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One of the best holidays I ever had, with a wide range of differing experiences, wildlife, scenery and guest houses. The trip superbly blends the best that South Africa has to offer, from the game reserves with the Big Five, to the beauty of the Garden Route and coastal footpaths, the rugged interior, and then into Cape Town. Very well put together with something for everyone.
The elephant park and game reserve, the cliff paths, then the penguins on Christmas Day, followed by Table Mountain.
Petro is beyond awesome; a superb guide, great organiser, excellent driver, and the hostess with the mostest.
Take a proper camera rather than relying on a phone - you'll need it for the long shots, particularly for the animals.
Brilliant introduction to a beautiful country, great break from the English winter..
So many things, obviously the animals, game tours, Table mountain , the cape peninsula, the little towns on the way, having warm sun and late evenings when its cold and horrible in the uK at the moment. One of my best trips this year
Pietro Petrorius was the best group leader I have had on the last 6-7 tours I have had this year with Exodus. She singlehandedly dealt with what other tours had two or three people. Her knowledge of her country and every aspect was incredible. nothing fazed her when there were wildfires on the cape peninsula - she found a way to jiggle everything around. When Simons Town was shut with the first she took us to another penguin colony which was in fact much better. When Table Mountain was closed with high winds she rejigged things and got us there first. When that morning it turned out there was a delay in opening she kept her cool and instead of having to wait for four and a half hours she pulled strings and got us up first before the huge queue of people. When Storms Mouth bay was closed we went to Tsitiskamma village which was much better, she organised meals, trips, dealt with travel issues, and on top of that she loaded all the luggage and organised everything perfectly. She is a real asset to you! And all the time she had a good sense of humour and was really friendly and helpful.
Get a direct flight, I had Exodus organise flights and you gave me flights via Dubai which added probably abother 10-15 hours to the journey. That aspect was horrible. No-one told me about direct flights when I booked, and I booked in in the summer! Not happy about that. It took me 27 hours door to door to get there and about the same to get back as Emirates delayed one flight and rebooked me on an other. Awful experience. Other people on the tour had flown BA direct - only 10 hours - why didn't you tell me about this. I know I had asked to go from BHX but no-one at Exodus pointed out the big difference to the journey time. Not happy bunny on that score.
South Africa is an incredibly beautiful country. This trip takes you along the Southern coast from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town, with a couple of inland stays. TIt’s a well-planned itinerary with a lot to see, but not so packed that you feel rushed. The weather in the second half of November was pleasant, sometimes warm, with lots of sunshine. The scenery is stunning, so being in the van is no hardship, especially when broken up by scenic stops. There’s a lot of variety on this trip – nature, landscapes, wildlife, culture, history, wine tasting. There’s also a good choice of activities, so everyone can find something to suit their tastes, from walking/hiking to zip-lining to whale watching and para-gliding. The food is fresh and excellent – and inexpensive. We saw so much wildlife, both at Addo Elephant Park and Scotia safaris – elephants, rhinos, lions, hippos, giraffe, water buffalo, all sorts of ruminants. The bird life is also amazing, not to mention the cetaceans! Tsitsikamma National Park is a special place – remote and beautiful. The drive to the Meiringspoort waterfall is stunning – almost otherworldly in its beauty. The vibrant colours of the Knysna heads stay with you. Cape Town is a vibrant city with a lot to see and do, set against the majestic backdrop of Table Mountain. Overall, this is a trip that is well worth doing. It leaves you wanting more. A huge thanks to our tour guide, Marco Olivier, who went out of his way to accommodate us and make the trip a special one!
I’m not sure I could choose only one moment. There were so many that were uplifting! Every day that I stood (or sat) on the shore – whether in Port Elizabeth, Tsitsikamma or Hermanus – I spotted dolphins and whales out on the water, even down to seeing some dolphins wave-surfing when the tide was high. It was like being in a nature documentary! In Hermanus, we were fortunate to see Southern Right Whales – a mother and calf – come in really close to shore. We also got a much closer look during a whale watching trip, despite it being close to the end of the season.
Our tour driver and guide was Marco Olivier from Mask Expeditions, and he was amazing! He made the trip run smoothly down to the very last detail, all with a great sense of humour. He ensured that we were comfortable, and went the extra mile to help with details like optional activities and other arrangements. Travel days were broken up with adequate rest and scenic stops, and even a fun quiz. His knowledge of nature, wildlife, culture and history is impressive, and he happily shared it with us. We absolutely peppered him with questions – and he answered them all. We could not have asked for a better guide. It felt like travelling with a friend!
