Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It’s the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you’re interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.
Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!
Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!
Haven’t posted your review yet? Here’s how to do it…
Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.
Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.
Select a trip specific review:
78 Reviews
4.9 out of
5
Reviews
John Titley
Reviewed April 2018
Interesting!
Good trip with long mileage so it would be better if there was a driver with the guide, it would release the guide to be able to talk more about interesting things a long the way. There were also a number of options which would be better to be included in the tour.
Most Inspirational Moment
Addo elephant game reserve.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Good, but lacked a little confidence also found it sometimes difficult to explain and express herself . A good knowledge of wildlife.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Review extra tour options before departure. eg Game drives, sea life boat trip, township tour.
Katie Shilton
Reviewed February 2018
Fabulous South Africa
This is an absolutely brilliant trip that I would definitely recommend. The only downside of it was not being able to do it all over again!
The itinerary for the trip is exceptionally well planned and balanced. It is classed as leisurely and can easily be just that. However, there are plenty of opportunities for the more active and adventurous as well.
I did game viewing, walks, kayaking/lilo, zip wiring, shark diving, got an ostrich ‘masssage’, visited caves, went around a township, visited Robben Island and went up Table Mountain, saw lots of cute penguins, plus lots of other things – what an amazing way to spend 12 days.
There are not many long drives on this trip but even the drives you have feel part of the holiday as the scenery is just exceptional and there are lots of interesting stops en-route.
The accommodation throughout is of an excellent standard. In particular I think we all loved The House Martin Guest Lodge in De Rust. The food throughout was also brilliant.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were wonderful moments every day. I was delighted to see so many animals on the game viewing day at the start of the trip and Table Mountain was stunning.
I really enjoyed walking along the cliff path in Hermanus to Grotto Beach and back which I did on my own on the free day. I also loved the walk in Tsitsikamma along the boardwalk which is a fairly easy walk unless you have any mobility issues or are exceptionally unfit so most people should be able to do it without a problem. I also went up to the look out point which is on uneven ground and uphill so you need to a reasonable level of fitness to do that as well but is worth the effort.
The scenery throughout the trip was really varied but always stunning and was a definite highlight.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Justin is an exceptional tour leader. I have done many trips with Exodus and other similar companies and he is probably the best tour leader I have ever had. He is very friendly but also very professional and organised. His love for his country is infectious but he is honest about the problems and challenges the country still faces.
I came away from this trip feeling I understood more about South Africa than I ever have about any country I have previously travelled to and that was thanks to Justin. He strikes the perfect balance of giving you a lot of information without ever making you feel overloaded with it.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Unless your have done a lot of safari's before and are a bit bored of animals I would definitely recommend doing the optional Tooth and Claw Safari at Schotia which was excellent as there is a very high probability of seeing lions, hippos and giraffes which you are less likely to see at Addo in the morning, although Addo itself is also excellent.
I would also recommend staying a few extra days in Cape Town at the end. I didn't and really regretted it as there is so much to do.
Martin Kingdom
Reviewed February 2018
A Memorable Holiday
A great holiday, and I was lucky to be part of a very friendly group – a big positive on any holiday. Our guide Justin made the real difference though, with his careful planning of all our activities. Our programme was very wide ranging, with options to be more or less active, suiting all of the group. Justin was helpful and courteous at all times, extremely knowledgeable and had thought of pretty much everything.
For me, the really special days were the game drive (we saw everything except for leopards), and the cable car up to Table Mountain (we were fortunate to have perfect weather). Highly recommended.
Most Inspirational Moment
A lot to choose from, but Table Mountain akes some beating.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Justin was simply excellent. The trip was very well planned and organised, and I gained an insight into the real South Africa from the knowledge and experience that he was happy to share. Outstanding.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be comfortable to go on this trip. The only problem I has was the mosquitoes in Cape Town, with whom I was far too popular. Some of the group were completely immune!
Tara Jellis
Reviewed February 2018
Incredible South Africa
All in all a fantastic and diverse trip with a great group of people. South Africa has so much to offer. Beautiful scenery, close up encounters with wildlife (I still can’t believe we came so close to lions), an interesting history, combined with some great walks and a few more thrilling activities. The food was also very good. There really was something for everyone and I would recommend this trip to virtually anyone really.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were so many. The Tooth and Claw Safari at Schotia Game Reserve, zip lininig at Tsitsikamma and everything about Cape Town. We were lucky enough to get up Table Mountain on our first attempt and the views were amazing. But, my lasting impression from this trip will be of the South African people who all seemed so happy and welcoming.
