Choose another country or region to see content specific to your location.

Trustpilot
Rated Excellent

Refund
Guarantee

COVID-CLEAR
Groups

Expert Local
Guides

Johannesburg to Cape Town

Johannesburg to Cape Town

Expert Local Guides

Award Winning Adventures

Nature First Adventures

Support Local Communities

20 Days from

22 Days from

~~USD 5,449~~ USD 5,149

USD 7,134

incl. Taxes

4.1/5 from

Culture

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Culture

Activity Levels :

2 out of 7 - Leisurely / Moderate

Group Size :

6 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

AZJ

Mountain kingdoms, world-class wine, safari and dramatic coastline where two oceans meet

This epic journey explores the different facets of three very diverse countries. In South Africa we go on game drives in the Kruger National Park, walk in the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains, travel along the Garden Route, enjoy wine tasting amid the country’s renowned vineyards and visit exciting Cape Town and journey through the mountain kingdoms of Eswatini (Swaziland) and Lesotho.This three week trip has something for everyone: prolific wildlife, incredible scenery, beautiful beaches, awe-inspiring mountains and, of course, the rich culture which makes these countries what they are today.

Highlights

Kruger and the Drakensberg
Eswatini (Swaziland) and Lesotho
Cape Town and the Garden Route

Key Information

18 nights log cabins/chalets/hotel, 1 night permanent tented camp
Travel is by minibus or overland truck
Mainly good roads with some long drives

Countries visited: Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, South Africa

What's Included

All breakfasts, 16 lunches, 13 dinners
All accommodation (see below)
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation
Visas or vaccinations

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…

Itinerary

We leave the airport and make our way to overnight in Graskop (Mpumalamga), with views over the Graskop Gorge. En route we travel through South Africa's highest town, Belfast (1,970m) and the scenic Robbers Pass. Our driving time today will be approximately 5-6 hours (400km) with limited sightseeing.

Mogodi Lodge or similar

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Today we explore the aptly named Panorama Route. We drive through some spectacular countryside and we stop at scenic places like Bourke's Luck potholes and Blyde River Canyon, the third largest of its type in the southern hemisphere. From here we continue to Letaba Ranch Reserve. This late afternoon we go on an open, sunset game drive returning to camp after dark with the spot-light. Our driving time today will be approximately 3-4 hours (250km).
Mtomeni Safari Camp or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we head out looking for wildlife on foot as we head on a game walk through the reserve. From here we continue to Kruger National Park, justifiably one of the most famous wildlife parks in the world. It is also one of the oldest, established by the president Paul Kruger in 1898. It has, arguably, the greatest variety of animals of any park in Africa, with lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, Black and White rhino, as well as cheetah, giraffe, hippo and many species of antelope and smaller plains' game. The total census includes 147 mammals, 507 birds and 114 reptiles as well as 336 different trees. The camps are also excellent and the general infrastructure good. If you see all the predators you will be very lucky, however you will almost certainly see some of the big five and a huge variety of smaller mammals. We game drive through the park to the camp, where there will be a chance for a swim and hot showers. Our driving time today will be approximately 3-4 hours (250km).
National Park Huts or Permanent Tented Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We spend all of today inside Kruger National Park and will go on game drives in both the morning and the afternoon in order to maximise our wildlife viewing chances.
National Park Huts or Permanent Tented Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We enter Eswatini (Swaziland) and overnight in the Kings old hunting grounds, now the beautiful Hlane Royal National Park. In the afternoon there is the opportunity to leave the vehicle and enjoy a nature walk (optional). Seeing animals and tracks outside of the confines of a vehicle is a thrilling experience and gives us the chance to see and hear the variety of smaller animals and birds that are often passed by on game drives. Our driving time today will be approximately 3-4 hours (250km).
Ndlovu Lodge or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we drive south towards the town of Big Bend on our way to the border and back into South Africa. We continue towards the small town of St. Lucia between the Indian Ocean and Lake St. Lucia. It is not uncommon to come across stray hippos in the centre of town and the nearby lagoon is a haven for crocs, hippos, birds and even sharks! Our driving time today will be approximately 3-4 hours (300km).
Shonalanga Lodge or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we spend 2 hours exploring lake St Lucia by boat, with an excellent chance of seeing some of the many resident Hippo's, crocodiles and Fish Eagles. From here it's a short drive to Cape Vidal, a long stretch of beach along the Indian Ocean. We spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach or walking to Mission Rocks (please note the walk to Mission Rocks can only be done at low tide and takes around 4hrs return) . Or alternatively there are a number of optional activities available, including whale watching (in season: June-November), or sunset and night game drives on the western shores of the lake. Our driving time today will be approximately 2-3 hours (75km).
Shonalanga Lodge or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We leave St. Lucia today and drive through the Natal midlands and on to Dundee. En route we stop at Rourke's Drift and have a chance to learn about the famous battle at the local museum. Immortalised by Hollywood in the film Zulu! The events that took place here are well known and the small cluster of buildings isolated in the enormity of the African Bush are a moving reminder of this troubled time. Our driving time today will be approximately 5-6 hours (350km).
Battlefields Country Lodge or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