Take high-factor sunscreen and a hat. A pair of binoculars would also very handy. The water is mostly safe to drink, but Marco also had an ample supply to refill water bottles if needed. Internet and phone connectivity was poor for parts of the trip. It’s a great way to switch off! Laundry facilities are available at De Rust. If you're interested in whale watching (and who isn't?), make sure that you visit during the season. We were in Hermanus at the end of November, and were fortunate enough to see Southern Right whale mother and calf, but were informed by the guides that these were the stragglers and that the majority of the whales had already returned to Antarctica.
This itinerary offers something for everyone! From Safaris to National Parks to Whale Watching, City tours and Wine Tasting, every day offers a new adventure and something exciting to look forward to. The pace doesn’t feel to rushed with no long drives and even the slightly longer ones broken up with coffee stops and viewpoints. The East Head Viewpont in Kynesa being a particular highlight of mine! You meet some lovely locals including the charming owners full of stories at St Martin’s guesthouse and whale watching off the shore line in Hermanus was truly one of the most amazing sites seeing so many whales congregated in the same place breaching and teaching their young to strengthen their fins before heading across to Antarctica to feed. I choose to travel in South Africa’s Spring time because I really wanted to see the Whales migrating in Hermanus, little did I realise but it’s also an excellent time to visit because all the flowers are in bloom so the drives were really stunning, our guide even mentioned that he hadn’t seen the landscapes so green. If you’re looking for a leisurely paced trip with a passion for wildlife, landscapes, food and wine then this ones a winner!
For me the most inspirational moment was watching the whales in Hermanus, I did a coastal path walk and a whale watching trip and both were equally amazing. The backdrop of Hermanus and the dramatic rugged coastline was such a lovely setting, there was even a local band playing instruments in the square so the whole town had a exciting buzz and energy to it. The whales get so close to the shore and captivated everyone every time one popped up to breath.
Our group leader was Tallis and he was excellent! He was so full of knowledge and has been leading tours for over 20 years so had a great understanding and knowledge of the local wildlife and culture in South Africa. I had an issue with my bag and Tallis was super proactive in taking me to a local mall to make sure I had some essentials to last me a few days. He was also relentless with contacting the airport staff and airline to ensure I was reuinted with my bag before to long, it was comforting to be that far away from home and have someone who truly cared and went out of his way to make sure I was informed and comfortable. Tallis mentioned at the end that he really enjoys when guests ask him questions so don't be shy and ask as he pretty much has all the answers!
If travelling between August - November make sure you check the weather forecast when your packing! For the first half of the trip we were in coats and winter hats and by the second half shorts, sandles and summer clothes wearing sun cream. We experienced all climates throughout the trip so pack for all weathers. I would also suggest a pair of binoculars because there are so many wildlife spotting opportunities!
This was a great trip taking in the best of the Garden Route and all it has to offer. It is a very varied trip, with a fabulous mixture of wildlife, scenery, culture, wine and outdoor activities (hiking, zip-lining, swimming in waterfalls etc).
The breadth of experience on this trip is what sets it apart. The variety of activities is excellent, from safari drives in Addo and Schotia, to coastal walks and zip lining in Tsitsikamma, to whale watching and wine tasting near Hermanus, and finally to penguins and history in Cape Town. It is impossible to pick just one moment, as we had such an amazing time throughout the trip.
Tallis was an absolutely amazing guide, very knowledgeable and always in good humour. He went out of his way to organise any and all optional trips for the group, including taking half our group to a bonus wine tasting venue just outside of Hermanus which was a fabulous way to spend a couple of hours in the afternoon after whale watching. He dealt amazingly with the issues we encountered following the storms, either by re-routing our drives where the roads had been washed away or organising alternative restaurants, activities etc without us ever feeling like we were missing out. I missed the first night of the trip in Port Elizabeth due to a combination of British Airways cancelling my international flight and then the huge storm in PE preventing my plane from landing. Tallis managed to contact me when I had landed back at Joburg (after 8 hours and 4 failed attempts to land in PE) and organised to pick me up at at PE airport first thing to following morning on the group's way out of town, so I amazingly did not miss any of the actual trip, for which I am incredibly grateful. He also dealt with two lost baggage issues, arranging for them to be reunited with their owners at two points during the tour. Overall, I could not have asked for a better trip leader.
