The accommodations were variable, always clean and with hot water but some places were tired and in need of updating. Air conditioning was a must as it was hot and humid, however most were noisy and not good for a light sleeper.
The staff were always helpful and friendly.
Food in the hotels and restaurants was plentiful and there was always fish or chicken for those less adventurous, accompanied by mountains of rice or pasta.
We were able to meet the locals, often visiting their homes, and learn about their cultures and beliefs. Also how they lived off the land and produced most of the food they need for the villages and to sell at the market stalls. We were able to try our hand at weaving, dying cloth and making garments. All extremely interesting and an education.
We experienced Kayaking, canoeing, climbing through the tree canopies in the forest along rope bridges plus lots of other activities. All under the guidance and care of our very informative tour guide Oscar and driver Prince.
Our tours through the castles was quite daunting, learning how the slave trade treated people was shocking.
All in all our holiday was an exceptional experience, if not quite exhausting. We were disappointed with the lack of wildlife but was not through lack of exciting safari drives trying to find the animals, with so much else going on our cameras were never idol.
Jan and Arthur
Namibia is a country of incredible landscapes and wildlife. Riaan is an exceptional guide, his knowledge of the country, it's wildlife and people along with his humour and resourcefulness all contributed to an unforgettable trip.
My trip was something I will never forget, it was an incredible experience to summit mount Toubkal, the views were spectacular the guides were great knowledgeable people and the food was delicious. I'm planning my next explore adventure for next year right now.
Lovely trip, this is my second explore trip, the first was a very experienced guide in Costa Rica, Nathi was our guide for this one he said he was new to explore, what he lacked in explore experience he gained in his buzzing personality and local knowledge, he was a great kind and considerate guide nothing was too much trouble. He arranged things and recommend things sharing his knowledge freely. As he gets more experience he’ll be a great asset to Explore. You never know what people you’ll get on such a holiday and I’m always a bit apprehensive since I don’t suffer fools. Fortunately everyone seemed to bond by the end of the 2 weeks. Re the itinerary it was a good balance, maybe include the wine tasting as part of it instead of an option.
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Hut, Lodge
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Hermanu
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Hermanus, Kruger National Park, Stellenbosch, Garden Route National Park, Cape Winelands, Tsitsikamma National Park, Table Mountain, Port Elizabeth, Knysna
The trip to Egypt was absolutely amazing. Our tour leader ( Said or Sayed )was exceptional - bringing the mysteries of Ancient Egypt to life with his knowledge, expertise, storytelling with such charm humility and sense of humour. We learnt so much and were hanging off his every word. The itinerary was perfectly balanced. Full of exciting days normally beginning early but having a couple of hours of free time in the afternoon to relax if that’s what you wanted. The hotels were great and the train ride an experience. It’s not the Orient Express but you are warned about that and we just took it as it was and enjoyed the whole journey to Aswan on the overnight sleeper. . The middle day on the boat travelling to Luxor a welcome break from the hustle and bustle. But it was still exciting watching the Nile go by. There were so many highlights from the Great Pyramids, Saqquara, Abu Simbel, Karnak and hot air balloon ride. We did all the optional extras and they are well worth it. Don’t be put off by the long drive to Abu Simbel - you don’t want to miss that. We spent hours at the Old Cataract Hotel on our free morning in Aswan - full of atmosphere and exquisite colonial charm. You have to pay to go in but it’s worth it and you can redeem that money against tea, cake, beer, and the view is absolutely beautiful. We lived and loved every second. We had a lovely group of 7 and the tour leader Sayed (Said) was the perfect accompaniment making the trip probably the best trip we have ever taken. He gets 10 out of 10! We can’t fault Explore! either - great communication and very well organised. We will definitely use them again.
Big thanks to our guide Mohammed who was friendly, knowledgeable, always professional & handled the 5 teenage boys in our trip incredibly well!! Travelled with my 2 teenage boys & had a great week - lots to see & do each day & chef’s picnics were a real highlight. Come home with some amazing memories
A really excellent trip. In just over a week we had game drives in several different environments (forest, open plains, the Ngorongoro Crater) and had some truly magical experiences. Visiting the Olduvai Gorge to learn about humans' early ancestors was a moving experience. Our visit to a Maasai village helped us to see and understand something of their way of life. We stayed mainly in luxury tented camps (Tortillis Camps), which were spotlessly clean, very comfortable and run by a team of very helpful staff.