Thoughts on Group Leader
We were incredibly lucky to have Justin as our tour leader. He’s friendly, knowledgeable, entertaining and professional. A real credit to Exodus and a pleasure to be with. I would be happy to tour with him again.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don’t be put off by tales of violence and crime in South Africa. Everywhere we visited seemed very safe and we were able to wander around after dark without fear. ALthough do make sure you are the right sort of person to join a group tour as if you are a lover of 5 star luxury or find it difficult to fit in then this sort of holiday may not suit. Having said that, the hotels all had their own charms, and the one at De Rust was exceptional as was it’s owners who really welcomed us.
Anna Blackmore
Reviewed February 2018
The ideal introduction to a stunning, varied and fascinating country
The pace of this tour was perfect and attracted a delightfully varied range of people and ages from 30’s to 70’s. We had at least 2 nights in each place, the only early start was 8.15 and there was enough time factored in to relax / explore on our own. Yet we saw and packed so MUCH into the 12 days. It really felt like a holiday, as well as an adventure, and I will always go for the ‘leisurely’ trips from now on.
Most Inspirational Moment
The safaris were, of course a high point, especially the lovingly sparring rhino couple.
I also loved the wild ocean in Tsitsikamma, zip-lining down the gorge and hiking through the forest – completely on my own.
Of many great meals (even as a gluten-free, pesco-veggie!!), the wine tasting lunch stands out for me as the best gourmet experience.
The Langa township tour is imprinted on my memory, as both an eye-opening experience of SA’s sad history and current challenges and also a heart-lifting contact with people who are bringing grass-root transformation and the sense that we were able to make a positive contribution.
Thoughts on Group Leader
We were very blessed to have an outstanding guide in Justin; patient, good humoured, an excellent driver and group facilitator and with a very impressive breadth and depth of knowledge of SA's nature, history and politics.
Advice for Potential Travellers
I spent 2 days alone visiting Johannesburg before the tour and rather wish I had done the same in Cape Town at the end, there is so much to see and do in the cities.
dayl dufrane
Reviewed December 2017
Garden route - south africa in nov
Two weeks at the end of November was ideal time to travel the ‘Garden Route’ Varied itinery. from game parks , to wine tasting, whale watching to visiting ostrich farm, museums to shopping. Includes days in Cape Town ( table mountain etc ) , lots of free time, optional extras which you could chose to do or not.
Most Inspirational Moment
I went shark diving in a cage !! It was a must do optional extra - costs a lot but you have to do these things once in your life. Well worth all the money ( thanks credit card )
Picked up from hotel- driven to the centre - travel out on boat for 20+ mins Safety briefings given . Wet suit + mask etc Water not that cold for the Atlantic. Although not see great white saw plenty of copper back sharks - hey a shark is a shark . Had two long sessions in cage. I loved it ... Go for it
Thoughts on Group Leader
Justin was very very good. Knew his stuff . Very obviously proud of his country. Put up with a lot of ribbing from the 16 of us. Always helpful. If he is your group leader you will enjoy yourself as well as learn loads about SAfrica - whether it be animals, plants , history, geology, even politics
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for different weather - can change - I think we were very lucky. However, did not get to Robben Island due to rough seas and were lucky to get up Table Mountain on 2nd attempt. Don't be disappointed if you not make these two trips.
In Cape town go on hop on hop off bus BUT they only run clockwise - hence do not think about going all way round then doing it again and hopping off . Blue route takes 2 + hours.
Take some tea/ coffee with you as a couple of apartments are ' self catering '
Apartments and hotels we stayed in were ideally situated- view over sea etc.
Try all sorts of food - Ostrich, warthog, springbok all very tasty as were the fish dishes.
Kayaking ( includes lilo + cliff jumping ) ok. Zip wiring - good intro as I had not done before but I think a bit tame if you had already experienced it. Whale watching approx. £40 may not be worth it especially as you can see from beach ( this opinion from group - I did not do )
Township - I did not do but there were very mixed views - many negative
Jane and John Taylor
Reviewed November 2017
A Wonderful Introduction to South Africa
We have just returned from Cape Town and the Garden Route and what a reluctant return it was. We are both “Senior Citizens”, had never been in Africa before and had few pre- conceived ideas of what to expect.
