South Africa
The Best of South Africa: Exploring the Rainbow Nation
Program No. 22444RJ
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The Best of South Africa: Exploring the Rainbow Nation
The Best of South Africa: Exploring the Rainbow Nation
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Participant Reviews
Based on 17 Reviews
SHOWING
Excellent tour! I highly recommend this experience to anyone wishing to learn more about the world in which we live.
— Review left October 6, 2025
Wonderful trip due to gorgeous landscapes, many animal sightings, and fabulous leader!
— Review left October 3, 2025
Beyond 5 Stars!!
My trip to South Africa is an immersion Expedition. I am using present tense because even though I am home in the US I am still experiencing the immersion expedition.
This was not merely a 'trip' but rather an 'immersion expedition '.
I was immersed (plunged) in an expedition (voyage of exploration) to: a country that experienced centuries of European colonialism which we discussed; a country that established Apartheid (industrialized and institutionalized racism) that we learned about; a country that abolished Apartheid merely 30 years ago (1994); a country struggling to build an infrastructure for 100% of the populace (not just for the prior 16% - 20% white populace); a country with beautiful mountains and seasides that we experienced; a country with unique plant species that we saw; a country with vibrant arts we witnessed; a country with magnificent and majestic animals (many which are endangered) which we saw up close; a country with rich indigenous cultural heritages; a country with polite and courteous people (EVERY person I encountered on South Africa was polite and courteous.); a country with a positive identity; a country with amazing culinary options that we experienced; and establish long lasting friendships with South Africans
The stamina of the South Africans to build a positive future is amazing after all they've been through with Apartheid.
Our trip leader Helen Malison is absolutely amazing!!! She’s very engaging, extremely organized, extremely knowledgeable, and fun to be with. Our driver, Cyril Mbenyana, who was with us for a large portion of the trip, is great to be with and gave us insights about living in South Africa.
The South Africa ‘Immersion Expedition’ totally exceeded my expectations. This trip was perfect!
I look forward to future visits to South Africa and the African continent. There is so much more to learn and experience.
— Review left November 22, 2024
Good Group (10) and great program.
— Review left October 6, 2024
The breadth and depth of this tour, together with the up-a-notch lodging and food may have spoiled us. Our guide Helen was our center throughout as we learned about the history, culture and natural beauty of South Africa. The era of Apartheid is living memory, and its aftermath is still evolving. Every day brought a new experience, culminating in eventful safaris.
— Review left October 2, 2024
This tour was an amazing experience. Helen was an amazing leader who looked after our every need. The Garden Belt was amazing and the accomoy on that part of the trip were very good and unique. The 3 day safari was magnificent. We saw the Big 5 multiple times plus many more including monkeys, cheetahs and hyenas. Very highly recommend.
— Review left September 26, 2024
I cannot imagine a better way to experience South Africa than with Road Scholar. Our guide, Helen Malisan, was magnificent! We had activities that gave us an appreciation of the history and the natural environments (city tours to safaris). The level of activity was perfect for eveyone and there were opportunities to expand them and do more or less physical activity based on our individual desires. The description of the trip beforehand was accurate, with the possible exception of the level of physical activity being much easier to manage than our expectations. Overall I give this trip the highest ratings...
— Review left October 17, 2023
Explore the variety of South Africa, from Cape Town to the bush.
— Review left April 13, 2023
I first signed up for this trip in 2019 and I was supposed to go in April of 2020. That didn't happen. However I just got back and it was well worth the wait. South Africa is a beautiful, varied country with so much to see. This 2 week trip fits alot in as the name suggests: Safari, Culture and Garden route. The hotels were great, some better than others, the poorest being in Johanesburg. The food was wonderful. Our guide Johann was so knowledgable and helpful. I give him a 10.
I loved this trip. It was my first experience with Road Scholar but I would definitely take another trip with them.
— Review left April 12, 2023
South Africa with Road Scholar...The safari was an experience of a lifetime!
— Review left March 24, 2023
This tour was phenomenal! I chose it to see the amazing diversity of South African plants, of which there were plenty of opportunities to do. But this trip offers so much more——history, culture, art, gorgeous scenery, and a great safari experience to top it off. Every day offered a new delight and our program leader Johann was superb. I highly recommend this one!
— Review left November 5, 2022
The South Africa trip was excellent. It offered a wonderful variety of activities that captured the essence of South Africa. We saw the beauty of the countryside as we traveled by van with Helen as our exceptional group leader. Highly recommend this tour. The free time meerkat experience in Oudtshoorn was delightful and not to be missed.
— Review left October 30, 2022
This was our fourth Road Scholar trip, and it was our best one yet! The topics covered ranged from history/politics (apartheid) and culture to the unusual plants, animals and geography of South Africa. The safaris at the Shiduli Lodge were a once in a lifetime experience and a tremendous way to end the trip.
The best part of the experience, however, was our guide, Helen Malison. Her knowledge of the full range of topics the trip covered was both expansive and deep. Equally impressive were her accessibility, resourcefulness, patience and sense of humor. On the very rare occasion when Helen didn't know something, or she wanted to share something additional with us, she was quick to research it on her tablet and show it to us. All of our Road Scholar trip guides have been excellent, but Helen was by far the best one yet!
The only complaint we have about the trip was the interior size of the bus we used on the Garden Route portion. The seats were small, with limited leg, hip and shoulder room, and they didn't recline at all. It was actually tighter than economy class on most airplanes and more uncomfortable, especially on the bumpy roads of our drive from Plettenberg Bay to the Mooiplaas Guesthouse and from there through Hermanus and to Stellenbosch. .
The other issue we had was with the hotel where we stayed in Plettenberg Bay. It was a charming place and the staff were very friendly and helpful, but the kitchen was completely disorganized and not prepared to handle our group of 15, including Helen and our driver Stan. It took the kitchen over two hours to serve us dinner the first night, despite Helen's interventions, and at least half an hour to serve hot breakfasts.
As irritating as these two things were, they took nothing away from the trip. It was fantastic!
— Review left March 20, 2020
Every day was a new and wonderful gem, a fantastic way to experience and learn about South Africa today!
— Review left November 16, 2019
Wonderful experience..... trip of a lifetime.
— Review left April 20, 2019
This is one of the best RS trips we have taken. South Africa is a beautiful, fascinating, troubling country that offers an incredible amount of diversity in terms of its history, flora and fauna, geology, and current challenging political situation. Helen is a superior guide in every respect!
— Review left March 8, 2019
Take this trip! You will experience the beauty and diversity of South Africa. You will be in urban environments and on an ostrich farm, along the coast and in the bush. You will visit townships and simultaneously be inspired and have your heart break. You will see "the big five" and countless other animals, flora and fauna. You will taste wine, hike in the woods, and sing, clap and dance in a township restaurant. You will be well taken care of and you will come home with a fresh perspective on your own country!
— Review left March 6, 2019