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.

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48 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

lizette Lizzie

Reviewed October 2025

A whole new meaning to getting Into the Wild!

This was an experience of a lifetime! I cannot recommend this trip enough. If you want to go wild camping in the African bush where you can completely disconnect from every day life and get back in touch with nature, then don’t hesitate to book this trip. You will be surrounded by wild animals, bird sounds and highly experienced staff.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being surrounded by elephants at our camp and canoeing past so many pods of hippo's. They are in abundance here! Seeing so many different bird species, including the carmine bee-eaters' & their nests which only occurs at a certain time of year. Being a part of the best group of adventurist souls on this departure! Canoeing on the Zambezi of course!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, CB and assistant guide, Julius, were top notch! They were caring, compassionate, extremely knowledgeable (you can ask them anything) and very experienced. I had a great time canoeing with their crew in training, Chuchu. This is not excluding the flycamp crew who tended to our every need and, even though it was camping with basic amenities, they gave us five star service.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read the trip notes! Everything you need is in there. Make sure you follow the guidelines. I used a large drybag to pack my first 4 days' worth of baggage and had a small shoulder bag that I could keep with me while canoeing for things like binoculars, sunscreen, shades etc. For the warmer months, a sarong or two is very much recommended. You can wet this and cover your shoulders and your legs to keep cool and protect yourself from the sun. The 2x2m tents are actually large enough for two to share. You will have a mattress on a stretcher at the fly camp so you will be elevated from the ground. Take carabiners to clip your items to things like your tent/bag/ the showers. These I found to be super useful. Phone signal is almost non-existent on the trip, so keep this in mind when going back into the wild!

Sam Murray

Reviewed July 2025

An incredible trip, from start to finish

There were so many unforgettable moments on this adventure, but seeing the wildlife in such a natural way, without lots of people round them, was incredible. Camping wild and going off-grid felt like an amazing reset and the tents were very comfortable. Couldn’t recommend this trip more!

Most Inspirational Moment

Hmmm lots to choose from! Watching two elephants playfighting from the fly camp, being taught how to navigate using the stars by our tour leader, going to sleep to the sound of elephants and hippos.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Martin was incredible. His knowledge about the local wildlife, plants, culture and history was so impressive. He worked tirelessly to make sure we had an amazing trip, always making sure we were comfortable and safe. Such a pleasure to spend the week with him. His assistant Stuart was fantastic too - also went the extra mile to make sure we had a great trip!

Caroline Bissell

Reviewed July 2023

Amazing

This trip is suitable for all regardless of canoeing or camping experience. The proximity to the wildlife is far superior to any previous safari’s I have been on. The pace was relaxed, excellent comping equipment, great guide, good food and scenery/wildlife was amazing

Most Inspirational Moment

The sunrises and sunsets - beautiful

Thoughts on Group Leader

Put our safety and wellbeing first, but was always happy to laugh and joke with us :-)

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just enjoy it

Barry Holmes

Reviewed November 2022

A true adventure

This was a brilliant trip for seeing so much wildlife, and getting so close to it, particularly the elephants and hippopotami. Whilst we couldn’t believe how many elephants we saw, we also saw lesser numbers of lions, crocodiles, water buffalo and a miscellanea of birdlife. Insect life was also plentiful, colourful dragonflies by day and fireflies by night.

Most Inspirational Moment

The fact that you could get safely so close to wild animals like elephants, which you could never do on land. It was magical to go to sleep in your tent knowing elephants and hippos would wander past during the night.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, one of the best. There were 13 people and six canoes, so one canoe had to take three and we ended up in the canoe with the guide. This was great as he did most of the paddling, making ours a premium adventure! The trip has its' potential hazards; at one stage a large crocodile sallied forth towards us, but our guide got us to splash the water with our paddles which drove it away; he would keep a close eye on us and get us to move back if we were getting potentially too close to elephants in the water.

Katherine Burke

Reviewed September 2022

Wildlife galore!!