We continue on to the Northern Drakensberg, our base for the next two nights. The Drakensberg is a basalt escarpment forming the border between Kwa Zulu-Natal and Lesotho and continuing into the Free State. It means 'Dragon Mountains', but the Zulu named it Ukhahlamba ('the barrier of Spears'). This is a more accurate description of the sheer, forbidding, jagged escarpment. Some walking takes us through the lowland areas with magnificent views. Our driving time today will be approximately 2-3 hours (200km).
Berg House Cottages or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We spend a full day in the mountains where our route will have us walking into the natural amphitheatre, following the Tugela River past Protea trees. The Protea is the national flower of South Africa, as well as the name of their cricket team. Our driving time today will be approximately 1 hours (50km).
Berg House Cottages or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is a long day's drive as we travel through the Golden Gate National Park and the eastern farmlands of the Free State and enter Lesotho at the Maseru border post. This mountainous kingdom has been shielded from outside influence over the generations and the Basotho people historically used this strategic location as a defence against events on the plains below. The lodge situated in this rugged mountainous region provides us with an ideal opportunity to experience the Lesotho culture. Our driving time today will be approximately 5-6 hours (400km).
Malealea Lodge or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The day is free to relax and experience the unique culture that Lesotho has to offer. Mountain ridges protrude into the town and there's the option of doing a day's pony trekking to a local village. Alternatively the craft shops and markets can be an enjoyable way to pick up some African souvenirs.
Malealea Lodge or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On the road today as we drive south to Graaf-Reinet, the oldest town on the Eastern Cape founded in 1786. Our driving time will be approximately 8 hours passing through the desert landscape of the Great Karoo.
Obesa Lodge or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We drive down to the coast over the Baviaanskloof Mountains and the Kouga Mountains before arriving at Tsitsikamma National Park at Storms River mouth. This national park protects the indigenous forests as well as the marine life 50km out to sea. We stay at a beautifully positioned camp with the waves breaking a stone's throw away. Our driving time today will be approximately 5-6 hours (400km).
Tsitsikamma Storms River Huts or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our second day in Tsitsikamma N.P. is free to enjoy the beautiful setting. There are a range of optional activities including walks to the Storms River gorge and along the rocky coast, snorkelling, sea and river cruises and a tree canopy tour through the forests. In season, approximately August to October, the marine park becomes home to a population of migratory whales.
Tsitsikamma Storms River Huts or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We drive along the beautiful Garden Route coastline via George and the rolling cultivated fields of the Western Cape Boland to Hermanus. The route is stunning and follows the ragged coast passing through small fishing villages and seaside resorts. Hermanus is an interesting little town, rightly famous for its delicious seafood and a visit to one of the great restaurants in the evening is highly recommended. It is also widely regarded as the best place in the world for land-based whale watching from August to November. Our driving time today will be approximately 6-7 hours (500km).
Baleens Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning we leave Hermanus and, hugging the coastline (there is always a good chance to see whales in season), we drive along this scenic route to Gordon's Bay and then onto Stellenbosch. The afternoon will be spent visiting a few of the vineyards, which make this area world famous. Having enjoyed the local produce, wine tasting is optional. We then take a short drive to Cape Town. Our driving time today will be approximately 3-4 hours (200km).
InnsCape on Castle Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

