Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Starting in the beautiful mountain region around Monchique to the awe inspiring power of the Atlantic Ocean, the scenery is utterly spectacular.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Francisco is professional, always on time, works hard to ensure everyone in a mixed ability group had the best experience. While, behind the scenes, keeping the transport clean and continuing his environmental work during his free moments between guiding.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for all weathers and underfoot conditions. I found my trail shoes were perfect for sand, rock and the odd water crossing. Take this tour, you won't regret it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Loved the quaintness of the smaller towns. Each having its own personality. Noto, Cefalu, and Ragusa standout.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mauritzio was wonderful. Focused on everyone and ensured to the last person left that every detail was addressed.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a couple days before and after to soak it all up.

Most Inspirational Moment

The path of Gods walk simply breathtaking and the day it rained. Veriano made us forget that it was even raining it was fantastic

Thoughts on Group Leader

Veriano

Advice for Potential Travellers

I highly recommend this is a once in a lifetime memory you will never forget

Most Inspirational Moment

The Roman mosaics at Villa Romana and the Norman church at Monreale were sensational.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tiziano was a popular leader, and he managed the basics of the holiday well. We would, however have liked more expert archeological explanations on the trip - it is noteworthy that a competitor trip is led by an expert archeologist who for example gives evening lectures. One negative - at no time was the group asked to wear seat belts on the bus.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You need to budget for all meals apart from breakfasts, hotel taxes and tips for guides. We thought the hotels were generally excellent. Tiziano encourages filling water bottles at public standpipes but with respect, in hot countries, we prefer to have the health assurance of bottled water.

Most Inspirational Moment

The view over the raging Atlantic after the steep climb.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dinis was exceptional, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and dedicated.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If it looks like rain take waterproof overshoes!

Most Inspirational Moment

Messene and Meteroa.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Maria was a very well informed guide, always happy to answer questions.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Jenny Lake walk on the first day Wolf-tracking with Kyle - Lamar Valley, Tower Fall Grand Canyon of The Yellowstone walk The day we saw The Fountain Pain Pots, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Old Faithful area. Two Medicine Lake walk in The Glacier

Thoughts on Group Leader

A bundle of positive energy, a caring leader, who knows how to adapt the tour to everyone’s abilities. She explained everything clearly in advance so everybody knew where we were going and which were the options for walks, meals, hotels, restaurants, etc. The planting was very well done, the atmosphere was relaxed and everybody enjoyed the trip. She was happy to help anyone with all small or bigger personal problems that occurred during the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

in the notes, it should be mentioned that Great Fall Airport is far from the last location of the tour

Most Inspirational Moment

The buffalo stampede to the waterhole at dusk; elephants 'visiting' the carcass of an elephant killed the night before by a pride of lions; hyena suckling her young; pack of wild dogs;

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kenny was our group leader, ably assisted by Mello, Timoth and Yetu. Kenny could be a bit abrupt at times but was extremely knowledgeable and very organised. Superb cooking by Mello and vegetarians weren't an after thought as is often the case; Timoth and Yetu were quiet but very hard working and very appreciative of assistance with packing up the tents and washing up.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You have to be comfortable with being dirty and as a previous traveller said, putting on clean clothes is just not worth it so you'll probably not need as many clothes as you take. We were able to do some laundry in Victoria Falls. We were advised to take USD but in Botswana, it is better to have Pula. We were taken straight from the airport to a foreign exchange bureau and then had to change the USD that we'd brought with us, into Pula. For Zimbabwe, you can do everything in USD. For optional extras, we did the helicopter ride over the Okavango Delta (USD 280), the night time safari with dinner in the Zambezi national park ($140 in total) and the late afternoon boat ride on the Chobe River from Kasane (roughly $45 but payable in Pula). We would recommend all 3. The one thing that we all didn't like, was the tipping. If we had followed our interpretation of the guidelines in the Exodus notes (does per person mean per traveller or per member of crew?), we (a couple) would have ended up paying over$550 in tips which we feel is excessive. Other travellers in our group had different ideas and there were a number of discussions about how much we should tip which made us all feel uncomfortable. If such a large tip is expected, then I would argue that the staff are not paid enough. For the mokoro polers, give all tips to your group leader for distribution.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Elly was a great group leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

Leeches… in Sumatra even though I was wearing walking shoes, trousers and socks they still got me. I would take gaiters or thicker socks next time.

Most Inspirational Moment

Sunset on the salt pan was amazing! The chef, Mike, put on a bbq of Steaks and Boerewors for us, which we enjoyed just as the sun disappeared, and the stars started showing. Brian then spent time teaching us about the stars (using the worlds brightest laser pen) which was so informative!

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had 4 guys who looked after us on this tour - Brian, Mike, Timoth and Moeti. They were all amazing, and so helpful throughout the two weeks. Brian himself basically becomes everyone’s favourite person, he’s so well informed on just about everything, and does his best to make sure you get to experience Botswana in the best way possible.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared to be uncomfortable, some drives are very long (although broken up the frequent wildlife spotting). When at the wild campsites there is quite a long break between the morning drive finishing and the afternoon drive starting. We found this to be quite tough, as it can get very hot! So make sure when Brian says to buy supplies, get some soft drinks alongside the beers, to make the day a bit easier! Having read a previous review I decided to take a trail cam along with me, and after a few nights of not getting too much action, I managed to capture a Hyena sniffing around the camp fire! So definitely worthwhile bringing one along if you’re interested!