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Explore Southern Africa
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South Africa Tour & Trip Reviews
1,566 Reviews
4.7 out of 5
96% Recommend
Value
Editor’s Take
What to Look For in South Africa Tour Reviews
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 »
Tour Reviews
K
Kathleen
Recommends
will definitely try another Collette tour again! July 2020
5.0
- Value 5.0
- Guide 5.0
- Activities 5.0
- Lodging 5.0
- Transportation 5.0
- Meals 5.0
Just finished up our South Dakota tour. It was great. Saw a ton of great sites like Mount Rushmore, crazy horse, badlands, devils tower. Beth our guide was great and very knowledgeable. Being the first trip out during COVID-19 I was a little worried but they went above and beyond to put us at ease. Clean bus everyday, spacing out of guests, keeping the same seats everyday and provided masks for everyone. I can not say enough about our trip. We took our two children ages 13 and 14 and they really learned so much. I will definitely try another Collette tour again!
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AS
Andrew Sullivan
Recommends
My daughter had planned to join a HS… July 2020
5.0
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- Value 5.0
- Guide 5.0
- Activities 5.0
- Lodging 5.0
- Transportation 5.0
- Meals 5.0
My daughter had planned to join a HS trip to Germany this summer and it was canceled due to COVID-19. These are difficult times and I am sure this company is dealing with quite a few issues. I had the insurance and was promptly refunded all money including funds that were to added back to a cancelled credit card. I was pleasantly surprised not to have to call and email the company to get refunded.
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Tour ACIS Company reviews
TE
Travel Escaper
Does Not Recommend
Don't Do Business w ACIS June 2020
1.0
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- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
Unbelievable company! We paid $4117 for our high school daughter to join a high school class trip to Germany on April 2. COVID hit &international flights were cancelled. This made it legally impossible to travel, hence force majeure. Instead of being noble during a pandemic, they decided to pocket $1,000.
Below is the transcript of an online chat. I asked for a call to explain in detail what these fees are being applied towards. They declined to take a call.
If anyone else experienced the same and cares to pursue ACIS, I will post the details online through a watchdog Facebook page "ACIS is a Ripoff." I intend to organize a class action lawsuit due to the lack of transparency for charging these penalties.
FROM ACISTravelerSupport5
You paid $4117 toward the cost of the trip. Since the original trip was scheduled for April 2020 and you only had Basic insurance, the refund will $650 cash penalty, and you will also receive a $350 ACIS/AIFS voucher. Your cash refund will be $3117 and the $350 in the voucher.
Our standard Terms & Conditions include a force majeure clause that says we aren’t responsible for loss or delay due to events like sickness, quarantine or government restrictions that are out of our control, and that in those circumstances our standard refund policies apply.
Response to Laura Smart's reply - Please itemize exactly how the cancellation fees were applied to cover your costs. Legally, there can not be penalties. Fees must be applied towards covering liquidated damages after best efforts were made to mitigate the losses. We would like to see an itemized breakdown. The airlines and hotels have all maintained very flexible cancellation policies whereas your is gauging student travelers by taking 25% of our money without nay back-up whatsoever. We need transparency with how this money s being applied. Reporting you to the Federal Trade Commission for deceptive practices.
Read more
Below is the transcript of an online chat. I asked for a call to explain in detail what these fees are being applied towards. They declined to take a call.
If anyone else experienced the same and cares to pursue ACIS, I will post the details online through a watchdog Facebook page "ACIS is a Ripoff." I intend to organize a class action lawsuit due to the lack of transparency for charging these penalties.
FROM ACISTravelerSupport5
You paid $4117 toward the cost of the trip. Since the original trip was scheduled for April 2020 and you only had Basic insurance, the refund will $650 cash penalty, and you will also receive a $350 ACIS/AIFS voucher. Your cash refund will be $3117 and the $350 in the voucher.
Our standard Terms & Conditions include a force majeure clause that says we aren’t responsible for loss or delay due to events like sickness, quarantine or government restrictions that are out of our control, and that in those circumstances our standard refund policies apply.
Response to Laura Smart's reply - Please itemize exactly how the cancellation fees were applied to cover your costs. Legally, there can not be penalties. Fees must be applied towards covering liquidated damages after best efforts were made to mitigate the losses. We would like to see an itemized breakdown. The airlines and hotels have all maintained very flexible cancellation policies whereas your is gauging student travelers by taking 25% of our money without nay back-up whatsoever. We need transparency with how this money s being applied. Reporting you to the Federal Trade Commission for deceptive practices.