After an early morning breakfast we drive via the coastal suburbs of Clifton, Camps Bay and Hout Bay and then over Chapman's peak drive to the famous Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, which covers an area of 7,680 hectares. The reserve is home to eland, bontebok, grysbok, springbok, wildebeest, baboon and ostrich. Rugged cliffs, unspoilt beaches, shipwrecks and beautiful flora are the main features of the reserve. We will also visit the famous Cape Point lighthouse. In the afternoon we take a short (1 hour) walk that is almost entirely downhill. Our destination is the Cape of Good Hope with a detour to Diaz beach. The trail ends at the famous signboard 'Cape of Good Hope'. We then return to Cape Town passing through the former Royal Navy base town of Simonstown and a visit to the resident Penguin Colony. Our driving time today will be approximately 3-4 hours (200km).
InnsCape on Castle Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

The day is free and an optional trip to Robben Island, site of Nelson Mandela's incarceration during the apartheid period, is highly recommended. Weather permitting a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain is a must for any visitor to this picturesque city. Alternatively the beaches of Cape Town are a great place to relax and unwind.
InnsCape on Castle Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

The morning is free for some last minute shopping or sightseeing before those no the group flights are taken to the airport for their flight home. The trip ends after breakfast for those not on the group flights.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

South Africa

Travellers from the UK, US and most (though not all) EU states normally do not need a visa to enter South Africa. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/south-africa
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/south-africa
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/SouthAfrica.html

Please note, all travellers to South Africa who require a visa need at least two consecutive blank pages in their passport (ie a left- and right-hand page) to enable an entry visa to be issued.

Additionally, any child under 18 travelling to South Africa needs to be in possession of an unabridged birth certificate with the names of both parents. If a child under 18 is only travelling with one parent, they will also have to have an affidavit, no less than three months old, from the absent parent confirming the child can travel with the other parent; a court order granting full legal guardianship of the child; or a death certificate of the deceased parent.

Eswatini (Swaziland)

Travellers from the UK, US and most EU states normally do not need a visa to enter Eswatini. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Lesotho

Visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Vaccination

South Africa

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, rabies and tuberculosis. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you're arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Malaria prophylaxis is essential if travelling in the greater Kruger area; seek advice from your doctor or travel clinic about which tablets to take. The rest of South Africa, including the Garden Route, has a low risk of malaria.

Dengue fever, a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, is also a known risk in places visited. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so we recommend taking the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Eswatini (Swaziland)

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, rabies and tuberculosis. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you have travelled from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic. There is also a risk of malaria in Eswatini, please confirm the recommended course of action with your doctor or travel clinic.

Lesotho

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, rabies and tuberculosis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, 16 lunches, 13 dinners

Your guide and driver/assistant generally prepare the meals included in this trip. A rough idea of what the meals will consist of is as follows: Breakfast - cereals, coffee, tea and toast. The occasional full cooked breakfast too. Lunch - cheese, cold meats, salads, bread or rolls, fresh fruit. Dinner - potjies (stew), braais (barbecue), stir fries, pasta. with fresh vegetables. Most generally cooked on the open fire. Please be aware that we need at least two weeks notice to deal with special dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian or allergies.) For this reason if you did not indicate these on your booking form please advise the Exodus office as soon as possible. The tour leaders do all the shopping and meal planning and cooking for each group. He/she will always try to obtain fresh produce wherever possible. We also supply the following drinks: fruit squash served with breakfast and tea or coffee served with breakfast and dinner. All other beverages will be at your own expense.

