4.7/5 Excellent
Excellent
428
Great
130
Average
9
Disappointing
2
Terrible
2
South Africa Tour & Trip Ratings
Tour Reviews
Ker & Downey helped make my wife and I's trip to South Africa our best vacation ever. From arranging first-class accommodations, to making reservations at fabulo...
I've had the good fortune of traveling many times to most continents over the last 50 years. I use travel consultants about 1/2 of the time and plan trips myself the...
I don't usually use travel agents but I absolutely recommend Ker & Downey if you are planning to visit South Africa. My husband & I wanted to make a trip to ...
Great lodges and awesome reserves. We had a fantastic time - the service from K&D was great
I was planning a trip with 4 of my friends to South Africa, and Ker & Downey knocked it out of the park with not only booking every detail of the trip but also f...
Lee was incredible to work with and provided top of the line service. My husband and I planned to do a safari and then head to Mauritius over the Christmas holiday a...
We used Ker & Downey as our agent to plan our honeymoon in Africa based on the recommendation of a number of friends and they did not disappoint! They planned an...
We booked our Cape Town and safari experience with Ker & Downey Africa after a recommendation from a friend. The properties selected in Cape Town and the winelan...
We stayed at Mara Expedition camp in mid Feb 2018 after having to be switched from our original planned location at Mara Plains Camp due to a lioness and her cubs de...
I have been at Mara Plains Camp in Kenya. It is one of the best locations in ...
We had the most wonderful time on our trip! It really was our best trip ever! You all took such good care of us while we were there. It was so nice to not have to wo...
Our trip to Zambia and South Africa was incredible! The team at Ker & Downey was amazing! They took care of every single detail. They were very easy to work with...
My Husband and I usually book our own holidays but not knowing enough about travelling in Africa we thought we could use some help organizing our tour. We asked Ker ...
Ker and Downey Africa organised a stunning trip for my family in South Africa. The lodges and camps we visited were on point with our needs. We were treated like roy...
We had an amazing two weeks in South Africa and we wanted to see as much as possible in the time. Ker & Downey provided an amazing schedule that allowed us to sp...
This agency offers a flawless service from start to finish. No task is too big or too small. We have been on two trips organised by Ker & Downey Africa, one bein...
Ker & Downey organized our whole South African trip, including lodge, safari, cape town visit, flights etc. the tour was extremely well organized and planned - t...
I did the GVI internship on April last year - which is basically the expedition but with a few extras. For that I spent 3 months on a game reserve and another 3 mont...
I enjoyed 1 mouth out in South Africa on Karongwe game reserve. I can say I had the time of my life, getting involved with wildlife research. I really enjoyed Telem ...
In short, if you are looking for safari planning, look no further! Ker and Downey Africa will not only deliver, they will exceed your expectations and take care of e...
Editor’s Take
Most trip reviews tend to focus on some or all of these 5 key areas, not all of which may be relevant to you: the tour guide, travel company, service level, country or countries traveled in, and the trip itinerary.
Remember, just because you see a 1 star review doesn’t necessarily mean that person disliked the country.
First, for a majority of travelers, the flight to South Africa is long. From many spots in the United States, you’ll spend near 21 hours each direction in the air. Australia and Asia experience similarly long flights. For travelers who find themselves having a layover, consider an overnight layover, where you can spend a night sleeping in a bed. This helps ease exhaustion, especially for those who can’t sleep on planes. You’ll arrive ready for your South African adventure.
There are some security issues when it comes to South Africa, which can be a shock for some travelers. Especially if you go to Johannesburg, you’ll feel the more “dangerous” sides just by being outside and driving through the city. This should not discourage you from traveling to South Africa!
Being prepared and knowing your surroundings, it can help immensely. Many homes have bars on the windows, and security guards, even in the higher end areas. Violence was a huge concern, and can still be, but don’t let this break your trip. There will be a shock but shortly after, travelers see this is just the way of life in South Africa.
Many travelers have mentioned South Africa as one of the best experiences of their life, which is no surprise. Between the ocean, the mountains, the wineries in the capelands, and the wildlife, it’s pretty hard to not enjoy yourself. There is surely something that everyone will enjoy. South Africa is filled with history, art, and great food. There are endless adventures, and the pace of life is very relaxed.
Many reviewers mentioned the safari. Some may say a day or two is enough for a safari. You can see these animals at the zoo. This is far from the truth. There are very few things that beat seeing a family of elephants strolling during sunrise, or watching the hippo crossings between dusk.
Looking in the brush for the lions trying to hide from the hot sun, and zebras running through the grass. All of it is amazing and every game drive is different. Every animal encounter is magical.
Another South Africa “hot spot” among reviewers is Cape Town with a side trip to the wine area, either Stellenbosch or Franschhoek. Stroll through the cute towns filled with restaurants, shops, and markets. Hop on the wine tram, that transports you between wineries in the region.
Consider a stay in a bed and breakfast. Transportation between wine country and Cape Town is about an hour, and there are numerous buses that leave each day between the two. While this is an easy day trip, you may want to consider staying overnight. The region makes for a great weekend trip!
If you want a professional take on traveling in South Africa, see the Travelstride South Africa Guide »
Top South Africa Travel Packages