Tour ACIS Company reviews
GLiF
Group Leader in FL
Recommends
A great job in an impossible situation June 2020
5.0
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- Value 5.0
- Guide 5.0
- Activities 5.0
- Lodging 5.0
- Transportation 5.0
- Meals 5.0
I was a group leader on a European trip which was scheduled for Spring Break, right in the middle of the uncertainty of the outbreak, but before shutdowns in the US. It was stressful, we were watching the news everyday, and parents were emailing all the time, but ACIS kept in touch almost daily about our travel plans leading up to departure. As various countries were closed they gave us options to reschedule, cancel, or reroute. When we decided to reroute to a safer destination, they were so responsive and helpful in getting a new trip set up. We got new hotels (Even nicer than our original ones!), and a full time tour guide to travel with us plus the tour manager. When a site we had planned to visit was closed to visitors midway through our trip, ACIS called and gave us three new options and made our choice happen. When we had trouble with our flights getting back home because of airlines cancelling flights, ACIS was able to get us on a new airline and we got home the same time as planned. When a few of our students decided they weren't comfortable going on the trip, they cancelled and got the full refund.
I really can't say enough good things. As a group leader, I so appreciated the support in making decisions and making the trip smooth, fun, and memorable for the students. So many of them kept telling me throughout the trip how happy they were to have been able to do this despite the uncertainty and difficulties.
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I really can't say enough good things. As a group leader, I so appreciated the support in making decisions and making the trip smooth, fun, and memorable for the students. So many of them kept telling me throughout the trip how happy they were to have been able to do this despite the uncertainty and difficulties.
Tour ACIS Company reviews
MH
Marie H
Does Not Recommend
Don't use ACIS June 2020
1.0
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- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
Don't use ACIS, their customer service is horrible. They hide behind the COVID 19, and will not speak to you in person. I requested multiple times to speak to a real person. The only person who did actually call me back was Jon Linker and he forwarded my emails to Laura Smart and requested she call me. Never got a call from her, got an email. She told me to be patient, it has been over a month since I received most, but not all of the money that I was supposed to receive.
ACIS could have avoided aggrevation to both myself and them if they had just picked up the phone. I would strongly advise everyone to avoid travel with this company.. Wish i could have given them a 0!
Read more
ACIS could have avoided aggrevation to both myself and them if they had just picked up the phone. I would strongly advise everyone to avoid travel with this company.. Wish i could have given them a 0!
Tour ACIS Company reviews
GajPyt
Get a job, Pay your taxes
Recommends
My son had a trip to France in June June 2020
5.0
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- Value 5.0
- Guide 5.0
- Activities 5.0
- Lodging 5.0
- Transportation 5.0
- Meals 5.0
My son had a trip to France in June. The trip was canceled 130 days prior to departure date. ACIS honored the agreement and a full refund(minus the insurance and 50$ deductible) was issued. Thank you!
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Tour ACIS Company reviews
VJ
Victoria Jenkins
Does Not Recommend
Response to COVID-19 is unacceptable. June 2020
1.0
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- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
I have been trying to reach a live person for months. No luck. I guess the phones in that state don't work! I have emailed to supervisors and done the chatbox. While 2 classmates booked on the same trip with the same insurance got refunds less $350. I was told I would get my money less $1300 plus a $350 travel voucher. My child has now graduated from high school. I can't use that!!!!! With all that the high school seniors and their families have lost with COVID-19, why would you do this to us? It is bad enough the trip had to be canceled. I had to change my plans to meet the group as well. At this point, we need our money! This is just cruel! It is like only more disappointment and punishment for the Class of 2020 who worked so hard.
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Tour ACIS Company reviews
MH
Matt Hans
Does Not Recommend
I have triplets that are seniors from… June 2020
1.0
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- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
I have triplets that are seniors from Bethpage that we’re suppose to go to Australia in July . The trip was canceled but the company and our group leader keeps saying postponed-to the summer of 2021! However it is not postponed but changed completely from Australia to Japan , my children have no interest in Japan and to be quite frank what college student knows what his or her summer will be like in 2021? I reached out to ACIS and Jon told me I should be happy I’m only loosing 380$ per child ! I did not cancel the trip, I understand if I did it would be my problem but to take the insurance money and the 50$ seems a bit much especially since it’s times 3 for me . I understand our leader has been using ACIS for 10 years maybe it’s time for a change to a more understanding company
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Tour ACIS Company reviews
NP
Nashville Parent
Does Not Recommend
Did Not Honor Original Cancellation Policy May 2020
1.0
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- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
My daughter and I, like many others, had our trips cancelled due to the travel restrictions imposed in March. ACIS policy states that "if a trip is cancelled by ACIS, a full refund will be made within 45 days," however, new language written by ACIS implies that the decision to cancel was made by participants.
