Detour Africa Reviews 

129
•
TrustScore 5 out of 5

4.8

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 54 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company, noting that the entire journey is organized wonderfully from the initial booking to the final drop-off. Travelers frequently praise the professional local guides for their incredible insights, friendliness, and exceptional ability to make every excursion deeply engaging, welcoming, and memorable. Some people also felt that these exciting itineraries involve a significant amount of travel time between different locations during long daily drives. Consumers truly appreciate the supportive assistance, clear communication, and straightforward booking process handled by the dedicated staff members who ensure smooth coordination throughout the entire trip.

What people talk about most

Staff

People report positive experiences with staff, highlighting that tour coordinators and planners are extremely... See more

Service

Customers consistently note positive experiences with service, highlighting seamless booking processes and... See more

Holidays

Consumers find holidays to be a truly fantastic and unforgettable experience, consistently praising the... See more

Location

Reviewers mention positive feedback about location, emphasizing that every spot visited was beautiful,... See more

Booking process

Users describe positive interactions with booking process, highlighting a simple, smooth experience guided by... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Unforgettable experiences! For the perfect organization of our Kruger Park Safari at Nambu Camp with Detour Africa, we are very grateful to James with his personal and professional way of planning... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic hosting, great historical knowledge, wonderful tour guides, flexible to out needs. Recently went on a Chairmans Club Trip to Cape Town with a packed Itinerary and from the pick up a the airp... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful tour company. We did a Kruger Safari and it was fantastic. Everything about the process went smoothly, from the communication, pick ups, and safari itself. Elena our tour coordinator did a f... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We booked the 3-Days Garden Route Tour with Detour Africa and found ourselves in extremely professional and friendly hands from the very beginning! James not only replied promptly to all our message... See more


Company details

  1. Travel Agency
  2. also in
  3. Cultural Tours Provider
  4. Sightseeing Tour Agency
  5. Tour Agency
  6. Tour Operator

Written by the company

Detour Africa offers a carefully selected range of overland adventures, wildlife safaris, and travel packages. With over 25 years of experience in organizing African tours and safaris, we bring you the very best of Africa. Whether you're seeking breathtaking landscapes, thrilling wildlife encounters, or immersive cultural explorations, Detour Africa is your trusted companion in discovering the heart and soul of Africa.


Contact info

4.8

Excellent

TrustScore 5 out of 5

129 reviews

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No recent history of asking for reviews

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4.8

All reviews

(129)

48 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This trip was amazing

This trip was amazing! Not only the booking was more than easy, but our agent James was super flexible even with my never ending requests! Our driver from and to the airport was extremely knowledgeable of the park, all animals, South Africa itself, anything - such an interesting ride we've had. The game drive was stunning - we've been so lucky and saw almost all animals very close up and had a good chat with our driver too. I would recommend Detour Africa to anyone who wants to get a really good experience and going on a nice Safari! Thanks so much!

February 2, 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

Thanks very much for your kind words, Suzana. It was such a pleasure to help you create these special memories and we hope you not only cherish them, but come back some day to create more. Thanks for recommending us, it means a lot to us at Detour Africa.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

What a fabulous trip

What a fabulous trip. Mawande our driver/ guide was a skilled driver and informative guide. The Canga Caves were an absolute delight. Addo Elephant Park enabled me to see beautiful herds of elephant in family groups. The Garden Route Game Park I thought went out of their way to help everyone despite the deluge of rain we experienced. Food and accommodation was excellent

February 12, 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

We’re delighted you had such an amazing experience. The elephants in Addo are truly remarkable.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback with us and we hope to welcome you back to South Africa.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Thank you Detour

Thank you Detour for helping me to organize my Garden Route trip.
Everything was perfect. Jamie from Detour has been very attentive and quick in answering and resolving my doubts. I really recommend Detour and I hope to have the opportunity to travel again to South Africa.

February 3, 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

Hi Veronica, thanks so much for your lovely review and we’re so glad that you had such a fabulous time in the beautiful Garden Route! We hope you’ll return soon.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

They held my hand the whole way!

They held my hand the whole way! I wasn't sure where to start with booking a tour in South Africa. I've taken tours in many other places, but with specific companies. Detour was fabulous at finding the right tour for me at the right time, and it was a fantastic experience. They answered all my questions swiftly and confidently, and I felt I could trust them with my safety and travel needs. Would recommend.

February 1, 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

We appreciate and value your faith in us, Nicola! Thank you so much for your kind review. Glad you had such a fabulous experience on your South African adventure, and we’ll be waiting for the next time you return with open arms. As we say in xhosa, hamba kakuhle (go well)!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

5 star experiance!!

