Itinerary Expand all Depart London. Depart London. Day 1 Start Johannesburg; drive to Mpumalanga. We leave the airport and make our way to overnight in Graskop (Mpumalamga), with views over the Graskop Gorge. En route we travel through South Africa's highest town, Belfast (1,970m) and the scenic Robbers Pass. Our driving time today will be approximately 5-6 hours (400km) with limited sightseeing. Mogodi Lodge or similar Meals included: Lunch Dinner Day 2 Explore Panorama Route; to Letaba Ranch Reserve; night game drive. Today we explore the aptly named Panorama Route. We drive through some spectacular countryside and we stop at scenic places like Bourke's Luck potholes and Blyde River Canyon, the third largest of its type in the southern hemisphere. From here we continue to Letaba Ranch Reserve. This late afternoon we go on an open, sunset game drive returning to camp after dark with the spot-light. Our driving time today will be approximately 3-4 hours (250km).Mtomeni Safari Camp or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 3 Morning game walk; to Kruger N.P. This morning we head out looking for wildlife on foot as we head on a game walk through the reserve. From here we continue to Kruger National Park, justifiably one of the most famous wildlife parks in the world. It is also one of the oldest, established by the president Paul Kruger in 1898. It has, arguably, the greatest variety of animals of any park in Africa, with lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, Black and White rhino, as well as cheetah, giraffe, hippo and many species of antelope and smaller plains' game. The total census includes 147 mammals, 507 birds and 114 reptiles as well as 336 different trees. The camps are also excellent and the general infrastructure good. If you see all the predators you will be very lucky, however you will almost certainly see some of the big five and a huge variety of smaller mammals. We game drive through the park to the camp, where there will be a chance for a swim and hot showers. Our driving time today will be approximately 3-4 hours (250km).National Park Huts or Permanent Tented Camp Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 Game drives in Kruger N.P. We spend all of today inside Kruger National Park and will go on game drives in both the morning and the afternoon in order to maximise our wildlife viewing chances. National Park Huts or Permanent Tented Camp Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 To Hlane Game Reserve, Eswatini (Swaziland), optional nature walk. We enter Eswatini (Swaziland) and overnight in the Kings old hunting grounds, now the beautiful Hlane Royal National Park. In the afternoon there is the opportunity to leave the vehicle and enjoy a nature walk (optional). Seeing animals and tracks outside of the confines of a vehicle is a thrilling experience and gives us the chance to see and hear the variety of smaller animals and birds that are often passed by on game drives. Our driving time today will be approximately 3-4 hours (250km).Wisteria Lodge or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 To St. Lucia on the Elephant Coast. This morning we drive south towards the town of Big Bend on our way to the border and back into South Africa. We continue towards the small town of St. Lucia between the Indian Ocean and Lake St. Lucia. It is not uncommon to come across stray hippos in the centre of town and the nearby lagoon is a haven for crocs, hippos, birds and even sharks! Our driving time today will be approximately 3-4 hours (300km).Shonalanga Lodge or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 7 Boat trip and game walk; afternoon at Cape Vidal. This morning we spend 2 hours exploring lake St Lucia by boat, with an excellent chance of seeing some of the many resident Hippo's, crocodiles and Fish Eagles. From here it's a short drive to Cape Vidal, a long stretch of beach along the Indian Ocean. We spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach or walking to Mission Rocks (please note the walk to Mission Rocks can only be done at low tide and takes around 4hrs return) . Or alternatively there are a number of optional activities available, including whale watching (in season: June-November), or sunset and night game drives on the western shores of the lake. Our driving time today will be approximately 2-3 hours (75km).Shonalanga Lodge or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 8 To Dundee via Rourke's Drift We leave St. Lucia today and drive through the Natal midlands and on to Dundee. En route we stop at Rourke's Drift and have a chance to learn about the famous battle at the local museum. Immortalised by Hollywood in the film Zulu! The events