The water provided on this trip is safe and clean drinking water, normally coming from bore-holes. It is not bottled water, however. If you would rather have bottled water then this will be at your expense, though we would encourage you to make use of the safe drinking water provided as this helps diminish plastic consumption.

Weather

Although the greater part of South Africa lies north of the tropic of Capricorn, the altitude moderates the temperature. Summer months are from October to April and the average daytime temperature is 25ºC to 30ºC. The average night time temperature is 10ºC to 20ºC. The winter months are from May to September and average temperatures are about 10ºC colder at this time of year. In and around Cape Town, most of the rainfall is in the winter but it is frontal rain, which comes off the Atlantic. Therefore it can rain solidly for 2 days, and in between there will be warm sunny days! There is likely to be very little rain inland between the months of April through October and in July, August the nights can be very cold, especially in the Drakensberg where temperatures can drop below freezing. However the days are warm and crisp with generally cloud free skies. During the months of November through February rain can sometimes be expected and the temperature will be higher. However, as anyone who has travelled to these parts will say, rain is often a blessing; it manifests the local colours, drops the sometimes sweltering temperatures and never generally lasts too long. It also means the night times are incredibly clear. Due to the ocean's proximity to the mountains and the winds, it is fairly common to experience tabletop clouds on the higher mountains in and around Cape Town.

Weather Charts

Cape Town

Cape Town

Is this trip for you?

Due to the nature of this trip there are some long driving days as we cover a lot of the country but there is lots to do and see along the way, we do, however, stop regularly for toilet breaks, refreshments, photographs and leg stretches. Drive times on a lot of the days will be 4-5 hours but a couple may be in excess of 7 hours (not including time for stops).Drive times below are only approximations and do vary.

This trip is classed as leisurely/moderate grade. It is designed for people in good health who enjoy the outdoors. It is a varied trip, with sightseeing, city tours, game viewing, beach activities and walking. The moderate grading is given as some of the walks, especially in the Drakensberg, require a reasonable level of fitness.

Bev Blackham

Reviewed January 2023

Epic journey

A very varied trip with lots of game drives. Beautiful scenery, gorgeous beaches and breathtaking coastline. Fascinating history around Battlefields. Stunning mountain walking and cosmopolitan Cape Town. However a lot of long journeys on very bad roads. So not for everyone. The itinerary is very out of date and needs amending. I am happy to update it if it is useful. All in all an epic trip which we enjoyed immensely.

Most Inspirational Moment

The amazing coastline in Tsitsikamme with a fabulous view from the room. Fabulous game drive in Lesotho. Cape Town's Robben Island.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. Lots of knowledge and always striving to give us the best experience. He was with us all the time and never left the group. Also an excellent chef and very hard working.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Not a trip for you if you don't like long journeys on dreadful roads. Difficult for vegetarians and vegans as it is a big meat eating country.

Suggestions

The itinerary is so out of date, it was quite frustrating.

John Blackham

Reviewed January 2023

A great trip

A great trip travelling through SA, Swaziland & Lesotho (in January). Excellent numerous opportunities to see game close up. The countryside was surprisingly very green at this time of year. Although some days are very long in the air condioned overland transport its great to see the changes in housing, social life & landscape as you drive by.

Most Inspirational Moment

Game drives.

Thoughts on Group Leader

A very experienced group leader.

Advice for Potential Travellers

January was very hot and humid. Very pleased with accommodation just make sure you have head torches and spare batteries because SA is suffering from regular power cuts throughout the country with no resolution in the near future. Having said that most accommodation have back up generators but expect to be in the dark from time to time. Most places also have WiFi when the power is on. Some roads are more pot hole than road but the all terrain vehicle and excellent driver made it a great experience. Just be aware, parts of Capetown have a problem with petty crime.

Suggestions

It's a great holiday.

Darren Huston

Reviewed October 2019

Good experience

It was an extraordinary excursion with changing scenes, atmospheres and pressed with new encounters. The course extraordinarily catches the wide scenes and the natural life of South Africa. I adored it and would prescribe it to anybody.

