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Reviews

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’!

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Reviews

Cape Town and the Garden Route review

A tour of 15 people. Everyone got on well. Some queries with the itinerary. We passed by fabulous beaches without stopping such as Jeffrey’s Bay and Wilderness, yet stopped at service stations for lunch. This actually happened three times; once shortly after Knysna which would have been far preferable. The rooms were not always very good. In Tsitsikamma the room was very good, but it was at least a mile walk each way for breakfast. I’m fit, but this was classified as a leisurely tour. The rooms in Hermanus and Cape Town overlooked car parks. Our room in Hermanus also had no air conditioning. I expected better accommodation quality from Exodus based on personal recommendations. I would say it is comparable to mid range G Adventures. There were no whales (not the season) but also the waterfall in Karoo had dried up and Storms River was very low water also: Our tubing became bouldering. Cape Town and Cape of Good Hope were magnificent. Food provided or purchased throughout was consistently of high quality. A quite expensive trip when excursions, tips and food is added but we probably got what we paid for. A few simple tweaks could have made things better. Enjoyment – 8 out of 10. VFM – 7 out of 10. I regret not seeing some of the wonderful beaches on-route.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cape of Good Hope and Schotia game reserve (a paid excursion of £100 pp) - why wasn’t this part of the standard itinerary?

Thoughts on Group Leader

Petro Pretorious - very good; always cheerful and helpful. A very competent driver.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check the season. In March you miss the whales and rivers are low water. Ensure you visit Schotia Game Reserve. South Africa is dangerous. Take high personal precautions over safety and security.

The Garden Route to Cape Town

This was a particularly enjoyable holiday where everything came together to create a fantastic experience. Good weather, a friendly group, an excellent tour leader and a well-constructed itinerary that took us to some wonderful places. The accommodation was of a good standard throughout. The “oceanettes” at Storms River Mouth with their incredible views were outstanding (a pleasant surprise having seen previous travellers’ comments on the wooden cabins there). We very much enjoyed staying in House Martin Guest Lodge too.
–South Africa was thought-provoking and very different to our expectations in so many ways. Like Jill Chaloner (previous review), we found it hard to get a Black perspective on the country, and mention of apartheid was largely restricted to our visit to Robben Island, which was a sobering reminder of South Africa’s recent past.

Most Inspirational Moment

It’s hard to choose one moment as there were so many highlights – Schotia Game Reserve, Chapman’s Peak Drive and the Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain and Robben Island, all were great. However, just spending a sunny hour watching the Indian Ocean breaking on the rocks at Storms River is one of our most memorable moments.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We were lucky to have Marco who was everything a Tour Leader should be: he gave us the right information clearly and at the right time. He was friendly, had excellent local knowledge of birds and wildlife, and was a safe driver. He put a lot of effort in behind the scenes to make everything run smoothly and we particularly appreciated the lifts to the restaurant at Storms River Mouth as it was quite a walk from the accommodation. There were a couple of birthdays and a marriage proposal on our trip, and Marco made these occasions special for all concerned!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Pack for cool and wet as well as hot and dry. The Little Karoo is hot, semi-desert, but most of the trip is near the coast with a maritime climate (changeable!). –Do the optional Schotia game reserve trip (it really should be included, not an extra). Bring enough cash to pay for it, it’s cheaper than using a credit card. Take a warm layer on the Schotia visit, it was chilly later in the day (our driver handed out blankets). –The food in SA is plentiful and cheap, as is the wine! There were also options for the vegetarians in the group. –We agree with a previous comment about buying tea, coffee and milk before arriving at Storms River Mouth (for milk, ask nicely at the restaurant). –The visit to the wine estate didn’t amount to much, and beware: their cheese board option for lunch is ridiculously generous. –Our e-tickets stated there was no food on the flight from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth, but in fact a light meal was provided, and the flight attendant was surprised we had been told otherwise.

A varied and enjoyable trip along the Garden Route from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town

An enjoyable and interesting insight into South Africa with varied landscapes and experiences. Three game drives at the start with lots of wildlife – elephants, lions and many other animals to see in beautiful locations. We enjoyed stunning mountain and semi-desert scenery, the wild cape coast and the city life and scenery of Cape Town.

Accommodation was good throughout the trip– clean, good facilities and well located in each location. The accommodation and food at House Martin Lodge was excellent. We used a large minibus which was spacious enough for our needs and was safely driven by our guide. Our couple of long drives but the scenery helped and regular stops were arranged.

Meals and food were varied and good throughout the trip and we were able to experience different types of South African food.