that took place here are well known and the small cluster of buildings isolated in the enormity of the African Bush are a moving reminder of this troubled time. Our driving time today will be approximately 5-6 hours (350km).Battlefields Country Lodge or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 9 To Royal Natal N.P.; optional afternoon walk We continue on to the Northern Drakensberg, our base for the next two nights. The Drakensberg is a basalt escarpment forming the border between Kwa Zulu-Natal and Lesotho and continuing into the Free State. It means 'Dragon Mountains', but the Zulu named it Ukhahlamba ('the barrier of Spears'). This is a more accurate description of the sheer, forbidding, jagged escarpment. Some walking takes us through the lowland areas with magnificent views. Our driving time today will be approximately 2-3 hours (200km).Berg House Cottages or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 10 Daywalk in the Drakensberg. We spend a full day in the mountains where our route will have us walking into the natural amphitheatre, following the Tugela River past Protea trees. The Protea is the national flower of South Africa, as well as the name of their cricket team. Our driving time today will be approximately 1 hours (50km).Berg House Cottages or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 11 To the Kingdom of Lesotho. Today is a long day's drive as we travel through the Golden Gate National Park and the eastern farmlands of the Free State and enter Lesotho at the Maseru border post. This mountainous kingdom has been shielded from outside influence over the generations and the Basotho people historically used this strategic location as a defence against events on the plains below. The lodge situated in this rugged mountainous region provides us with an ideal opportunity to experience the Lesotho culture. Our driving time today will be approximately 5-6 hours (400km).Malealea Lodge or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 12 Free day to enjoy Lesotho's culture and mountain scenery. The day is free to relax and experience the unique culture that Lesotho has to offer. Mountain ridges protrude into the town and there's the option of doing a day's pony trekking to a local village. Alternatively the craft shops and markets can be an enjoyable way to pick up some African souvenirs.Malealea Lodge or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 13 To Graaf Reinet in the Karoo. On the road today as we drive south to Graaf-Reinet, the oldest town on the Eastern Cape founded in 1786. Our driving time will be approximately 8 hours passing through the desert landscape of the Great Karoo.Obesa Lodge or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 14 To Tsitsikamma N.P on the Garden Route. We drive down to the coast over the Baviaanskloof Mountains and the Kouga Mountains before arriving at Tsitsikamma National Park at Storms River mouth. This national park protects the indigenous forests as well as the marine life 50km out to sea. We stay at a beautifully positioned camp with the waves breaking a stone's throw away. Our driving time today will be approximately 5-6 hours (400km).Tsitsikamma Storms River Huts or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 15 Free day to go on walks, relax or explore the region. Our second day in Tsitsikamma N.P. is free to enjoy the beautiful setting. There are a range of optional activities including walks to the Storms River gorge and along the rocky coast, snorkelling, sea and river cruises and a tree canopy tour through the forests. In season, approximately August to October, the marine park becomes home to a population of migratory whales.Tsitsikamma Storms River Huts or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 16 To Hermanus; whale watching in season. We drive along the beautiful Garden Route coastline via George and the rolling cultivated fields of the Western Cape Boland to Hermanus. The route is stunning and follows the ragged coast passing through small fishing villages and seaside resorts. Hermanus is an interesting little town, rightly famous for its delicious seafood and a visit to one of the great restaurants in the evening is highly recommended. It is also widely regarded as the best place in the world for land-based whale watching from August to November. Our driving time today will be approximately 6-7 hours (500km).Windsor Hotel or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 17 Visit South Africa's wine region en route to Cape Town. In the morning we leave Hermanus and, hugging the coastline (there is always a good chance to see whales in season), we drive along this scenic route to Gordon's Bay and then onto