I’ve just got back from canoeing the Zambezi Valley- what a trip!! We saw hippos, elephants, crocodile, monkeys, baboons, Impala, Kudu, warthogs and even a porcupine and a leopard!! The tents provided were really good- tall enough to stand up in, with mesh panels so you could look out if you wished. The stars at night were beautiful so I’d really recommend that. The canoeing was at a steady pace and suitable for all abilities- the hardest part was often getting in and out of the boat!! If you haven’t camped or kayaked before, don’t be put off, the pace was just right and the support from the leader and assistant leader was great. We also had a couple of game walks and a night game drive. The food was simple, but tasty and there was plenty of it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing all the wildlife- I loved the hippos and we even had an elephant join us for lunch one day!

Thoughts on Group Leader

CB was a very good leader- knowledgeable and quick to help with any problems. He definitely had a sense of humour as well! Evans, the assistant leader, was quieter, but always on hand to help.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Tips- you definitely need a torch and a camera! There are no shops on the trip so if you want snacks or alcohol, buy it on the way to the campsite from the airport. This is not the trip for anyone who likes a lie-in! We had breakfast at 7 every day.

Christopher Bailey

Reviewed September 2019

Canoeing down the Zambezi

Go on this trip. Yes, it involves wild camping (no toilets, showers, etc) but the rewards are immense. Close encounters with wild animals, beautiful scenery. The trip is well organised, food is good, and guides are great.

Most Inspirational Moment

We had visited Kruger Park earlier this year and seen many animals but it was not the same as seeing then close up and personal on this trip. Many close encounters. Highlights include elephants gatecrashing my birthday celebrations, close up views of hippos, crocs, and numerous antelope. Apart from the wildlife, sunrises and sunsets over the Zambezi were pretty impressive.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader CB exuded a sense of calm and always seemed in control of situations which included persuading elephants to leave our camp. He and his assistant Best looked after us and cooked wonderful meals. It is difficult to praise them too highly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travel light. You do not need that extra t-shirt. Make sure you have sufficient sun cream. Take a camera.

John Hirons

Reviewed November 2018

Kayaking the Lower Zambezi

This was definitely a trip to get me out of my comfort zone (wild camping and kayaks instead of hotels and minibuses) and certainly did not disappoint. The fact you get so close to the wildlife far outweighed the fact you are wild camping (which I though I would struggle with).
The sense of achievement at the end of the week was overwhelming, having travelled such a long distance in a kayak.
The safari element far exceeded anything you would imagine and felt far more real than if you were in the back of a safari jeep (which I have done in South Africa). Animals spotted included elephants, hippos, lions, warthogs, buffalo, impala, zebra, baboons (and other monkeys), fish eagle, kingfisher and lots of others too much to mention.
The group I was with was amazing and everyone got on so well and helped each other. The food was good throughout the week and we even had a celebratory BBQ on the last night.
All in all I can safely say if I can do this holiday (and enjoy it) then anyone can!

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting so close to the elephants (which is the main reason I chose the holiday). the sense of achievement for actually getting to the end without breaking!

Thoughts on Group Leader

CB was amazing. Very knowledgeable, humorous, kind, professional and clearly enjoyed his job. It is no wonder he is an award winner. Best made the perfect assistant guide and is clearly learning a great deal from CB. Both together looked after us so well and work brilliantly as a team.

Advice for Potential Travellers

sunscreen. I ran out of 2 tubs (although half of one ended up at the bottom of the safari truck). Deet - I had 2 and ran out although I was probably the one with more bites than anyone else. Bite cream offers a major relief for the bites. Head torch (with a red light), gloves for the rowing. Prepare for no showers until the comfortable camping half way through but we were able to cool off and kind of clean off in the river a couple of times. It is proper wild camping so there are no toilets until the comfortable camp but the views you get when behind the bushes are literally stunning :-) If you can, add on a quick trip to Livingstone for the Victoria Falls. You are so close it would be a shame to miss it. As well as bringing a load of school supplies bring an extra suncream with you if you can. They give any spare suncream to a charity looking after albino children as it is prohibitively expensive in Zambia.