Most Inspirational Moment

A visit to Kruger

David Hill

Reviewed March 2019

Disasterous week 1; OK 2&3

Supplied with the wrong vehicle which was both unsafe and very uncomfortable and guides who didn’t know where they were going. It took a week to replace both.

Most Inspirational Moment

Wonderful Africa

Thoughts on Group Leader

First week useless, second and third weeks brilliant

Advice for Potential Travellers

Ask questions : 1) is the vehicle safe?; 2) is there 'working' air con?: 3) how old is it?; 4) has the guide/driver done the trip before?; 5)are the trip note 'driving' times reasonably accurate?; 6)if you are tall, how much leg room is there? 7)is there room to move on the bus?.

Suggestions

Potentially a brilliant trip ruined by Exodus' attitude to our complaints.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank David for his review, however, we are genuinely sorry to learn that the first week of this holiday did not meet his expectations. Regrettably, due to a miscommunication on the ground in South Africa, our local team provided a smaller vehicle than is usually used on this tour; while we would like to clarify that this vehicle was serviced and signed off by qualified mechanics as in a safe condition prior to the trip starting, we acknowledge that it would have been slightly cramped and uncomfortable, for which we remain very sorry. Upon being made aware of this issue, a larger vehicle was supplied, and we would like to assure any future customers considering joining this tour that this unfortunate error has not recurred since this trip. We were delighted to read that David felt the second two weeks of the trip were brilliant, which we find is much more in line with the feedback we usually receive from this tour. John Penge – Product Manager

Julie Knuckey

Reviewed February 2019

Trip from Johannesburg to Cape town

This was a very memorable trip which took in so much of South Africa’s wild life, past histories and south Africa as it is now. Our guides were excellent in their information about South Africa, the animals and the cultural and political shaping of South Africa. We traveled very long distances and experienced several game drives where we saw most of the larger animals including several close sightings of lions. Visits to Lesotho and Swaziland were a pleasant contrast to the seemingly more affluent and efficient South Africa. Rouke’s Drift visit brought the film Zulu to life, The landscape changed from fertile farm estates to scrub land and desert, everywhere though needed rain, they hadn’t had good rains for several years. We traveled by minibus and a larger more comfortable safari bus and the air-con didn’t work, so it was hot & tiring , however all the accommodation was different but comfortable and adequately equipped. Food was mainly very good.

Most Inspirational Moment

A horse ride in Lesotho through the villages. Seeing the penguins and a visit to Robben island to see and learn about Nelson Mandela's incarceration there.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader & driver for the 1st week tried hard to give us an enjoyable experience, however having not lead a trip to where we were travelling before, she and her driver were replaced in the 2nd week by excellent group leaders with fantastic knowledge of all aspects of the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for very long drives, the roads are good but it is important to remember that this is Africa and things do not always go to plan! Take plenty of sun screen etc. enjoy all the experiences.

Suggestions

I think if I did it again I would stay longer in some areas as there was so much more to see.

Nigel Brereton

Reviewed January 2019

Johannesburg to Cape Town

A great 3 week trip for those who like a mixture of wildlife, history, African culture, Wine areas and views, with time to take in the sights and atmosphere. Some walking enhanced the scenery views which most managed.

Most Inspirational Moment

Wildlife parks and Enclosures, seeing a warden stroking a Hyena and the Hyena enjoying it. Seeing the kill of a Leopard hung up in a Tree and 20 minutes later seeing the Leopard. Cape Town, Table mountain. Seeing Whales off shore out of season, the viewing boats had stopped running.

Thoughts on Group Leader

A great guide with excellent knowledge of wildlife, with good knowledge of South Africa. Tireless in cooking and clearing away, always cheerful. Coped with electricity cuts well, using gas ring to cook and battery lights. Tried to please all and adapted tour to suit the majority.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Trip notes covered most points. A head troch and troch was most useful in the early mornings and evenings. Insect spray was required. Take money and exchange in Bank or Money Bureau. An ATM 'scam' cost one over £400! Take care walking on loose stones, a leg gash needed treatment and 3 stiches. An attempt at handbag robbery in Cape Town was annoying on the final last day. Warnings to be 'street wise' were given. Seek travel advice from locals, as local busses were inexpensive, fast, but crowded. My mini bus took me to the Hotel.