Stellenbosch. The afternoon will be spent visiting a few of the vineyards, which make this area world famous. Having enjoyed the local produce, wine tasting is optional. We then take a short drive to Cape Town. Our driving time today will be approximately 3-4 hours (200km).Cape Diamond or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 18 Cape Peninsula tour, Cape Point and Simonstown's penguins. After an early morning breakfast we drive via the coastal suburbs of Clifton, Camps Bay and Hout Bay and then over Chapman's peak drive to the famous Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, which covers an area of 7,680 hectares. The reserve is home to eland, bontebok, grysbok, springbok, wildebeest, baboon and ostrich. Rugged cliffs, unspoilt beaches, shipwrecks and beautiful flora are the main features of the reserve. We will also visit the famous Cape Point lighthouse. In the afternoon we take a short (1 hour) walk that is almost entirely downhill. Our destination is the Cape of Good Hope with a detour to Diaz beach. The trail ends at the famous signboard 'Cape of Good Hope'. We then return to Cape Town passing through the former Royal Navy base town of Simonstown and a visit to the resident Penguin Colony. Our driving time today will be approximately 3-4 hours (200km).Cape Diamond or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 19 Free day in Cape Town. The day is free and an optional trip to Robben Island, site of Nelson Mandela's incarceration during the apartheid period, is highly recommended. Weather permitting a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain is a must for any visitor to this picturesque city. Alternatively the beaches of Cape Town are a great place to relax and unwind.Cape Diamond or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 20 End Cape Town. The morning is free for some last minute shopping or sightseeing before those no the group flights are taken to the airport for their flight home. The trip ends after breakfast for those not on the group flights. Meals included: Breakfast Arrive London. Arrive London.
South Africa British passport holders and most European and Commonwealth Passport holders do not require a visa to travel to South Africa. Please note that all travellers to South Africa who do require a visa are required to have a minimum of 2 blank consecutive pages in their passport i.e. a left hand page and a right hand page to enable an entry visa to be issued. Please note that new regulations from the 1 June 2015 mean that any child under 18 travelling to South Africa needs to be in possession of an unabridged birth certificate with the names of both parents. If a child under 18 is only travelling with a single parent, they will also have to have an affidavit, no less than 3 months old, from the absent parent confirming the child can travel with the other parent; a court order granting full legal guardianship of the child; or a death certificate of the deceased parent.
Lesotho British passport holders and most European and Commonwealth Passport holders do not require a visa for Lesotho.
Eswatini (Swaziland) British passport holders and most European and Commonwealth Passport holders do not require a visa for Eswatini (Swaziland).
South Africa There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Malaria prophylaxis is essential if travelling in the greater Kruger area and we suggest that you seek advice from your GP or travel health clinic about which malaria tablets to take. The rest of South Africa, including the Garden Route, has a low risk of Malaria. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Chalets, Hotels, Permenent Tented Camps Accommodation is in a mixture of chalets, cabins, hotels, apartments and permanent tented camps. Most of the accommodation is en suite, however in Kruger there are shared ablutions blocs, whilst in the Drakensberg we stay in cottages where 2 rooms share 1 bathroom and a lounge area. Please note that the single supplement applies to the bedroom. If staying somewhere where 2 rooms share a bathroom you may have to share a bathroom even if you have paid for a single supplement. Wifi is available about half the time but is not always very reliable.
March 2, 2021 Ngumu, the story continues: The Mountain Lioness Scholarship Kitaba Wadia Kapanya, one of our newly qualified lionesses explains, “I hope we will be
February 15, 2021 Our Top 8 Adventure Holidays to Get Away from it All Exotic lands of deserts, majestic lakes, and breathtakingly beautiful islands where Komodo dragons dwell are on the h
December 17, 2020 The 7 Best Peaks and Summits to Hike in 2021 No doubt after 2020 you’re desperate to alleviate those itchy feet with a hike of a lifetime.