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Tent
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Arusha, Lake Manyara National Pa
Arusha, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tarangire National Park, Kilimanjaro International Airport, Kilimanjaro
Excellent trip in general. Only negative points for me were that some accommodation was a little tired, the mosque is destroyed but still on the agenda, the argon oil sales trip was a waste of time and there could have been less driving. But many more positives than negatives
It was a great trip with fantastic game viewing and knowledgeable guides. The accommodation was unique & comfortable, but Rhino lodge at Kosi bay was the poorest -the rooms etc were lovely but there was a decidedly run down aspect to the site and the dinning room service was notable lacking -2-3hr wait after ordering but the food when it came was fine -very understaffed and pushed, not helped by sharing facilities with an inebriated wedding group. Wernan the guide was competent, knowledgeable and did all he could to facilitate the experience -including re driving thro the mountains so we could see Gods Window etc as our first journey was thro thick fog etc with no visibility. Great trip, especially for the kids.
Great trip with good mixture of activities and wildlife. The weather was perfect for an August trip - warm during day, cooler at night, and fortunately only 10 minutes of rain in 2 weeks. Well looked after by our guide Bianca. Food was very good value. Expect some flexibility in the itinerary - we couldn’t sea kayak due to choppy sea but alternative hike was great. Highlights were climbing Table Mountain (2-3h strenuous hike), surfing lesson, optional Whale Watching boat trip, Addo Elephant National Park and optional Schotia Private Game Reserve drive on the morning of departure.
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort, Hut, Lodge, Camping
Age Range
7-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Tsits
Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Tsitsikamma Forest, Addo Elephant National Park, Robben Island, Breede River, Cango Caves, Plettenberg Bay, Robberg Nature Reserve
Travel along ancient caravan routes towards the Sahara on this nine-day cycling and hiking adventure through Morocco. Explore by foot, bike and even camel to get a totally immersive feel for this country. Cycle across mountain passes and through Amazigh villages, then hike through lush oases and towering gorges. Spend nights off the beaten path in a traditional Amazigh gite and at a desert campsite under dark skies bursting with stars. This active journey strikes the perfect balance of exhilarating adventure and cultural discovery.
Journey through the heart of Morocco by bike on this fast-paced cycling tour. Pedal through the remote Hamada Desert of the Sahara and take on the exhilarating High Atlas descent through Berber heartland. Pass through cool oases and traditional villages, exploring the Medinas and kasbahs within, before uncovering the hidden gems of Marrakech.
Cycle the Atlas Mountains - Take on the thrilling descent from the scenic High Atlas Mountain pass of Tizi N'Fedrhate.
Camp in the Sahara - Ride into the dunes of the Sahara on camelback before spending a night under the stars.
Explore the Red City - Get lost in the maze-like souks of majestic Marrakech.
Experience a 13-day adventure encompassing all corners of the island – North, South, East, and West with our North and South Island Explorer Package. Hike Le Morne Mountain, relish stunning views, explore the marine world on a catamaran, and dive into the city's vibrancy. Immerse yourself in Mauritius' diverse offerings, with ample leisure time for personal exploration.
Mauritius, situated in the Indian Ocean, is famed for its picturesque beaches, lagoons, and coral reefs. The island's interior boasts the Black River Gorges National Park, home to rainforests, waterfalls, hiking paths, and unique wildlife like the flying fox. The capital, Port Louis, showcases landmarks including the Champs de Mars horse track, Eureka plantation house, and the 18th-century Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens.
Please see our itinerary for more details.
A brilliant weekend climbing Mount Toubkal. Our group was friendly and fun. Tour leader Aziz and his assistant Lisham are an asset to Explore. They were excellent in every way. Also big shout out to chef and his team, the food was delicious!
Definitely bring your thermals for nighttime. The loo was a bit of a challenge!