Suggestions

There were some Navigation issues, in Cape Town, the guide had to call a local to find where the Boat departure point was for Robbin Island, it was on the Map! A map I obtained enhanced my day in Cape Town, visiting the most of the top ten sights. Some took photographs of the Map, which should be handed out by the Guide. Better to know and pick which are your likely best choices. I was the only one who knew of the Castel, pleased I made the organised history tour. Some meals were basic with little flavour, Bolognese sauce does have a tomato and beef flavour. The second African trip where Spaghetti Bolognese was on the Menu, however the sauce was only minced beef with its bland natural flavour! This time I did not write out the ingredient's for the cook

Jinny Pohl

Reviewed December 2018

Johannesburg to Cape Town

It was a great trip with varying landscapes, climates and packed with new experiences. The route specially captures the wide landscapes and the wild life of South Africa. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone.

However, Exodus should look into the cleanliness and the conveniences each accommodation provides as some did not meet even the basic standards.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the big five in Kruger was very special. A visit to Kruger has been on my list for a long time and to be there was great.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide Colly Mohlabine and driver JoJo Molekoa were the best people I have had so far on Exodus trips. They went out of their way to make our trip a memorable one. Even after a long drive, Colly and JoJo made wonderful food and looked after all of us. Colly especially was a great cook. He had extensive knowledge on the flora and fauna and the history of South Africa, which contributed to our experience of the country. JoJo was an excellent driver. We were always made to feel safe, comfortable and well looked after by these two people.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Long hours are spent on the bus that can be tedious. But that way, we got to see various landscapes, towns and villages, which enriched the whole experience for me. There were also early morning starts but were necessary in order to follow the itinerary. Especially the 4 am start in Kruger enable us to see the big five. A treat!!!

Suggestions

I would like to make a complain about the Malealea Lodge in Leotho. It was the dirtiest place I have ever seen and totally unsuitable for tourist groups although the place seem to have bus loads of groups coming to it all the time. The kitchen allocated to us was terrible and had not been cleaned for a long time. The fridge where the food for the group was kept had black mold, the oven stank and had cockroach carcasses, the cupboards contained rotting food left behind by other groups, and the shelves of cupboards were rusty and were dirty. Especially the cupboards where drinking glasses were kept were terribly rusty and we were supposed to take the glasses and drink from them!!!! There was no hot water or sometimes no water to do the washing up. My shower cubicle had dirt caked on and had not been cleaned for awhile. I complained to the owner Mike on behalf of the group and showed him the state of the kitchen. Exodus must make sure that groups are taken to places that are clean (no one expects them to be luxurious but they need to be clean) as these can be a health hazard. I am going to review this lodge on Trip adviser asking people not to go there.

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Jinny for taking the time to complete a review of her trip. While we are pleased to read that she enjoyed the trip and would recommend it, we are sorry that she was disappointed with the accommodation at Malealea Lodge in Lesotho. We have used this property on various trips in Southern Africa for a number of years, and have received generally very positive feedback, this being the first time we have received comments regarding hygiene standards at the lodge. We were, therefore, very concerned to read Jinny’s review, and have passed them on to our local team to discuss with the mangers of the property. We remain confident that this accommodation is suitable for our trips, but will continue to monitor the feedback we receive to ensure that our clients do not encounter similar issues on future trips. Frances Spowart – Product Manager

Susan Richards

Reviewed October 2018

Could have been brilliant!

Let down by inappropriate vechicle, poor logistics and frequent changes.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the end of Table Mountain on hike.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very pleasant , excellent flora and fauna knowledge.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for long drives .