I had a 5 star experiance at a one nights trip to Pilanesberg with tour guide Johan! Johan is so experiances and so knowledgable which made the trip amazing! He does not follow the rest of the cars, which gave us a 45 minutes upclose encounter almost alone with a lepard. We also had private encounters with a rhino family, elephants, hippo, giraffe, zebras etc. I am so happy I booked this trip, and will forever be gratefull for the amazing memories. Thank you Johan and thank you Detour Africa for your great service before and after my trip! Would absolutely recommend to others.
- Adelina <3

January 23, 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

Thank you for your extremely kind review Adelina. We are so delighted that you had such a special experience in Pilanesberg. Johan is one of our top guides, known for his excellent leopard-tracking skills. He always goes the extra mile to make sure everyone has an amazing safari! Im glad you felt the same way.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

For the adventurous

This was a great tour to experience Namibia and Botswana, both beautiful countries with a lot to offer. The staff were always friendly and helpful; they loved to answer questions. My recommendation to the company is to advise ahead of time about all of the extra tipping that was required of staff outside of the tour and also when dollars vs. rand vs. pula could be used as that was often confusing and required multiple ATM trips that was unexpected. Also some activities required cash vs. credit and that should be mentioned (the flight over the Okavango Delta for instance). There was a lot of driving, which was to be expected but perhaps also letting us know about a lack of A/C on the truck to be prepared for that heat in transit especially on long driving days. Being in such close proximity to people for that amount of time results in good friendships but also some irritability and conflict at times. Be prepared! A reminder in the beginning and middle of the trip to pitch in and be helpful would also be good, as some didn't know to do so and forgot to do their part.

December 17, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

Thank you so much Marlena We value and appreciate your feedback. It really helps us improve so that we can offer our clients the best service and experience.
We try and cover as much pre-departure information as possible in our itineraries and on our website, but could always do better in our communication. We will also look into the points you have mentioned, especially about needing cash instead of credit card for the flight and other activities. Our suppliers assure us that they accept credit card so Im glad you have mentioned this.
Despite these inconveniences, we hope and trust that you still had a wonderful African experience and hope to welcome you back in future.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

20 day Johannesburg to Cape Town tour

Wonderful experience booking through detour, James was very helpful at the beginning helping us decide which tour and dates would suit us, answered every question and great communication. Although we booked our flights to arrive two days early, we still managed to get delayed and missed the departure of our tour as a result. Detour helped us figure out how to catch up with them and were a huge invaluable support. They checked in also.
Really enjoyed our 25 day trip to Southern Africa & could not recommend it more, thank you!

December 21, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

We’re extremely grateful for your positive feedback Dearbhla. Thank you. Despite the delays, we’re also happy that you managed to join the group in the end and make the most out of your special trip. It’s an incredible part of the world and we hope to have you visit again soon :)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Shark Cage Diving & Aquila Game Reserve

Had an amazing experience with Detour Africa, did shark cage diving and a safari on the aquila game reserve.
Both tours where great, got ti see sharks and the big 5.
The Staff will help you with everything since you talk to them to plan the activities, to the day you do them.
If you're going to South Africa this is the Agency you need to speak to.

January 10, 2024
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

Hey Pedro, thanks so much for your review. We are so happy to have helped you create some awesome memories - Not everyone is lucky enough to see the sharks and the Big 5, we’re so glad that you did. Our team (and the animals) can’t wait to welcome you back next time!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

5 days garden route with Benjamin.

5 days garden route with Benjamin.
I had a great time, Benjamin was very experienced and friendly. He knew his way around very well and provided information about everything. We were able to stop everywhere and saw a lot in a short time. I can definitely recommend this tour. The backpacker accommodation was really nice except in storms river.
@Benjamin thank you!

December 18, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

Great to hear. Benjamin is an amazing tour guide :) We will pass on your kind words.
We'll also look into your comments regarding accommodation in Storms River. Your input helps us improve, so thank you for your feedback.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great travel advice and fantastic trip

Great experience! Received a follow-up after my request within an hour, with extensive information and travel options, so I could make the right choice. James was very helpful and arranged everything very thoroughly. Had an absolute blast on my Namibia trip and would recommend it to every solo traveler or when self driving is not an option.

December 26, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

We're so glad you enjoyed your trip to Namibia, it really is a great way to explore as a solo traveler. Hearing about your positive experience motivates us to continue delivering outstanding service :) Thank you!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

5 day Garden Route Tour

I booked this tour via Elana Black who was very helpful from the start and answered all of my questions efficiently and quickly despite being a 8-9 hour time difference as I am in Australia. The tour itself was amazing, all the guest houses I stayed at were clean and comfortable. We had to change our driver/guide on day 2 as our original one had a family emergency. The tour was well run and we had a variety of options to do too. I will be booking any future Africa tours via Detour

December 4, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

We're thrilled to hear you had an amazing time on the Garden Route tour! Thanks a bunch for sharing your positive experience. Can't wait to welcome you back for more adventures!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Windhoek to Victoria Falls safari

James was extremely knowledgeable and helpful in booking my tour. He responded quickly to all my questions. The tour itself was amazing! We had 3 guides including the driver: JoJo, Calisto, and Lynn. They were extremely hard working. Calisto handled long days of driving well and was always smiling. They all made sure we were comfortable and happy. The food was good. The game drives were great! The only negative was the vehicle became hot in the hot weather.