December 16, 2020 Most Wanted Trips of a Lifetime in 2021 Travel may have been put on hold for 2020, but that didn’t stop many of you planning your next bucket-list adventure
Reviewed October 2019 Darren Huston Trip: Johannesburg to Cape Town Good experience It was an extraordinary excursion with changing scenes, atmospheres and pressed with new encounters. The course extraordinarily catches the wide scenes and the natural life of South Africa. I adored it and would prescribe it to anybody. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? A visit to Kruger
Reviewed March 2019 David Hill Trip: Johannesburg to Cape Town Disasterous week 1; OK 2&3 Supplied with the wrong vehicle which was both unsafe and very uncomfortable and guides who didn't know where they were going. It took a week to replace both. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Wonderful Africa What did you think of your group leader? First week useless, second and third weeks brilliant Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Ask questions : 1) is the vehicle safe?; 2) is there 'working' air con?: 3) how old is it?; 4) has the guide/driver done the trip before?; 5)are the trip note 'driving' times reasonably accurate?; 6)if you are tall, how much leg room is there? 7)is there room to move on the bus?. Is there anything else you would like to add? Potentially a brilliant trip ruined by Exodus' attitude to our complaints. Reply from Exodus Reply from Exodus We would like to thank David for his review, however, we are genuinely sorry to learn that the first week of this holiday did not meet his expectations. Regrettably, due to a miscommunication on the ground in South Africa, our local team provided a smaller vehicle than is usually used on this tour; while we would like to clarify that this vehicle was serviced and signed off by qualified mechanics as in a safe condition prior to the trip starting, we acknowledge that it would have been slightly cramped and uncomfortable, for which we remain very sorry. Upon being made aware of this issue, a larger vehicle was supplied, and we would like to assure any future customers considering joining this tour that this unfortunate error has not recurred since this trip. We were delighted to read that David felt the second two weeks of the trip were brilliant, which we find is much more in line with the feedback we usually receive from this tour. John Penge – Product Manager
Reviewed February 2019 Julie Knuckey Trip: Johannesburg to Cape Town Trip from Johannesburg to Cape town This was a very memorable trip which took in so much of South Africa's wild life, past histories and south Africa as it is now. Our guides were excellent in their information about South Africa, the animals and the cultural and political shaping of South Africa. We traveled very long distances and experienced several game drives where we saw most of the larger animals including several close sightings of lions. Visits to Lesotho and Swaziland were a pleasant contrast to the seemingly more affluent and efficient South Africa. Rouke's Drift visit brought the film Zulu to life, The landscape changed from fertile farm estates to scrub land and desert, everywhere though needed rain, they hadn't had good rains for several years. We traveled by minibus and a larger more comfortable safari bus and the air-con didn't work, so it was hot & tiring , however all the accommodation was different but comfortable and adequately equipped. Food was mainly very good. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? A horse ride in Lesotho through the villages. Seeing the penguins and a visit to Robben island to see and learn about Nelson Mandela's incarceration there. What did you think of your group leader? Our group leader & driver for the 1st week tried hard to give us an enjoyable experience, however having not lead a trip to where we were travelling before, she and her driver were replaced in the 2nd week by excellent group leaders with fantastic knowledge of all aspects of the trip. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for very long drives, the roads are good but it is important to remember that this is Africa and things do not always go to plan! Take plenty of sun screen etc. enjoy all the experiences. Is there anything else you would like to add? I think if I did it again I would stay longer in some areas as there was so much more to see.
