South Africa Tour 2012

There seemed to be something adventurous and or exciting and new every day. The size of the group was just right for interaction among us. We experienced village life on our visit to Zambia which included a singing and dancing performance by the school children. Adult Zhosa performers entertained us in the townships part of Port Elizabeth as they celebrated Freedom Day holiday. Zulu dancers impressed us with their agility and drumming on another occasion. I was impressed by the great variety of crafts and other artistic sculptures on display and for sale in almost every venue we visited. Leather, stone, beads, wire, batik, thread, varieties of wood, fabric crafts, candles, metal sculptures all with African themes and many in public spaces. Victoria Falls was an amazing geographic location, and I was almost equally impressed with Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. Unfortunately mountains are always problematic and I only saw Table Mountain from a distance. Cape Town was a beautiful city, more so because it had so much of the waterfront accessible to the walking public. The surf along the shorelines was always spectacular. Bush, savannas, indigenous forests and planted forests of pine and eucalyptus, rain forests and mountains and rivers, plantations of sugar cane, pineapple, bananas and grapes kept me from being bored as we drove along the highways. The cats, lions and cheetahs were elusive, but there were many other animals and birds and a few lizards and crocs to capture my attention and remain in my memory. Elephants giraffes, cape buffalo, wildebeests, various antelope species, alligators, zebras kept me on the alert on the safaris. The hotel accommodations were first rate. I have a couple of suggestions. Double rooms should have two luggage racks, preferably metal. I really appreciated those facilities which had free wifi and regretted that some facilities didn't recognize how this service could be a marketing tool. Our guide was like an encyclopaedia he had so much knowledge and imparted it so well. Robben Island was a revelation but also a disappointment to some extent. The group (over 40) was too large for some of the spaces and although the guide was very eloquent, his voice did not carry far enough to be heard by all in the group. Dialect requires a distinct voice and a slower pace of speaking to be understood by such a large group of people. The river cruise on the Zambezi River was the best of the water experiences due to a smaller number of tourists and more comfortable seating. One winery was the oldest in the country and another was built on ostrich money and newer. Wine and food go together and this was no different. In fact many meals were included on this tour and each one was generally good. I ate alligator meat for the first time and I found it without distinction. If I hadn’t known it was alligator I would not have even asked for its origin. It was a marvelous trip for me. Isabel Palmeter

Disappointing Trip

Too tight on air connections. Victoria Falls extension amounted to 22 minutes at the least interesting part of the falls. Long hours of bus rides without any interesting breaks.

Our worst organized tour ever!!!

We had only one day and 20 minutes at Livingstone Falls. No chance to see them on the other side from Zimbamwe. Long and boring bus rides with stops for rest areas only. The group had really good people but were treated by your company to less then they deserved. The hotels were good on the outside and some inside but we were given the worst rooms in the hotel and most of them were not filled. The views from our hotel were of parking lots and construction sites or sitting atop of a generator. The guide did the best he could with what he was given..not one wow on the entire trip. Not a good value!! What a shame as this tour could have been made very exciting. A cocktail hour each night is not my idea of a thrill when we could have used the time to investigate something locally. A market or something!!

South Africa Discovery

The trip was excellent, saw and experinced a lot, and the Tour Director & Bus Driver was fabulous.

A trip NOT to be missed!

Saw the big 5 and so many other animals in their natural habitat! The country is so beautiful with the wild flowers and the most interesting geological formations. Table Mountain is surely one of the 7 wonders or the world. The view from there is breath taking. A lovely country with a coast line that is unequal to any other.

South Africa Discovery

A great deal of activities in such a short time. Well planned with a combination of South Africa offers. Great animal parks Beautiful country side Great wineries Very developed infrastructure Beautiful weather Very safe and beautiful towns and cities What else can you ask for more.. Thanks Go Ahead tours for making it possible

South Africa Discovery

Wonderful itinerary, guide, and hotels.

Seeing South Africa in luxury

This was a fabulous blend of nature, food, wine and comfort. We saw game preserves, all the big 5 animals, and dined in luxury. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to travel in safety and comfort while viewing some of the most beautiful and wild places in Africa.

South Africa Discovery Tour

If you want an opportunity to experience much of what South Africa has to offer, and are comfortable being constantly on the go, then this tour is for you. It had it all -- wild animals at different reserves, an opportunity to experience a variety of habitats, a native village, local markets, small towns, big towns, wineries, history, culture, good food, excellent wines, an extremely knowledgeable tour guide, who went out of his way to make sure everyone was as comfortable as possible, and wonderful travel companions. The extensions were well worth the extra cost. Having an opportunity to pet and feed elephants was one of the tour's highlights as was the Township tour and dinner. S. Africa is an emerging nation and poverty and beauty are at its foundation. This 21-day tour included a taste of everything. Of course, now I want to go back for the close-ups: more animals, nature hikes, authentic S. African meals, and wine! If you want a day-by-day overview with photos, please visit my blog. http://southafricadiscovery.wordpress.com

Tiring but Terrific!

Having traveled on a fast paced tour with EF previously, I knew what the Itinerary for South Africa meant: on the move pretty constantly, lots of sitting on the bus to get to the next cool place, plenty of game preserve visits but not so much in the cultural realm. It was all that, and although all of us were weary towards the end, the pace slowed and having leisure time at the end was a good thing. There would be no other way to cover so many miles and see such a big slice of South Africa in 2 1/2 weeks. For those of us from California, the return trip is grueling: 48 hours including a 7 hour layover in D.C. Again, few other options, but stand warned if you choose this one! I would recommend a couple more 2 night stays at the beginning or middle of the trip so as to get a better feel for the areas. Four nights in Capetown seemed more than necessary. We went straight through Swaziland, which seems like a place to get a bit of the indigenous culture of Africa. Despite the fast pace, our tour was very well coordinated and managed by our tour director. He was organized, kept us on track while also being responsive to our needs as they arose. As long as one knows what to expect, I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants an exciting overview of South Africa and it's fabulous game life.