South Africa: Cape Escape

A brilliant trip with a fabulous group of people!! I was part of the first Exodus Edits trip to South Africa and I would hugely recommend it to everyone. South Africa is a great country with fantastic scenery, delicious wine, lots of fun outdoor activities to try and really friendly people. From the moment we arrived and were met by our leader Adonia and driver Ernest, I felt at ease as everything was organised for us, we simply had to enjoy the next few days together. Adonia and Ernest were super friendly, very knowledgeable about the local area and by the end of the trip, we were all really sad to leave them. During the trip, I was lucky enough to climb halfway up Table Mountain (sadly the weather was too windy to reach the top safely), explore the Kirstenbosch gardens, sample wine at three wine tasting sessions and most importantly, see hundreds of penguins at Boulders beach.

Having never been to South Africa before, every aspect of our trip surpassed all expectation. From meeting everyone at the airport, all through the trip, it was well organised and our guides were great! Our activities were well thought out and perfect for what we wanted from our trip. The scenery was beautiful and the South African people were so friendly and accommodating. Nothing was ever too much trouble. We loved it, and would definitely do another trip like this.

An unforgettable trip that will live long in the memory. One that I would highly tecommend to anyone in their 30's and 40's who is short on time and keen to dip their toe into the best activities that the Cape has to offer. This was the first ever Exodus Edits trip so it was a step into the unknown. Whats more, it coincided with the COVID-19 outbreak which ultimately led to it being cut short as we had to return to the UK. Nonetheless, the small amount of time spent in Cape Town with my fellow explorers and our fantastic tour guides Adonia and Ernest exceeded my expectations. As a seasoned traveller and regular customer of Exodus, I knew that in spite of the uncertainty that came with travelling overseas as COVID-19 spread, I'd be in safe hands. After discovering on day 2 that the trip would be cut short, Adonia with support from Caroline and John from Exodus HQ who had joined us on the trip, provided regular updates and guidance on the fast-moving situation. This enabled me to make clear decisions on how and when I should return home before borders closed and airlines cancelled flights. While the trip itself was reduced to 5 days, the activities that we were able to experience were hugely enjoyable. Hiking halfway way up Table Mountain in fierce winds and getting some amazing views of downtown Cape Town before (very sensibly) being directed by Adonia to head back down as it was just too risky to hike all the way to the top. Visiting the Cape of Good Hope and hiking up to Cape Point Light House in even stronger winds was quite an experience even for someone who grew up on the windy west coast of Scotland! The accommodation across the 5 days was fantastic and leaned towards the 4 star in terms of quality. In Cape Town, the Grand Daddy Hotel was a one of a kind experience. Very quirky with Airstream style caravans on the top floor. Great rooms and very good breakfasts. In Simonstown, our hotel overlooked the gorgeous bay and offered great views of the sun setting. Last but not least, our farm stay accommodation on the outskirts of Stellenbosch offered great views of the surrounding vin yards and mountains on the horizon. Two separate swimming pools was also a welcome discovery.

A great trip to a fabulous country - having never been to South Africa before it surpassed all my expectations; the landscapes were amazing, the food was universally delicious, and the people were friendly and welcoming throughout. Although I have been on several Exodus trips before, this was my first Exodus Edits trip, and although for us some of the itinerary was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, I would definitely recommend the trip. The itinerary was varied and packed a lot in to a short space of time, and included the very active (climbing table mountain) to the very relaxing (wine tasting in Stellenbosch), with the highlight for me definitely being visiting and kayaking with the penguins at Boulders Beach.