Reviewed January 2019 Nigel Brereton Trip: Johannesburg to Cape Town Johannesburg to Cape Town A great 3 week trip for those who like a mixture of wildlife, history, African culture, Wine areas and views, with time to take in the sights and atmosphere. Some walking enhanced the scenery views which most managed. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Wildlife parks and Enclosures, seeing a warden stroking a Hyena and the Hyena enjoying it. Seeing the kill of a Leopard hung up in a Tree and 20 minutes later seeing the Leopard. Cape Town, Table mountain. Seeing Whales off shore out of season, the viewing boats had stopped running. What did you think of your group leader? A great guide with excellent knowledge of wildlife, with good knowledge of South Africa. Tireless in cooking and clearing away, always cheerful. Coped with electricity cuts well, using gas ring to cook and battery lights. Tried to please all and adapted tour to suit the majority. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Trip notes covered most points. A head troch and troch was most useful in the early mornings and evenings. Insect spray was required. Take money and exchange in Bank or Money Bureau. An ATM 'scam' cost one over £400! Take care walking on loose stones, a leg gash needed treatment and 3 stiches. An attempt at handbag robbery in Cape Town was annoying on the final last day. Warnings to be 'street wise' were given. Seek travel advice from locals, as local busses were inexpensive, fast, but crowded. My mini bus took me to the Hotel. Is there anything else you would like to add? There were some Navigation issues, in Cape Town, the guide had to call a local to find where the Boat departure point was for Robbin Island, it was on the Map! A map I obtained enhanced my day in Cape Town, visiting the most of the top ten sights. Some took photographs of the Map, which should be handed out by the Guide. Better to know and pick which are your likely best choices. I was the only one who knew of the Castel, pleased I made the organised history tour. Some meals were basic with little flavour, Bolognese sauce does have a tomato and beef flavour. The second African trip where Spaghetti Bolognese was on the Menu, however the sauce was only minced beef with its bland natural flavour! This time I did not write out the ingredient's for the cook
Reviewed December 2018 Jinny Pohl Trip: Johannesburg to Cape Town Johannesburg to Cape Town It was a great trip with varying landscapes, climates and packed with new experiences. The route specially captures the wide landscapes and the wild life of South Africa. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone. However, Exodus should look into the cleanliness and the conveniences each accommodation provides as some did not meet even the basic standards. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing the big five in Kruger was very special. A visit to Kruger has been on my list for a long time and to be there was great. What did you think of your group leader? Our guide Colly Mohlabine and driver JoJo Molekoa were the best people I have had so far on Exodus trips. They went out of their way to make our trip a memorable one. Even after a long drive, Colly and JoJo made wonderful food and looked after all of us. Colly especially was a great cook. He had extensive knowledge on the flora and fauna and the history of South Africa, which contributed to our experience of the country. JoJo was an excellent driver. We were always made to feel safe, comfortable and well looked after by these two people. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Long hours are spent on the bus that can be tedious. But that way, we got to see various landscapes, towns and villages, which enriched the whole experience for me. There were also early morning starts but were necessary in order to follow the itinerary. Especially the 4 am start in Kruger enable us to see the big five. A treat!!! Is there anything else you would like to add? I would like to make a complain about the Malealea Lodge in Leotho. It was the dirtiest place I have ever seen and totally unsuitable for tourist groups although the place seem to have bus loads of groups coming to it all the time. The kitchen allocated to us was terrible and had not been cleaned for a long time. The fridge where the food for the group was kept had black mold, the oven stank and had cockroach carcasses, the cupboards contained rotting food left behind by other groups, and the shelves of cupboards were rusty and were dirty. Especially the cupboards where drinking glasses were kept were terribly rusty and we were supposed to take the glasses and drink from them!!!! There was no hot water or sometimes no water to do the washing up. My shower cubicle had dirt caked on and had not been cleaned for awhile. I complained to the owner Mike on behalf of the group and showed him the state of the kitchen. Exodus must make sure that groups are taken to places that are clean (no one expects them to be luxurious but they need to be clean) as these can be a health hazard. I am going to review this lodge on Trip adviser asking people not to go there. Reply from Exodus Reply from Exodus We would like to thank Jinny for taking the time to complete a review of her trip. While we are pleased to read that she enjoyed the trip and would recommend it, we are sorry that she was disappointed with the accommodation at Malealea Lodge in Lesotho. We have used this property on various trips in Southern Africa for a number of years, and have received generally very positive feedback, this being the first time we have received comments regarding hygiene standards at the lodge. We were, therefore, very concerned to read Jinny’s review, and have passed them on to our local team to discuss with the mangers of the property. We remain confident that this accommodation is suitable for our trips, but will continue to monitor the feedback we receive to ensure that our clients do not encounter similar issues on future trips. Frances Spowart – Product Manager
