4.7/5 Excellent
Excellent
428
Great
130
Average
9
Disappointing
2
Terrible
2
South Africa Tour & Trip Ratings
Tour Reviews
This is a great trip despite a few issues detailed below. The wildlife, scenery and food is fantastic. I am not particularly a wildlife type person but I loved that ...
Almost 2 weeks travelling from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town taking in great scenery and stopping in really good accomodation Actually being able to get up table mount...
Disappointed with Tudor Hotel in Cape Town with breakfast and the facilities there. Wilflife very good but has done the trip several times. Go for it and you will ...
Wow where do I start! This trip had everything, safaris where we saw lions close up( slightly scary,but exhilarating)zebras, water buffalo,and the best ever views of...
This tour is well planned and has lots of variety. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in visiting this area. Sighting a breaching whale at Hermanus. ...
This holiday has a good itinerary which could be slightly better if tweaked (see bottom panel below). It is a beautiful part of the world and the holiday is go...
It would be hard not to love this trip because the scenery and wildlife are wonderful. I do applaud the use of local accommodations to support their economy, however...
Very glad I went on this trip for all sorts of reasons. I would recommend it as a good overview of South Africa. I loved the Addo Elephant park, the Birds of Prey at...
If you want an introduction to South Africa then look no further. As with any Country, South Africa is rich and diverse. No, you won't get to take in the whole Cou...
At my keyboard, wearing thermals to protect against the sub-zero, late-November London weather, it seems longer than two weeks ago that my concerns were about whethe...
Accommodation great and scenery got even better as you travelled. A wonderful trip for animal and plant spotting. Zip wiring in torrential rain was both fun and ente...
A well paced holiday which included a couple of longer drive days that were well broken up which helpded. Too many 'shopping' days for my liking and there are better...
This trip was not very good value for money. Much of the accomodation was charmless and badly located. A majority lacked wifi which is just not acce...
Laura Smith
Dec 2022
SOUTH AFRICA IS BEAUTIFUL. Siboni, travel director, and Ricky, Driver, were great. BUT THIS IS NOT UP TO TRAFALGAR STANDARDS THAT MANY OF US WHO HAD TRAVELED MANY TI...
Monica Edmonds
Oct 2022
The second week we spent too much time on the bus. We spent 3 days, of the second week, traveling 6 or more hours per day which is too much time sitting. The time sp...
The trip itself is absolutely wonderful I will definitely go back to South Africa. However, our crew didn’t give us a Fully Supported Camping service. We were expect...
This is an amazing journey through different climates as you head due north into the sun. A stunning landscape which is continuously changing plus amazing encounters...
This was an excellent trip and I hope it will continue to be include it in the Explore programme. However, I hope Explore appreciates that anything over ten people ...
This was an excellent trip and I hope it will continue to be include it in the Explore programme. However, I hope Explore appreciates that anything over ten people ...
A fantastic trip to such a new and remote location. So great to b...
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 »
Top South Africa Travel Packages