Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It’s the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you’re interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.

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61 Reviews

4.5 out of 5

David Couzens

Reviewed December 2018

Cycling The Cape And Winelands

A wonderful cycle trip and an excellent introduction to the Cape (and South African wine!). Some great cycling (Franschheok Pass, The Whale Coast) mixed with plenty of wine tasting and a day’s recuperation whale watching in Hermanus.

The cycling itself is graded as moderate though a grading of moderate/challenging would be more appropriate, especially if you are not a keen cyclist.

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing the Franschheok Pass. After having to walk up hills in Central America 18 months earlier it felt wonderful to be the first of the group to reach the top!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Warren was an excellent tour leader and interacted with everyone in the group. A wealth of knowledge and nothing was any trouble for him. Our second guide/driver Adonia is a great guide in the making.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Enjoy the trip!

Suggestions

The afternoon trip to the game park was, sadly, a bit of a let down with very few animals visible.

VICKI NUNN

Reviewed December 2018

We were left wanting ...

… wanting more of a South African experience! The area around Cape Town is lovely and definitely worth visiting – upon reflection, however, we wish we’d have taken a car tour in South Africa and cycled somewhere else. The reason we take cycling holidays in different parts of the world is to experience a country in an active way and really see, hear and feel the country. We enjoyed the whale watching, Cape Point and Boulders Beach visits but there was definitely scope for more South African experience. We learned about the history and botany of the area but would have liked more of modern South Africa, the relationship between black and white and how they now live side-by-side post-apartheid, etc, as it’s such an intrinsic part of the area. Often with these trips there are extras that are not mentioned on the trip notes which really enrich the holiday and make up for the inevitable slightly dull bits of cycling – there were none of these interesting extras! There were many times when we could have been anywhere slogging our way up yet another hill. If you are a stats person (how far, how fast, how high, etc) who wants some warm cycling when it’s cold in UK (please see note below tho!) you’ll probably have no problems with the trip (although I would recommend Morocco’s Great South for more stunning mountain scenery). Every day you are pushing up a hill, against the wind (it is always windy in this part of the world it seems!) or both!! I would question the grading of this trip – we have taken a few moderate trips and this was definitely harder. By the same token I have taken a moderate/challenging trip and it was easier! At one point my husband said we should have saved ourselves a lot of money and just bought a turbo-trainer – it did sometimes feel a bit like exercise for exercise sake and not a holiday!

Most Inspirational Moment

Whale watching and seeing a megapod (300-500) of common dolphin (which apparently are not so common!) swimming alongside us. A walk up into the hills behind Hermanus on our day off. Staying in in Cape Town for 4 extra nights at the end of the trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Warren was very personable and knowledgeable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Prepare for it to be cold!! It caught us all out when our first two days' weather was like the Scottish Highlands rather than South Africa!!! Evenings are cool too! Take binoculars for whale watching and Bontebok NP. The sea looks beautifully inviting but you probably won't be swimming as it's absolutely freezing!!! The swimming pools are unheated so they are not very appealing either! BOOK EXTRA DAYS IN CAPE TOWN BEFORE OR AFTER!! There is virtually no time in the city within the trip and it is definitely worth seeing!!

Suggestions

Exodus have many great cycling holidays - pick one of those and see this part of the world in a different way!!

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Vicki for her feedback, although we are sorry she felt the trip left her wanting more from her experience in South Africa. We were pleased to read that Vicki enjoyed the whale watching and visits to Cape Point and Boulders Beach; we regret, however, that she found the trip would have benefitted from a more integrative local experience. We do endeavour to offer trips that provide a full experience, taking into account the culture, history and geography of the areas we visit, and we endeavour to do this in a positive and responsible way. We also feel it is worth mentioning that out of 43 reviews on our website, clients have given this tour an average of 4.5 stars out of a possible 5 (on the date of publishing) and we feel this is reassuring and demonstrates that the trip is described accurately in our tour literature. Based on the feedback from our local team and previous clients, we are confident that the activity level assigned for this trip is appropriate, although we acknowledge this is not Vicki’s view. We are, nonetheless, genuinely sorry that Vicki’s experience was not so positive. John Penge – Product Manager

Satu Hietanen

Reviewed February 2018

Cycling, wine tasting & penguins!