Like many others, my daughter will not be attending her current school next year and has no use for a voucher which is the only way for us to avoid a $2,000 loss (which is approximately 25% of what we paid ACIS). I understand that our trip was months in the planning and that some of those costs may be difficult to recoup, however, it seems that handling the bulk of them (flights, hotels, buses, dining, museum tickets) should be relatively straight forward.
While we would love not to lose so much money, my first request would simply be for more transparency regarding those irrecoverable costs. They have surely been documented so we only ask that they share the information. I know that this is a difficult time for ACIS and its employees but it is also a difficult time for many of these families.
Read more
Like many others, my daughter will not be attending her current school next year and has no use for a voucher which is the only way for us to avoid a $2,000 loss (which is approximately 25% of what we paid ACIS). I understand that our trip was months in the planning and that some of those costs may be difficult to recoup, however, it seems that handling the bulk of them (flights, hotels, buses, dining, museum tickets) should be relatively straight forward.
While we would love not to lose so much money, my first request would simply be for more transparency regarding those irrecoverable costs. They have surely been documented so we only ask that they share the information. I know that this is a difficult time for ACIS and its employees but it is also a difficult time for many of these families.
Tour ACIS Company reviews
TA
Teresa Agabob
Does Not Recommend
Do not go on ACIS trip.... May 2020
1.0
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- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
My HS daughter was planning to go with a school trip to Spain in April. At a meeting with the ACIS representative on 2/25, some parents voiced concerns about COVID. The ACIS rep said that ACIS has never cancelled a trip in the past and he wasn't concerned. A week later, we received an email from ACIS about an "enhanced" cancellation policy that would be given if we decided to cancel the trip. However, the details of the "enhanced" cancellation policy were not detailed. We were asked to make a decision immediately about the trip without knowing about our refund. ACIS didn't notify us of our refund until the end of March. We were losing $1,000 of almost $4,000. (They claim that we only lost $650 b/c they were giving us a $350 credit but I would never use ACIS so the credit is useless). I immediately tried to contact ACIS starting 3/24. I repeatedly asked to speak to a ACIS representative over the phone but each time I was denied. I exchanged texts/emails with many people at ACIS. James Glavin stated that he would pass my name and phone number on and ask for someone to speak to me. However, Jennifer Venti just emailed me and refused to speak to me over the phone. My daughter has been abroad with 2 other travel companies so I'm aware of the level of customer service that should be provided when a teen is travelling abroad without family. The customer service at ACIS is horrible, I would give 0 stars if I could. DO NOT GO ON A ACIS TRIP.
Now looking back to the ACIS rep who told us on 2/25 that ACIS never has cancelled a trip makes sense. ACIS forced us to cancel the trip b/c if they canceled the trip then they would have had to given us a full refund. So I guess the ACIS streak still remains - they have never cancelled a trip.
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Now looking back to the ACIS rep who told us on 2/25 that ACIS never has cancelled a trip makes sense. ACIS forced us to cancel the trip b/c if they canceled the trip then they would have had to given us a full refund. So I guess the ACIS streak still remains - they have never cancelled a trip.
Tour ACIS Company reviews
J
James
Does Not Recommend
ACIS and Peter Jones should be ashamed. May 2020
1.0
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- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
ACIS withheld 25% of funds due to cancelled trips from COVID. Peter Jones is President and should be ashamed. Money saved from hard working teenagers to travel should have been refunded in full.
EF Tours just gave back another $500 to travelers making ACIS look even worse. If you have a choice travel with EF.
Shame on you ACIS and Mr. Jones.
PLEASE use another agency. I wish I could give them a 0.
Read more
EF Tours just gave back another $500 to travelers making ACIS look even worse. If you have a choice travel with EF.
Shame on you ACIS and Mr. Jones.
PLEASE use another agency. I wish I could give them a 0.
Tour ACIS Company reviews
JK
June Kinigstein
Does Not Recommend
Terrible Mishandling of Covid19 and Travel May 2020
1.0
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- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
In 2019, I planned a trip for April, 2020 to Peru. However, when Covid19 became a looming problem, ACIS refused to cancel the trip. Instead, based on my concern for the health and safety of my students, I cancelled it myself under ACIS "expanded" refund policy. I was very, disappointed that some of the students ended up losing $1000 from a trip that cost just under $4000. The refund policy was written in the most confusing language--parents (and I) thought that the most the participants would lose was $650. ACIS attempted to sweeten the loss of $1000 by offering a "voucher of $350" for another trip--most of my students were seniors and the voucher was worthless to them. I would NEVER book another trip with this company. In addition, while I was anguishing over whether or not I should cancel the trip, my ACIS tour representative decided to take an unplanned family trip, because "this was the worst week" of his life. This left our group high and dry without a specific person to contact.