The whole trip was amazing from being met at Port Elizabeth by our guide JP and then our mini bus driver Jerome. They both did everything they could to ensure that we were enjoying ourselves, JP was full of suggestions as to any extra excursions, and then booked them for us. We were very glad that we had budgeted for such trips as the extra game Drive ( a truly wonderful experience), the Tsitsikamma Zip Lining and the boat based whale watching at Hermanus.
The accommodation was all clean and comfortable if somewhat basic in a couple of places, the jewel of accommodation was Housemartin Guest Lodge in De Rust. Most of the accommodation had views to die for.
JP was full of knowledge about history, the animals, birds, flora and fauna etc and was happy to talk about it all. At Storms River cabins he took some of us on a walk along part of the Otter Trail, strenuous it was and not for the unfit, but the waterfall we ended up at was worth it. It was things like this that we would have missed out on if it wasn’t for him.
On our final night in Cape Town JP suggested that we all go to Marcos African Restaurant with him and he would make the booking. If you like African music and dance don’t miss this place. To us it was simply the very ultimate in special nights out and a superb ending to a superb trip. By the way, we are vegetarians and we ate very well indeed everywhere on the trip.
Most Inspirational Moment
On the extra game Drive our jeep stopped just as a Buffalo came round a corner and stood and stared at us for about 5 minutes.
Being up close to the Whales.
Watching a dung beetle push a huge lump up a path at Hermanus.
Visiting Masiphumelee Township on a cycle tour.
Thoughts on Group Leader
We thought he was excellent, very enthusiastic about his country and wanting to share as much as possible. We feel that we got far more out of this trip due to his character than we may have otherwise.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Keep an open mind and pack some good walking shoes. Join in. Have a go.
Hilary Jones
Reviewed October 2017
Such a great holiday!
This was our first guided group tour so were a little unsure of what to expect, but the minute we met Justin our guide any uncertainty melted away. He met us with a warm welcome we were at ease immediately. Justin made the tour for us, he was informative and knowledgeable, enthusiastic with endless patience and went out of his way to ensure that we all had the best possible experience. The accommodation was always interesting and varied in great locations, we loved every minute. This a great trip with a safari, whale watching (in season) caves, wine, mountains beaches and of course Cape Town. We were sorry when it ended!
Most Inspirational Moment
For me Hermanus, it was the whale festival and the atmosphere was amazing. We took a whale watching trip it was the most wonderful experience.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Justin was just brilliant, so helpful knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take less clothes!
Rob Alleway
Reviewed September 2017
Stunning South Africa
This was our first trip to South Africa which we found was a stunning introduction. The pace of the trip was perfect, and we visited memorable and beautiful locations every day. The flora and fauna were amazing, the excursions should not be missed. The route is scenic and interesting
Most Inspirational Moment
We can't find a best moment as there were so many. The game drives close up to wildlife were perhaps what we enjoyed most, but seeing whales close up was just amazing. The penguins, ostriches all added to the flavour of the trip along with a sobering tour of Robben Island.
Thoughts on Group Leader
The trip would not have been so spectacular without our guide Justin. This guy is passionate about his country and has an encyclopeadic knowledge of flora and fauna as well as a local knowledge which takes you to the best vantage points on any trip. He went well beyond what we could have expected of our guide. He was engaging, humorous and attentive to everyone on the trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The excursions should not be missed, make sure you have a large memory card for your camera, and buy a local sim card for your phone.
David Stafford
Reviewed April 2017
Cape Town and the Garden Route
We loved this holiday from start to finish.It was a great introduction to Africa with a range of scenery, landscapes and activities. We were glad we budgeted for the optional extras, kayaking, zip wire and shark cage diving. All amazing experiences.
The accommodation was good with some excellent breakfasts. Restaurant food was varied with ample portions. We are vegetarian and had no problem finding interesting meals.
Saw a great variety of birds and animals in and out of the Game Parks.
Most Inspirational Moment
Robben Island was well worth visiting and so was Langa township. Very thought provoking experiences.
Loved walking round the top of Table mountain and walking along the coast at the Cape of Good Hope.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Justin is the perfect guide.
Friendly, likeable and professional. Nothing was too much trouble for him. We learned such a lot from him and it's obvious he loves his country. His knowledge of plants animals and birds is amazing.
Advice for Potential Travellers
There's a lot of moving about so don't overpack. I kept mislaying things so keep stuff in labelled bags.