Reply from Exodus

We would like to thank Susan for her feedback, although we regret that she was disappointed by some aspects of her trip in South Africa. While we usually get positive feedback for our Johannesburg to Cape Town trip, we have reviewed the comments we have received from customers who travelled on this departure, and have discussed the transport and logistics with our local team. On this trip there were an unusually high number of accommodation changes, due to limited availability at the properties we usually use. Although the alternative hotels and lodges were of a higher quality than those we normally stay at, regrettably we understand they had an impact on the ordering of the itinerary. We do not anticipate future trips being affected in this way, and also feel it is worth mentioning that out of 24 reviews on our website, clients have given this tour an average of 4.3 stars out of a possible 5 (on the date of publishing) and we feel this is reassuring, however we are genuinely sorry that Susan’s experience was not so positive. John Penge – Product Manager

Susan Richards

Reviewed October 2018

Could have been brilliant!

Let down by inappropriate vechicle, poor logistics and frequent changes.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the end of Table Mountain on hike.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very pleasant , excellent flora and fauna knowledge.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for long drives .

Dave Stroud

Reviewed September 2018

A comprehensive and very enjoyable trip in this incredible country!

A thoroughly enjoyable trip!

This trip is pretty full on and many hours are spent on the bus, travelling from place to place. However, as the scenery is constantly changing this adds to the whole experience.

Whilst not as wildlife rich as some other countries I’ve visited it still had it’s wonderful moments. I didn’t expect to see so many hyena’s, an animal which I’ve never understood the reaction of many people; that being “they’re so ugly”. I’ve always found them to be beautiful! Lions eluded us but we did manage to see a leopard and African painted dogs, which felt very lucky indeed. Also spotted two young male giraffes squaring up to each other and practice fighting. That also felt like a rare privilege to see.

If you want wide ranging experiences from a holiday this is definitely for you! I loved it!

Most Inspirational Moment

Exploring the Drakensberg mountains, where we did a small walk. I could very easily spend a whole week (or longer) in this one area alone. I actually felt this way many times during the trip so pinning down a single inspirational moment is an impossible task for me. As South Africa is such a large country, this trip was always going to a taster for me. I will definitely return and hopefully spend more time in the areas I most liked.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Petro was a fantastic guide and was always there to help; full of information, particularly that of South Africa's history, ensures that you'll always find the longer journeys interesting. I must also mention Joel, who was not only the driver but did many other jobs such as preparing the meals, particularly the braais (South African barbeque). We never went hungry! Even people who didn't like certain foods were catered for! Both guides worked extremely hard and I often felt that especially after the long drives the group could easily have eaten out. This would have meant that the guides, after the long driving days, wouldn't have to cook for the group!

Advice for Potential Travellers

I travelled in August and underestimated how cold it was going to be, particularly in the coastal regions. I should have packed a couple more thicker jumpers and some thicker trousers too.

Suggestions

I highly recommend this trip if you want a fully rounded experience and something to give you a taste of this amazing country! This trip has certainly renewed my faith in Exodus as previously I'd had a couple of very disappointing trips, which I learnt were run by another company, based in Tanzania. Trips in the Southern African countries (at least the ones I've been on) have been run by Mask; these encompass all the best trips I've ever done. You'll not be disappointed!

Read All Reviews

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

View Trip Notes

You may also like

Johannesburg to Cape Town

20 Days from USD 5,449

USD 5,149

Guided Group (Incl. Taxes)

Overland adventure through three countries

Culture

South Africa

15 Days from USD 4,249

USD 3,999

Guided Group (Incl. Taxes)

Walk in the Drakensberg Mountains and safari in Kruger

Walking & Trekking

15 Days from USD 5,149

Guided Group (Incl. Taxes)

Wildlife and contrasting landscapes of Namibia and Botswana

Culture

View More Trips

Call us anytime 1-844 421 0109

Send us a message Contact Now

Johannesburg to Cape Town

4.1/5 from

20 Days from

22 Days from

~~USD 5,449~~ USD 5,149

USD 7,134

incl. Taxes