Simple stays with essential amenities. Typically guesthouses, hostels or hotels rated below 3 stars — clean, no-frills, and great for value-conscious travelers.
Comfortable and reliable 3-star stays. Expect private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, and solid amenities — a great balance between comfort and cost.
Upscale 4-5 star hotels and lodges. Enjoy high-end service, refined comfort, and premium locations — ideal for travelers seeking extra indulgence.
The trip gave a good overview of southern africa and was well paced. was an amazing tour manager and the guides at the different locations are also great.
AdventureNational parks
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Camping, Guest House, Tent
Age Range
18-35 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe
Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, Kruger National Park, Johannesburg, Kasane
A safari that lived up to and exceeded expectations. Our guide KK was very experienced and knowledgeable. Quote from another traveller on their 3rd safari... "don't bother with another safari Joyce; you will be disappointed". Lying in our tent at night listening to hyenas, elephants and other non-identified animals is something we will never forget, nor will we forget watching lions moving into the shade of our vehicle as we watched them walking in the sand. The lovely lodges that were also part of the package and two nights on the Okovango River made for a fabulous diversified experience. Thank you Explore!
Active and outdoorWildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
This was a really packed holiday with plenty opportunities to see wildlife, learn about the history and current events in the areas visited. Although long distances were travelled some days there were breaks to see local markets, glass factory and local crafts. The scenery was spectacular with time for walking, exploring and swimming in the Ocean There was the chance to opt in to additional excursions or to just chill
The guides were all excellent- very good at spotting the wildlife and with a wide breadth of knowledge Our tour leader was especially good at keeping us organised and informed in a relaxed and fun manner
Accommodation was an interesting mixture of eco villages but all with comfortable beds and en suite facilities
ExplorerActive and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hut, Guest House, Hotel
Age Range
16-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Johannesburg, Drakensberg Mounta
Johannesburg, Drakensberg Mountains, St. Lucia, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, Eswatini, Mlilwane, Kruger National Park, Graskop
I really enjoyed the trip and the way camping was mixed into the other accommodations.
However, it would have been nice to have some more options for Cape Town add-ons, even if we couldn’t do all of them. I.e see Nelson Mandela’s prison. I also think the township tour should be an inclusion.
The walking safari in Zambia was a bit too expensive though, considering we only did like 30-40min of walking.
was fantastic in the way he welcomed us to his home country and spoke about life in Africa.
Adventure
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Hotel, Tent, Guest House
Age Range
18-35 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cape Town, Kruger National Park
Cape Town, Kruger National Park, Chobe National Park, Makgadikgadi Pans, Okavango Delta, Maun, Johannesburg, Victoria Falls
I thought every single day was the best day of my life... Until the next day came along and overtook it, and then the next day and the next...
The Okavango Delta is pure magic. Easily the best place to see wildlife in Africa (and I have been to most of them on Contiki's). Its remote, there are barely any other tourists on safari out there and it felt like we were truly in Africa, experiencing it for how it should be and not a tourist destination to see wildlife. The camping set up there is awesome, you arrive and everything is set up from your tents and bedding, to a fire place to sit around at night, to a dining tent and chill tent on the river to watch elephants come downt to drink in the middle of the day - right in front of us! On the Game Drives we saw lions and even Wild Dogs (Painted Wolf) pups as well as the adults on the hunt. The safari vehicles had fridges to keep the beers cold, charge ports for our phones and a roof to climb on to watch the sunset over the Delta's waterways while lions were calling in the distance.
The Meerkats at the salt pans were amazing to see go about their day without even giving us a glance as we got close for photos and the sunset on the pans where you can see the horizon 360 degrees around you was extra special.
And Chobe was out of this world... That sunset on the river when everyone had left the park but we stayed in it at Contiki Special Campsite, plus the leopard in the tree... Goosebumps...
And I nearly forgot the adrendline and pure adventure of Victoria Falls. Bungeeing, rafting, heli flights, walking safaris... It has everything to get the heart racing but also some activity from sitting on safari vehicles. I guess some of the activities are pricey, but I felt super safe doing everything and would always rather pay a higher price for safety on the adventurous activities. I'd reccomend them all! The accommodation here felt so fancy with swimming pool, the spray of the falls in the distance, elephants drinking at the waterhole in front and out the back you could safely walk into town to do some shopping or exploring...
A trip I could VERY easily do again and again. Every safari drive is different with varying chances of seeing different animals doing different things (drinking/eating/hunting/playing with babies etc etc). Every drive felt special and unique...
The Africa bug has bitten me hard - I cant wait to go back
Natural landmarks sightseeing
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Hotel, Lodge, Tent
Age Range
18-35 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Victoria Falls, Maun, Chobe Nati
Victoria Falls, Maun, Chobe National Park, Makgadikgadi Pans, Okavango Delta
A 10-day tour taking in vast but varied deserts (undulating dunes then rocky desert followed by flat desert then bare granite mountains with rock art), the raging Atlantic coast and then green savannah and salt pans teeming with antelopes, wildebeest and giraffes. Great guide and driver. We covered just under 3000 km so you do spend time travelling but it is a large country. Some accommodation in beautiful lodges. This tour is a photographer's dream.
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Windhoek, Etosha National Park
Windhoek, Etosha National Park, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Cape Cross Seal Reserve
Overall I believe this trip was absolutely worth the money. Botswana was incredibly underrated. Maybe the best animal sightings and experiences of 2 months traveling Africa. Namibia was STUNNING. It was a smaller group but I can’t understand why. Amazing picturesque landscapes, adventures and fun safaris. Across the board it was a great trip and I highly recommend.
Our Cape to Victoria Falls trip was fantastic! Interesting itinerary, fabulous guides and happy co-travellers.
Adventure
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Guest House, Hotel, Hut, Resort
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Kalah
Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Kalahari Desert, Namibia, Okavango Delta, Maun, Makgadikgadi Pans, Chobe National Park, Cederberg, Gariep River, Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Damaraland, Etosha National Park, Windhoek