I absolutely would recommend this trip to anyone. It is a very active tour because you are on the go all of the time, but we saw and experienced so much. I got just enough of a taste to want to return. I would also recommend adding at least a day, or two, before and after the tour.
Wild landscapes, intrepid activities and all the laughs - what an epic trip! Taffy was an incredible guide - communicative, knowledgeable on local culture, and the best laugh! We felt safe in his presence, he's an amazing cook, and he's a credit to G Adventures!
My experience was amazing and took me out of my comfort zone with the onsite camping in the Okavango Delta. However, the people and the experiences we met along the way surpassed any negatives. One other thing I forgot to mention about our CEO was that it would have been more engaging if he had identified various markers along the way. For example, our taxi drive to WDH airport pointed out landmarks and items of interest on our way to the airport that our guide could maybe have identified to enrich our knowledge.
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Camping, Hotel, Guest House, Resort
Age Range
12-100 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Etosh
Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Etosha National Park, Windhoek, Dekar, Maun, Okavango Delta, Nata, Kasane, Lambert’s Bay, Orange River, Fish River Canyon, Sesriem, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund
22% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Tent, Lodge, Eco Lodge, Resort
Age Range
12-100 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Windh
Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Windhoek, Sesriem, Swakopmund, Etosha National Park, Windhoek, Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, Karongwe Private Game Reserve
22% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Great package, full immersion into Southern Africa with Safaris, and the absolute highlight the Victoria falls (make sure you book a helicopter flight on top privately). Also recommend to combine with Cape Town (went on my own afterwards and was perfect finish)
It was a wonderful trip and I have many fond memories of it. Everything went very smoothly and I know I'll definitely be going back to Africa!
Our CEO was top notch and so was the bus driver. We had a great time with lots of humor and great experiences.
I also really appreciated the fact that G Adventures showed us “Planeterra” projects. I really enjoyed visiting “Pentuka” and especially “!Khwattu”, and I loved being able to buy things in these places to support these two organizations. Thank you so much!
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Camping, Hotel, Guest House, Resort, Tent
Age Range
12-100 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Livin
Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Livingstone, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Sossusvlei, Fish River Canyon, Orange River, Lambert’s Bay, Kasane, Nata, Maun, Ghanzi, Windhoek, Etosha National Park
27% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Highlights -
Stunning landscapes, especially around the Namib desert/Sossusvlei, Brandberg area and Walvis Bay/Swakopmund.
Wildlife viewing was excellent - plenty of time to view and observe and search both mammals and birds throughout the trip. You will get some amazing photos and memories!
A knowledgeable guide who sorted everything that needed doing and had a great understanding of the wildlife/country.
A couple of the lodges were above expectations (NB the app stated that there might be changes and there were).
Things that surprised me:
One of the lodges was disappointing but we were only there for one night (Brandberg White Lady Lodge - no proper AC and nowhere to charge anything plus very basic room and the food was also below par).
There wasn't much time to decompress and just enjoy the areas without being on the move - ideally this should be a 14 or 15 day trip with Toshari or Makuti and Swapokmund stays being extended by a further day.
Water is not provided at many of the lodges or at the inclusive meals so you end up buying plastic bottles of water (more costly than a beer!) that you then can't keep chilled as the rooms often did not have a fridge.
One of the recommended excursions in Walvis Bay was a waste of time and very expensive. The Shifting Sands excursion to Sandwich Harbour was vastly more costly (x3) than the Desert Discovery trip (both 3 hours) and yet covered much the same but at a much lower standard. The Desert Discovery Trip had much better guides, much more to see and a far superior dune driving experience. The Sandwich Harbour trip just gave the "dunes meeting the sea" and a fraction of the elements covered in the other trip but for the time/cost and drive it would have been better to have stayed in Walvis Bay and appreciate all the birdlife and coast there. Avoid that if offered.
What I needed on the trip:
The following items were really useful:
A sarong - to sit on a very hot seat or use as a sunshield in various locations; a water bottle flask that kept my water chilled all day;
A broad brimmed hat - in summer a baseball cap did not cut it at Sossusvlei;
Binoculars - even a basic pair;
A power bank for your phone as some days you are on the road for 12 hours and with all the photos you'll need an extra power source.;
A usb adaptor for your phone charger as a few lodges had these in the socket spaces;
Washing powder as you may end up hand washing a lot;
A basic set of general medications..... you never know!
Additionally I would recommend going at least one day earlier so you have time to take in a township and Windhoek tour. The on-cost of the hotel was minimal (arranged directly) but it meant we had no stress of being late and we had a chance to acclimatise, plus had a good look around prior to meeting the rest of the group and the guide. The Mercure has full access to the sister Movenpick which has a great pool area, other restaurants and spa/gym for use by all residents.
If you fly through Germany and direct on to Windhoek, you travel overnight and arrive morning time giving you a whole afternoon plus a whole day before you meet the group at 6pm. Plus your return flight is early evening so you get the departure day too if you extend your room at the Mercure. Well worth it!
Overall a truly great and varied trip even if you have done safaris before.
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, Blyde River Canyon, Port Elizabeth, Knysna
Discover one of the world’s seven natural wonders as you enjoy a spectacular sunset over Cape Town, the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range and the Atlantic Ocean—seen from up high on Table Mountain. Explore Cape Town your way with a visit to The Old Biscuit Mill—a vibrant artisan and culinary market, or the District Six Museum—a memorial dedicated to the 60,000 inhabitants forced to relocate after Apartheid destroyed the area. After visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site and former prison of Nelson Mandela on Robben Island, meet ex-prison guard Christo Brand for lunch at the Amy Foundation to hear fascinating stories about one of history’s most inspirational figures. At Boschendal Wine Estate, enjoy a Farm-to-Table lunch of locally sourced foods, harvested from the Werf Food Garden and cooked to perfection by Chef Allistaire Lawrence. In Kruger National Park, adventure out on a private open-air safari in search of the Big Five. Led by professional trackers, this once in a lifetime experience unfolds the largest game reserve in South Africa.
ABOUT THIS TRIP
Experience the captivating history and vibrant culture of South Africa on this solo tour. Explore the vibrant city of Johannesburg and discover Soweto township, a cultural melting pot with extraordinary heritage sites that will fascinate any visitor. Continue your journey to Kruger National Park, home to extraordinary wildlife where you may spot Africa's Big Five. Next, you will travel to Stellenbosch, a glorious South African town boasting Cape Dutch architecture. This is the warm and wonderful heart of the Cape Wine Lands. Pay a visit to Cape Town, the modern city with an extraordinary history that is regularly voted one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Take the time to stroll along the waterfront and visit Table Mountain — or simply relax and enjoy some last-minute shopping. End your extraordinary tour of South Africa with a bang in Cape Town!
This is a Solo Tour
You don't pay single supplement and get a room for yourself!