Lynne Bateman

Reviewed November 2018

Best. holiday. ever

Best. Holiday. Ever.
I cannot recommend enough.

CB is bloody amazing as a leader and guide. He’s one guide I will always remember – most guides on adventure holidays are great but instantly forgettable. But his humour and patience meant I felt like he was a friend! Great knowledge and communication skills.

A really well organised trip. Group size perfect too. Tents and mattresses perfect. Plenty of water and fruit.
We were pleased that upon arrival we didn’t hop directly in the canoes – we stayed at the mainland campsite (sunrise! Honking hippos!). This was fab because there is a shower block there and you are hot and dusty from the transfer/flight.

The canoeing is awesome. The campsites were perfect. The food brilliant (I’m veggie).

But the animals! My god! So many incredible experiences. I don’t know if we struck lucky but every day got more amazing than the last. It’s so much better to see animals from a canoe than from a Dusty 4×4.

Lastly- the group were brilliant!!

Tips:
We got a kaza visa online, no drama – but you only need this is you are travelling after to Zimbabwe. You need a sticker in your passport not just a stamp! (Our first mistake).

By the way, Livingstone is well worth a visit and CB organised a local bus for us.

You need minimum kit – we washed in the river every day. As suggested, carry your canoe stuff ready to go in hand luggage.
Bring a red light torch (for bugs) gloves (just in case) and definitely binoculars (We were so stupid!) And a zoom lens. And a bottle of rum?!
We took a 10 litre dry bag each for clothes and another for the sleeping bag and then shared a camera bag.

Most Inspirational Moment

The animals!

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was just wonderful.

Phill Dixon

Reviewed November 2018

Paddling adventure into nature

This is a great active safari that will get you close to nature and sleeping out under the stars.
We saw lions, birdlife galore, paddled past hippos and were able to stop the canoes and get close to herds of elephant.

The canoes are the perfect vehicle for the journey, yes you need to be relatively fit and have a bit of knowledge about a canoe ( they can provide advice or in uk go on a simple paddle start of 1 star canoe intro), but you get so close to animals and they were often relaxed. Also you have great fields of view across the water front.

Yes the campsites are basic – pitch a tent on a sandy island but the food is great and plentiful, you don’t need a shower you can dip in the safer shallows of the Zambezi, and you get to wake up to beautiful African sunrises.
You do have early starts and early nights but what you get back is worth it.

Advice is to have plenty of drybags and try and get a paddle suitable for your height. But anyone with a sense of adventure, a desire to see wildlife and reasonable fitness will enjoy this.

Most Inspirational Moment

Paddling to one of the islands to watch the gorgeous sunset with elephants eating 50m away. Then listening to them as drift off to sleep. Seeing a pride of 5 lions on a game drive was also pretty special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

CB was well liked by everyone, right combination of humour, knowledge and always there with advice or a calming reassurance. He clearly loves the job and all the guests agreed he was as much like a friend on the tour as well as never stopping in looking after us. If you needed it then CB would have it or find a way to get it for you. First class guide and especially nice to see him teaching Best the assistant guide in any downtime.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Packlight but bring an extra t-shirt or top. Antibacterial soap can wash hardwearing clothes if want to do that too. Plenty of bug spray and sunscreen as you will use it. Bring a good point and shoot as well as dslr as in the canoe wielding a big lens isn't always practical. Change about $50 at the airport and get a few bonus items at the shop on the way - you will need about 1 - 2l for the drive in the heat. Try and find a right sized paddle Lastly have most of your stuff for the first 3 nights ready to go in a separate daysack in your softbag. When you reach the 1st camp it is often dark and you don't have much time.

Sally and Tony Chewter

Reviewed September 2018