Most Inspirational Moment

The tour had lots of highlights - an amazing trip to Schotia Game Reserve where we saw a stunning range of animals, the semi desert area of the Little Karoo around De Rust ( wonderful accommodation and food at House Martin Lodge ) and the Cango Caves, the coastal scenery at Storms River and Hermanus and the Cape Peninsula drive including the penguins, Robben Island, Table Mountain and the Waterfront of Cape Town.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour driver and guide was Marco Olivier from Mask Expeditions. He made the trip run smoothly down to the very last detail and had a great sense of humour. Most travel days were broken up with adequate rest and scenic stops and even a fun quiz on the long drive. His local knowledge of nature, wildlife and the culture and history of South Africa was good and he was happy to share and discuss it with us. He was helpful with sorting the optional activities and other arrangements especially in Cape Town.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is a pity that the Schotia Game Reserve is not an 'included' part of the tour as it is one of the 'must do' activities. Make sure that you have enough Rands at the start of the trip as it is cheaper to pay by cash rather than card. Our time in Mossel Bay was limited and rushed. If possible discuss with the group an early leaving time which would create more time - we left at 9.30am whereas 8.00am would have been better. Minor point - there is no tea / coffee / milk in the accommodation at Storms River. Worth arranging a quick 'shop' stop enroute to buy some. If you have time book an extra couple of nights in Cape Town. We enjoyed a relaxing two days in Cape Town at the end which was a great way to finish the trip.

Feb 2024

Tour of the Garden Route and Cape Town

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing lion and lioness at very close quarters in Ado National Park

Thoughts on Group Leader

Petro was excellent, informative, organised friendly and was a key catalyst in creating a great group chemistry

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a cash travel card loaded with local currency

Enjoyable introduction to the wonderful landscapes and wildlife in this stunning country.

Well thought out tour of the Cape, taking in such varied landscapes and experiences. Highlights were the Schotia Game Reserve, the drive through the Little Karoo to the Cango Caves and the trip to the Cape of Good Hope. Touring was on a mini bus, which was spacious enough for our tour group of 13. Most drives were reasonable, but there was one very long day of 7 hours with only a couple of short stops. Accommodation was spacious, clean and with comfortable beds. All of a generally good standard.

Most Inspirational Moment

Amazing trip to Schotia where we saw a stunning range of animals. Plus the semi desert area of the Little Karoo around De Rust.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tallis was a confident & safe driver. He was knowledgeable and kept us well informed of the details of the trip and any changes to the itinerary. He fitted in a couple of extra visits , which improved our experience and were appreciated by all the group (Betty’s Bay and the Kirstenbosch Gardens) There were a number of health challenges with the group that were dealt with in a calm and appropriate manner.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for bad weather. Take refreshments, as stops some days are limited and in some accommodation facilities were also limited. There is one long day travelling, so be aware

Cape Town and the garden route

Places visited were picturesque enough and accommodation very good throughout. However a major criticism I would make is that only white (Afrikaans) were encountered directly and entire trip dominated by their view of South Africa. Black South Africans were encountered only as fulfilling menial roles (in hotels etc) and their view and perspective was not only missing but it is as if it had been airbrushed away and no mention whatsoever was made of the apartheid issue and long struggle to overcome it. While people do not come on holiday for political education mention of salient facts about a country are essential in the tourist narrative especially if they are recent and ongoing and to give context to what is being experienced. it was only in the Robben Island trip ( only 2 of us did this) that non Afrikaans South Africa was glimpsed and the guides there were excellent presenting things in a straightforward and unemotional way that commanded attention.

Most Inspirational Moment

Favorite was the safari trip near the elephant reserve where we saw pretty much every animal that could be seen some quite close up (lions elephants and zebras particularly).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very pleasant and friendly in personality and very helpful and reliable when there were problems or setbacks. in terms of information about the country I found him extremely limited in scope.

Advice for Potential Travellers

No.

Review Centre
Reply from Exodus

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, Jill. Whilst we were pleased to read that you had a great holiday overall, we were very sorry to hear about your concerns. Exodus is an open and diverse B Corp company, and we aim to give our customers a deep understanding of the countries we visit. We have not received similar feedback in the past; therefore, your comment has been taken on board, and has been shared with the relevant managers for careful consideration. If you wish to discuss this further, please feel free to email us at customerservices@exodus.co.uk, and we will be more than happy to address your concerns directly.

What an amazing holiday

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.

Most Inspirational Moment

The elephant park and game reserve, the cliff paths, then the penguins on Christmas Day, followed by Table Mountain.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Petro is beyond awesome; a superb guide, great organiser, excellent driver, and the hostess with the mostest.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a proper camera rather than relying on a phone - you'll need it for the long shots, particularly for the animals.

Beautiful South Africa - Excellent

Brilliant introduction to a beautiful country, great break from the English winter..

Most Inspirational Moment

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

Thoughts on Group Leader

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.

Advice for Potential Travellers

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.

Wonderful South Africa!

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!

Most Inspirational Moment

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.

Thoughts on Group Leader

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!

Advice for Potential Travellers

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.

Amazing Adventure down the Garden Route full of Variety!

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!

Most Inspirational Moment

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.

Thoughts on Group Leader

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!

Advice for Potential Travellers

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!