...
C
Caroline
Nov 2023
Written on
South Africa and Swaziland
The highlight was seeing a leopard chase a doebuck in Kruger park
M
Maria
Nov 2023
Written on
South Africa and Swaziland
The scope of environments and landscapes we experienced was amazing. Our first stop was the Drakensberg Mountains which were stunning, and I made sure I was up for ...
J
James
Nov 2023
Written on
South Africa and Swaziland
Transport breaking down twice and waiting 5 hours on the roadside on the second breakdown. Not acceptable. Have to say that the leader did extremely well under very ...
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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