As others have mentioned, you must pick up any checked baggage in Joburg and re-check it in for the onwards flight to Port Elizabeth. Even better, travel with hand luggage only if possible - there are places on the trip that do laundry for a very reasonable fee. Do the optional extra Schotia safari drive. This small reserve is excellently run and we saw 4 of the Big 5 there (no leopard). Our experience was that Schotia was significantly better in terms of safari drive when compared to Addo. Go prepared for the unexpected and try to embrace it. We had the fall-out from the huge storms in a few places (no power in Tsitsikamma, no water in Hermanus, certain roads detoured) but none of these things had any real impact on the overall enjoyment of the tour and both Tallis and the local hotels did their best to help wherever they could. Accept that these things can happen and are out of any person's control and you will have a fabulous trip with a few bonus stories to tell.
Like many other previous reviews have already stated, this trip covered so many different experiences-lots of wildlife from elephants, big cats, whales, many antelope species, birds, reptiles and insects. Also stunning scenery including mountains,fynbos vegetation,semi-desert and the wild cape coast as well as the interesting and varied city life of Cape Town itself.
There were so many inspirational moments making it difficult to highlight just one. The optional Schotia Game Drive, the walks at the Tsitsikama National park and others, visiting Robben Island and an optional visit to the Langa township which we were able to do as we stayed on in Cape Town for an extra 2 nights, Also being able to get to the top of Table Mountain on the only day that it was clear enough to do so.
Tallis was superb in every way. His organisation and knowledge of all things South African and his sharp sense of humour made the trip full of so many different experiences. We have been on many Exodus trips and he is certainly one of the best leaders we have had.
A highly recommended trip, especially if it is a first time visit to South Africa. I would certainly recommend trying to do a township tour when in Cape Town as it gives a wider experience of the lives of people in and around the city. The City Lodge Hotel booked our trip for us which was a morning tour.
This was a trip selected for its variety and travel in South African Spring – from whale watching to wine tasting , underground with cave tour to the heights of zip lining – alongside superb locations and great food – and as it’s outside of the main season we had beaches and locations to ourselves the majority of the time
Whale watching from the shore in Hermanus was incredible and staying in a log cabin so close to the edge of the thunderous ocean were two of many highlights … and of course your safari on the plains of Addo and Scotia were perfect in every way .
We struck gold with Andrew, he was the best type of guide - knowledgeable , supportive and good fun - took all the stress out of travel and created a great atmosphere for everyone .
Remember the season - if you travel in September it’s still early spring so take warm clothes and waterproofs .
This was an amazing trip, with beautiful scenery, fabulous food and wine, wildlife, and some great places to stay. Would highly recommend it.
I love elephants, so seeing them up close in Addo was fantastic. Along with the other wildlife there like zebras and even the dung beetles! The game dive in Schotia was also fab, we saw lion cubs feasting on a recent kill, and a very grumpy-looking buffalo. We watched the sunset from the top of Table Mountain. And visiting Robben Island was so interesting and a moving experience. Oh and the cute penguins at Boulder Beach. Dancing at Marco's African experience restaurant on the last night in Cape Town.
Petro was fantastic. Friendly, knowledgeable, excellent driver! She really looked after us. Our group only had four guests in it which meant we had much more of a personalised and flexible experience.
Definitely go for it. I went in late March/early April and the weather was perfect, although a bit breezy in Tsitsikamma. Take a torch for walking back at night there, and also for the times when the electricity goes off for a while (load shedding).
Various scenery and a mix of South Africa, from wildlife to great food (& wine), amazing scenery and relaxed pace
I loved Storms River - the energy and scenery produced by the sea - I could watch it all day!
Organised, mixed well, ensured smooth running and went out of his way to fit in all our additional activities
Go and enjoy it
It is difficult to know where to start as we went from one amazing day to the next. From the breathtaking views of wildlife at Addo Elephant Park and “must do” Schotia safari experience, to thunderous oceans and refreshing mountain waterfall swims. Petro the guide was so knowledgeable and did not gild the lilly with her insight into the political and economic challenges which are the backdrop to this beautiful country.
Schotia Safari - optional extra is a must do. Mountain waterfall swim
Petro was the best guide I have experienced on an Exodus holiday, which is saying a lot! She dealt with the inevitable challenges (flat tyre!) professionally and without fuss.
Sign up for this trip and go for the optional Schotia Safari