Read more
Tour ACIS Company reviews
EA
Elif Ak
Does Not Recommend
I was a member of Modern European… May 2020
1.0
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- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
I was a member of Modern European Cultures that took off March 11, 2020.
Unfortunately, this company has provided me with the worst customer service experience and endangered my group members' health by not cancelling our trip after I literally begged them to.
ACIS, disregarding a worldwide pandemic, flew my group, the last group from United States out to Europe and has put us through great struggles in four days.
The tour was supposed to take us to London, Paris and Barcelona and the duration of the tour was supposed to be from March 11- March 19.
On March 10th, with most of the governments worldwide making major changes about traveling and the rapid increase of the COVID 19 cases, I contacted ACIS customer service to inform my concerns about this tour and in some sort of compensation, I asked for the cancellation of this trip.
However, my concerns were completely ignored and I was told that there will be no refund. Having to go through incredible hard time paying off this trip, I did not want to throw my money out so I had to go to the trip.
ACIS, not only cancelled two destinations on this trip, they have also shortened it to four days which included the traveling as well.
However, most importantly, ACIS, RISKING my health, ignoring the WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC, has put me through incredibly challenging, psychologically damaging, and very stressful four days.
I now am seeking psychological assistance after this trip and still have incredible concerns and stress.
ACIS is responsible for a huge damage both financially, physically and psychologically in my life.
After putting our group through hell, they gave us $450 back from a $4000 trip.
This company is not trustworthy, not caring and most importantly not honest, they valued the financial factors over health and they gave us the most troubled experience of our lives.
I will never travel with this agency nor do I recommend it to anyone.
Read more
Unfortunately, this company has provided me with the worst customer service experience and endangered my group members' health by not cancelling our trip after I literally begged them to.
ACIS, disregarding a worldwide pandemic, flew my group, the last group from United States out to Europe and has put us through great struggles in four days.
The tour was supposed to take us to London, Paris and Barcelona and the duration of the tour was supposed to be from March 11- March 19.
On March 10th, with most of the governments worldwide making major changes about traveling and the rapid increase of the COVID 19 cases, I contacted ACIS customer service to inform my concerns about this tour and in some sort of compensation, I asked for the cancellation of this trip.
However, my concerns were completely ignored and I was told that there will be no refund. Having to go through incredible hard time paying off this trip, I did not want to throw my money out so I had to go to the trip.
ACIS, not only cancelled two destinations on this trip, they have also shortened it to four days which included the traveling as well.
However, most importantly, ACIS, RISKING my health, ignoring the WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC, has put me through incredibly challenging, psychologically damaging, and very stressful four days.
I now am seeking psychological assistance after this trip and still have incredible concerns and stress.
ACIS is responsible for a huge damage both financially, physically and psychologically in my life.
After putting our group through hell, they gave us $450 back from a $4000 trip.
This company is not trustworthy, not caring and most importantly not honest, they valued the financial factors over health and they gave us the most troubled experience of our lives.
I will never travel with this agency nor do I recommend it to anyone.
Tour ACIS Company reviews
CP
Claudia Peano
Does Not Recommend
Waiting forever for my refund. Tired of excuses. May 2020
1.0
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- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
Purchased the highest level of insurance, debated back and forth With them about how much we would be refunded. I have an email from them stating that cancellation policy would be based on the rollover trip dates but they changed the policy so that I would be refunded the total minus $500 rather than the total minus $100 per their policy. I gave up on fighting that because it was stressing me out so much. I resigned to lose $400 more than I should. At this point 58 days have passed since we cancelled and we have not seen a penny. Other parents from our group in the same boat are just assuming they won’t honor the insurance at all. I don’t know what to think. They sent an email saying there were delays because their business isn’t considered essential, but my husband pointed out that it doesn’t take a massive work force to write a check. I feel completely at their mercy. All they do is spit our their policy revisions. How about spitting out a refund?
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Tour ACIS Company reviews
P
P
Does Not Recommend
If I can give it 0 I would May 2020
1.0
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- Value 1.0
- Guide 1.0
- Activities 1.0
- Lodging 1.0
- Transportation 1.0
- Meals 1.0
Horrible. Had a trip cancelled which is understandable, but paid 4500 and was told everyone would only get back half. Where did the other half of the money go to? Barely explained. Everyone fought to lower it and then it went to 1500 being taken out, then finally 1000 taken out with proof. Finally got the refund back and came back with only half. What happened? Who knows. No one has found any answers so far.
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Tour ACIS Company reviews
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