South Africa Eco Tours

Really loved our first visit to South Africa with Explore. We chose this one because it was a fairly relaxed tour and left us quite a reasonable amount of spare time and I think the majority of us who booked the holiday did so on that basis too. Brent as leader of the tour was very knowledgeable, parient and courteous throughout under some pressure at times and we were very impressed with him. Overall an excellent holiday and at some point I think we shall return to see more of South Africa.

Our tour leader Bee (Bianca) and driver Ryaan were both excellent. The itinerary was varied and well paced and accommodation excellent right up to the last night when unfortunately the accommodation 'Beyond Cui Bono' felt very run down by comparison which was a shame, as otherwise the trip would get a 5 star review from me!

Loved every minute of this tour. The guide called Bee was excellent. She shared her passion for South Africa, mixed with humour and kindness. Our driver Ryan was so helpful, a very safe driver, and got involved with the group. Wonderful mix of accommodation and locations. A good variety of activities. The people were warm and friendly. I felt very safe on this trip.

Perfect mix of Safari, beaches, adventure and adrenaline. The knowledge and of the trip manager and all the safari guides was exceptional and their passion and love for Africa was contagious.

From the very start, the trip felt immersive and beautifully balanced. The wildlife in Kruger National Park was unforgettable, spotting elephants, lions, and giraffes in their natural habitat was a real highlight. We were very lucky spotting the 'Top 5' and most exciting was seeing 2 leopards to complete the set! I was equally captivated by the more rural, untouched areas, which showcased a quieter, more authentic side of South Africa. The Drakensberg Mountains were simply stunning, with dramatic scenery that felt almost prehistoric, it was a joy to hike around, with next to no one else there. Visiting the historic site of Rorke’s Drift added real depth to the journey. It was a rich, rewarding, and truly memorable experience!

This trip was really well run by our guide Bee and our driver Riyaan who were helpful, enthusiastic and fun. There was a very good mix of activities and choices which meant that we could opt out of the ones which were beyond us. The hotels were in general very good - we particularly liked Karoo Art Hotel in Barrydale and the Stellenbosch Hotel - but the Addo homestay was spoiled by the powerful external lights being on all night making our room almost like daylight (and we had to get up at 4.30). The hotel in our extended holiday in Victoria Falls, Pioneer Lodge, was flawless. We would not recommend the flights we took from (and return to) Manchester - both with Ethiopian Airlines. The route via Addis Ababa meant that we were travelling for more than 24 hours point to point and the food on the aircraft was generally very poor. Our flights on South Africa Airlines to Victoria Falls were very much better. We think the tour would be enhanced by one extra day in Cape Town.