A great trip overall, good mixture of cycling, wine tasting, wildlife & lovely scenery.

Most Inspirational Moment

Best of the cycling is saved for the last days of the trip. After leaving Hermanus you are basically on a coastal road with lovely views all the way to Cape Town. Chapman's Peak in a brilliant sunshine (and tail wind) was the absolute highlight. Penguins on the Boulder's Beach were the non cycling highlight of the trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Warren is a very good leader. Always helpful and very sociable with the group. And our driver Sefiso was brilliant too, keeping us well fed and watered during our rides.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The water shortage in the Western Cape is getting more serious by the day. Be prepared to have 1min showers and reuse your shower water in the toilets in some of the hotels. Worth taking wet wipes to freshen up during the day (you won't be able to use the water on the bus for this - it's strictly for drinking only). And if you have long hair - leave in conditioner is another good way of cutting down the water consumption.

Suggestions

It's worth adding a day or two extra in Cape Town in you haven't been before. The Table Mountain cable car and Robben Island ferries are often closed due to strong winds so it's best to go for these as soon as you have an opportunity.

Paul Rasdale

Reviewed November 2017

Hugely Enjoyable

First Exodus trip and a great experience. Terrific way to see a good chunk of the Cape with some wonderful cycling.We had plenty of time for wine tasting and sight seeing which suited me because I don’t want to cycle all day.Accomodation and food was of a high standard.Very friendly group.

Most Inspirational Moment

Crossing the Tradouws Pass. Cycling Chapmans peak (even with heavy rain)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tallis and our driver Sifiso were absolutely terrific combining efficiency,knowledge and a good sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The cycling was quite hard at times so come prepared for some big hills.

Suggestions

I wish I had booked an extra day in Cape Town at beginning and end of trip.

Beda Higgins

Reviewed March 2017

South Africa Cape and winelands

Excellent trip; great guides who went out of their way to keep whole company happy.
Awesome scenery along the route, good food and wine.

Most Inspirational Moment

The coastal scenery was breath-taking.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent group leader, hit the right balance of fun and safety. He couldn't have gone to more trouble to tailor the trip to suit the group; Brilliant.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Enjoy!

Arthur Onions

Reviewed March 2017

Cycling the Cape and Winelands

A very well planned, organised and led tour of a fantastic country. The cycling was at times hard but always breath taking. A wonderful way to see a country.

Most Inspirational Moment

When the wind finally came from behind and we got to ride Chapmans drive which was closed to traffic. Riding with the stunning coast at our side.

Thoughts on Group Leader

With Jean Paul Gardelli in charge it was like having your Mom, Dad and best friend rolled into one. Ten out of ten for organisation and forward planning, a great encourager and patience worthy of a saint. He went above and beyond what I have experienced before and ensured we all had the best experience possible. Assistant leader Layla and driver Endy followed JP's high standards. So accommodating, friendly and accomplished.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The wind at times turned moderate into challenging but the minibus was always readily available.

Suggestions

Don't wait, book now.

Peter Vogel

Reviewed January 2017

Cycling the Cape and Winelands

Great trip, great guides, great food…and stunning scenery..

Most Inspirational Moment

Riding the coastal road through false bay, just stunning!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Bevin consistently went above and beyond to make the holiday a success. A big thanks to Trish and Ende too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

ATMs were plentiful, no need to take cash with you, generally things were of excellent value.

Suggestions

The only way this holiday could be improved is to work in some swim/beach stops on route.

sarah bynum

Reviewed December 2016

It's only when you look back.....