November 6, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

Thank you! Your feedback is appreciated. We're so happy that you had such a great time on your tour. Sorry to hear about the heat, unfortunately, it can get pretty hot around this time of year. Hopefully we can welcome you back to Africa in the near future.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

South Africa and Namibia

We had two long tours to Kruger National Park and Namibia and two day tours (Johannesburg and Cape town) as well. Everything was well organised and our manager James Adams was really friendly and helpful. Moreover we had Cape Town Day tour with him and he is really good as a guide too. Thanks for everything and see you next time!

November 6, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

Thank you so much for your kind words! Its great to hear you enjoyed your tours :) We look forward to welcoming you back to Africa.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great service

We booked a 12 day South Africa itinerary, visiting both the greater Kruger National Park and the Garden route. The service provided by Detour's James Adams was great! He made sure everything was accounted for and our trip went smoothly.

November 14, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

Thank you so much for letting us know that you enjoyed your trip to Kruger and Garden Route. Wishing you many more enjoyable adventures ahead.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful experience

I had a fantastic experience with this travel agency. Their communication is excellent, especially the travel agent, Elana. She's always available to answer questions, patient, and provides all the necessary information. She gives you the best advice and recommendations that meet your needs. We all felt safe during the tour, and they have great customer service. Highly recommend!

November 6, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful experience with us! Happy to hear that Elana and our team could make your tour memorable and provide the support you needed. Your kind words mean the world to us. :)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding

Reviewers
When planning to visit South Africa for the first time I contacted several companies to arrange trips. Louise at Detour Africa replied promptly to my query whereas some companies took ages to reply.
The organisation of our itinerary was excellent and her advice was invaluable even regarding the weather etc.
We took 4 different trips and each was superb. When we did experience a problem ( not the fault of Detour) Louise resolved it promptly and throughout the visit she was on hand to help. The cost of the tours was similar to other companies and the quality of each one was excellent. All the guides were knowledgeable and extremely helpful.
I would recommend Detour Africa unreservedly. The company is very professional and the service is exemplary.
Thank you for helping to make our trip such a wonderful experience. We will certainly use your company again when we return to Africa.

November 1, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

Thank you so much for your lovely review! We are so happy to hear that you had a wonderful experience with Detour Africa. Louise and the team are delighted by your kind words. We can't wait to welcome you back to Africa!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Recommended

James was excellent and handled my booking seamlessly. I am solo traveller, I felt safe throughout the trip. Thanks to Detour Africa, I had a fantastic time in Namibia. They are trustworthy and efficient!

October 14, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

Thank you for your wonderful review! It means a lot to us :)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Wonderfull 3-day Sossusvlei trip

It started with the very pleasant email exchange I had with James. Because of the uncertain of my daughters business trip plans, I wasn't sure whether to return to Windhoek or take the shuttle to Swakopmund. James was very understanding and ultimately was able to book only a few days before departure.
The trip itself was well organised and a great experience. The lodge I stayed in, The Namib Desert Lodge is a very nice lodge, with Oryx right in front of my room.
As an excursion I did a dune ride combined with a wonderfull sundowner. As a big surprise we stopped at a lookout and there was a table set and out came a big cooler with an assortment of drinks and snacks. Guide Maria was great. Friendly and knowledgeable.
Next day early in the morning we left for Sossusvlei. We arrived at 06.30am at the gate and were at the amazing Big Daddy dune well in time to go up. Guide Steven pointed out the "easiest" way to start, to avoid a long climb at the beginning. Unfortunately we had only 2 hours so I couldn't make it to the very top. But it was already impressive as it was.
Finally we went to the Sesriem gorge. Nice to be there and take it in, but not so impressive.
All in all a well organised and unforgettable experience. Will certainly book with Detour Africa again should the occasion arise.

November 1, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

Thank you so much for your wonderful review. Its great to hear that you had an incredible time in Namibia. Sossusvlei is a truly magical place :) We hope to welcome you back to Africa soon.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Best (De)tour

Detour Africa arranged the most wonderful Kruger experience for me. James helped customise an ‘off the shelf’ trip into my own. Super fast email responses and very helpful.

September 30, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa


Thank you for your awesome feedback on your Kruger safari! We love being able to customize trips to match our clients' preferences. Great to hear you enjoyed your trip. :)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Exceptional company

From the time we booked our tour, the agent, James, was outstanding answering every question that we had and responded very quickly. Outstanding service. The tour and accommodations were everything we wanted for our trip to Africa.
All the tours were exceptional and our guide, Aaron, was the most knowledgeable, kind and attentive person. We would recommend Detour Africa to everyone interested in a tour to Africa.

October 28, 2023
Unprompted review
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Reply from Detour Africa

Thanks for taking the time to share your awesome experience with Detour Africa! We appreciate your kind words about James and Aaron… We've got an amazing team, great that you felt that too ;)
Safe travels, and thank you for choosing Detour Africa!

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