Reviewed October 2018 Susan Richards Trip: Johannesburg to Cape Town Could have been brilliant! Let down by inappropriate vechicle, poor logistics and frequent changes. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Getting to the end of Table Mountain on hike. What did you think of your group leader? Very pleasant , excellent flora and fauna knowledge. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for long drives . Reply from Exodus Reply from Exodus We would like to thank Susan for her feedback, although we regret that she was disappointed by some aspects of her trip in South Africa. While we usually get positive feedback for our Johannesburg to Cape Town trip, we have reviewed the comments we have received from customers who travelled on this departure, and have discussed the transport and logistics with our local team. On this trip there were an unusually high number of accommodation changes, due to limited availability at the properties we usually use. Although the alternative hotels and lodges were of a higher quality than those we normally stay at, regrettably we understand they had an impact on the ordering of the itinerary. We do not anticipate future trips being affected in this way, and also feel it is worth mentioning that out of 24 reviews on our website, clients have given this tour an average of 4.3 stars out of a possible 5 (on the date of publishing) and we feel this is reassuring, however we are genuinely sorry that Susan’s experience was not so positive. John Penge - Product Manager
Reviewed October 2018 Susan Richards Trip: Johannesburg to Cape Town Could have been brilliant! Let down by inappropriate vechicle, poor logistics and frequent changes. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Getting to the end of Table Mountain on hike. What did you think of your group leader? Very pleasant , excellent flora and fauna knowledge. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for long drives .
Reviewed September 2018 Dave Stroud Trip: Johannesburg to Cape Town A comprehensive and very enjoyable trip in this incredible country! A thoroughly enjoyable trip! This trip is pretty full on and many hours are spent on the bus, travelling from place to place. However, as the scenery is constantly changing this adds to the whole experience. Whilst not as wildlife rich as some other countries I've visited it still had it's wonderful moments. I didn't expect to see so many hyena's, an animal which I've never understood the reaction of many people; that being "they're so ugly". I've always found them to be beautiful! Lions eluded us but we did manage to see a leopard and African painted dogs, which felt very lucky indeed. Also spotted two young male giraffes squaring up to each other and practice fighting. That also felt like a rare privilege to see. If you want wide ranging experiences from a holiday this is definitely for you! I loved it! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Exploring the Drakensberg mountains, where we did a small walk. I could very easily spend a whole week (or longer) in this one area alone. I actually felt this way many times during the trip so pinning down a single inspirational moment is an impossible task for me. As South Africa is such a large country, this trip was always going to a taster for me. I will definitely return and hopefully spend more time in the areas I most liked. What did you think of your group leader? Petro was a fantastic guide and was always there to help; full of information, particularly that of South Africa's history, ensures that you'll always find the longer journeys interesting. I must also mention Joel, who was not only the driver but did many other jobs such as preparing the meals, particularly the braais (South African barbeque). We never went hungry! Even people who didn't like certain foods were catered for! Both guides worked extremely hard and I often felt that especially after the long drives the group could easily have eaten out. This would have meant that the guides, after the long driving days, wouldn't have to cook for the group! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? I travelled in August and underestimated how cold it was going to be, particularly in the coastal regions. I should have packed a couple more thicker jumpers and some thicker trousers too. Is there anything else you would like to add? I highly recommend this trip if you want a fully rounded experience and something to give you a taste of this amazing country! This trip has certainly renewed my faith in Exodus as previously I'd had a couple of very disappointing trips, which I learnt were run by another company, based in Tanzania. Trips in the Southern African countries (at least the ones I've been on) have been run by Mask; these encompass all the best trips I've ever done. You'll not be disappointed!