Its only when you look back that you realize that, the scenery really was that stunning, the mountains really had that grandeur, the group really was that friendly. I loved every day of the tour, from the beautiful little towns of Stellenbosch and Franceshoek, to the beautiful Cape Agulhas, to the breathtaking Chapmans Peak Drive. Wine tasting, experiencing local foods and all of it with the stunning backdrop of mountains and the beautiful fields of vines. Our guides, Roger and Siintje worked relentlessly to ensure our enjoyment and wellbeing.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the high point of Chapmans Peak Drive and seeing the road stretch seemingly endlessly before me.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fabulous. Helpful, friendly knowledgable, nothing was too much trouble.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack chamois cream! some long rides in the saddle.

Suggestions

The guests houses used at the beginning and end of the trip - the 'sweetest chain' are truly delightful places to stay. Also, the Botanical Gardens in Cape Town are well worth a visit. easily a whole day could be spent exploring the gardens.

Felicity Jones

Reviewed March 2016

Cycling the Cape and Winelands

A wonderful trip in a beautiful country with wine, beer and brandy tastings included.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cycling the coast roads to Simonstown and Hout Bay with mountains on one side and the beautiful blue of the ocean on the other. The walk and cycle on the Cape of Good Hope. Drinking champagne and watching the sun go down on Signal Hill

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very knowledgeable and hardworking, neither he or Sofiso seemed to get much time to rest between cooking breakfast, lunch and dinners, mending bikes, looking after us and coping with problems caused by the Cape Argos cyclists.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do try a bit of hill training and prepare for cycling against the wind. You may find the heat difficult at times but it gets easier as you acclimatise.

Suggestions

I think having three people on the trip would have made things a lot easier for our leader and driver who had to be leader, mechanic, cook, driver, problem solver and entertainments officers.

Geoff Beale

Reviewed February 2016

Cycling the Cape Winelands

An all round excellent trip. If taking your own bikes take a road bke. It is definitely Not for mountain bikes. We took our folding mountain bikes which we have used on previous trips but even with semi slicks could have done with 700c wheels and 21mm slick tyres. The wind and heat over the central sections was killing. Having to actually pedal downhill to keep going at times. The highlights were Franchoek and Stellenbosch with the wine tasting, Franchhoek pass and Troudapas, the whale coast from Simonstown to Gordon’s bay ( a long day at 90km with an absolute killer of a hill to start after breakfast, most of us made it up), Chapmans peak down to Hout Bay. Recommend to anyone but be reasonably fit before you go. You will be a lot fitter at the end.

Most Inspirational Moment

It was all inspirational. The scenery was excellent most ot time. Probably the most enjoyable day was the whale coast ride (around False Bay).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wynand our tour leader was a great character and wit. He was full of bulls*** a lot of the time which made for a lot of banter, fun and winding up with the group. Sifiso our driver was a quiet Zulu but came out of his shell during the trip to be a great asset to the group. Both guys worked extremely hard to make the trip memorable for us all. There were some logistical and organisational issues which they handled with professionalism and tact. Some of the evening meals and lunches and breakfasts were prepared by the guides when we were staying in lodges or way out. All were excellent.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go for it. If you like wine, beer, brandy good food etc there's plenty of it, quite apart from the cycling which has its pain and plenty of pleasures. You will see many sights and sounds to impress as well as depress(shanty villages). Take plenty of sunscreen and electrolytes for your water bottle.

Suggestions

South Africa is dirt cheap at present with £ Rand exchange rate. Large peronis at just over a pound and quality wines at 2 to 3£ a bottle. A meal with wine and beer set us back no more than 600Rand for 2 (£25). If you go to the Waterfront in Cape Town expect to pay up to twice that. It is very touristy but worth a visit. On the cycle days be prepared to see abject poverty with shanty towns to Beverly Hills wealth in all white areas. Well worth organising a half day excursion if you have time at start or end either to Robben island or the freedom trail when you will get a guided tour round a township. We ended our tour on Signal Hill overlooking Cape Town for a boozy close to the trip before going to an African restaurant in Cape Town where we had our final evening meal and were entertained by an amazing group of musians and dancers.

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