Reviewed February 2018 Lizzy Hannah Trip: Johannesburg to Cape Town An awesome experience! I was so excited about this trip and was not disappointed as I thought it was outstanding. The pace was good, the scenery very varied, there were a lot of new experiences especially viewing the wildlife, and every day was different. The accommodation also varied but never disappointed. I loved the feeling that we were often away from the main tourist routes, even when we weren't, however there are a lot of long driving days with breaks to stretch our legs and take photos. The accommodation was very comfortable and every place we stayed was different, sometimes even with a fridge and kettle or occasionally a swimming pool. It was exciting arriving at each new place to explore what was special and different. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There were so many moments it is hard to pick one. I woke up in a tented camp one morning to loud birdsong and heard a rustling beside me. It was a pair of zebras grazing. Seeing a snake eat a huge toad was exciting, and seeing a family of hyenas on the road in the Kruger National Park. Later we saw a pair of lions mating. I also loved the penguin colony at Betty's Bay and the seals lying about by the fish market in Cape Town. The view from our cottage looking out of the Drakensberg Mountains was stunning as well, especially watching a storm brewing up and then clearing later. What did you think of your group leader? We had two group leaders and they were both great. They had so much knowledge about everything, the wildlife, the scenery, things of interest, bits of history. They were so dependable and good to be with, making sure everything went smoothly for everyone and keeping us well informed about what was going to happen day by day. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? There is a lot of travelling and I was pleased I had plenty of audiobooks so I could listen and look at the scenery at the same time. I was also glad I took my hiking shoes as some of the hikes were on rough ground and they were more sturdy in wet conditions too. Is there anything else you would like to add? Our first bus broke down and we got a replacement that was a bit smaller. My legs are short but it wasn't fun for people with long legs sitting at the back. I really liked the fact that most food was included because it was fun to eat together as a group and made budgeting much more straight forward.
Reviewed March 2017 Penelope Westmoreland Trip: Johannesburg to Cape Town Johannesburg to Cape Town AZJ The game drives were fun as we never knew what we would come across, e.g. white rhinos crossing the road and elephants with calves... There were beautiful national parks but different highlight(s) every day with ever-changing scenery - amazing views e.g. at Cape of Good Hope and panorama from Table Mountain. Swaziland was charming. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing hippos play-fighting in Lake St Lucia. What did you think of your group leader? Marvellous - Petro was hard-working, fun, patient and more, ably assisted by Andrew, equally good, and both good cooks. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? We drove well over 4,000 kms so, some days, long hours were spent in the rather small seats of the minibus but I wouldn't have wanted to miss anything we did see - luckily reference books and drinking water were provided, and stops fairly frequent. It was hot and humid in almost all regions we visited in February (fewer mosquitoes than I'd expected, lucikly) but there would no doubt have been lots more vehicles in the game parks in the dry, high season when there is less vegetation in a few months' time, so pros and cons. A couple of optional walks were tough-ish (I later heard) but I had opted out as there were alternative easier walks to do and nice places to wait. Is there anything else you would like to add? Nothing special to add - do go!
Johannesburg to Cape Town - Reverse 10 reviews A classic journey through three countries from Johannesburg to Cape Town. Culture Suitable for: Age 16+ Activity level: Leisurely / Moderate 20 Days from 3 579 € Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details
Cape Town to Victoria Falls - Camping 25 reviews Explore the landscapes and wildlife of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Culture Suitable for: Age 16+ Activity level: Leisurely / Moderate 20 Days from 2 949 € Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details
Cape Town & the Garden Route 50 reviews Travel along the dramatic coastline at the bottom of South Africa Culture Suitable for: Age 16+ Activity level: Leisurely 12 Days from 2 249 € Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details
South Africa: Walking & Wildlife 37 reviews Trek South Africa's Drakensberg and go on safari in Kruger Walking & Trekking Suitable for: Age 16+ Activity level: Moderate 15 Days from 3 049 € Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details