I know contiki doesn't do tours in Africa, but has anyone here done a tour in Africa? And if so, who through? I have been looking at Kumuka (have also checked prices on a few other companies) as someone on my contiki tour went through them. But I have read alot of bad reviews on them on the net. Does anyone have any recommendations?

have a look at http://www.absoluteafrica.com/

- Vic

i'm looking at doing one with gecko adventures.
seem to have a good variety of tours

hope this helps you xoxxox

Catherine, most companies that cater for the young people i.e Kumuka, GAP, Tucan,Intrepid, Imaginative traveller, Geckos, Peregrine, Africatravelco will actually have really bad online reviews. This is primarily due to the nature of their style of travelling in that continent and the respective operations in that continent. It is all rough and ready free camping in an all terrain vehicle but in 3rd world conditions. So I would say that the majority of the participants had a really rough time in Africa especially in equatorial and central Africa.Its the most poverty stricken continent and except for certain parts of South Africa its actually all quite terrible.

However in South Africa where the infrastructure is modern Kumuka is actually dominating sales especially with their intenerary marketed as South Africa discovered as it uses proper resorts / lodges and cabins and is well priced.The majority of online reviews are actually shocking Ja!Ja! but true but they apply to other african destinations.

The other option is to travel with really old retired people and they tend to utilise this company:
http://www.thompsonsafrica.com/homepage126.aspx
You would get to see Africa in comfort at a high price but might feel a little out of place as the majority of tour participants would possible be over 65 doing their" bucket list/ mission of SKI ( spending kids inheritance)" of travel destinations.If you know what I mean.

Catherine, building on what Praha said... Most people who do reviews are doing it because they didn't like something about a company. Happy people usually just have a good time and leave it at that, but unhappy people are more likely to find a place to write about their experience.

When reading reviews look for what types of things people are complaining about. Are they complaining about budget accommodations on a budget tour? have they traveled much - you'll often hear americans shocked by what a european hotel is, but experienced travelers are used to the different standards in europe then the US. That is the type of complaints you want to really look at. Not that bad complaints are invalid, but look to see what they are complaining about and based on what. Poor research, misunderstanding a countries standards of accommodations, standards of food, etc are not the fault of the tour company. Sometimes a bad review is based on a bad company, but sometimes it based on a client with a axe to grind, who was unprepared for the trip, or didn't understand what they were getting into. Understanding what someones angle is will help you understand what are issues that might be issues for you.

Otherwise, I don't have much to offer on companies, but would love to go to Africa one day.

I did a tour in Africa with Geckos and loved it, have since done a couple more tours with them and all were great. I have also done 2 contiki tours and they are very different from touring in Africa but if you know what to expect it will be awesome. I agree with others, people only really write reviews if they have something to complain about. I know a couple of people who did Kumuka trips to Africa and they both enjoyed it. Just remember Africa tours are not luxurious but it is an amazing place and I can't wait to go back.

I agree with what you're all saying about why people write reviews. Alot of people told me not to, or were negative about doing a contiki tour, but I went into it with an open mind, and didn't place my expectations to high-and I had great time.
I did find that some of the comments showed that they hadn't done their research. Although some were unimpressed with their tour guides, some of who apparently were trainees.
I did a camping tour with Contiki and am prepared for a camping tour in Africa to be alot rougher etc.
I think part of it is that I'm also nervous about going to Africa on my own. I think I just need to be prepared for adventure!

Catherine , If you can handle a camping trip Contiki style, you should comfortably cope on any of these tours that are offered by young people companies.Contiki's camping tours are also quite rough and feral.You've had your training already ,and would be a fairly seasoned traveller.

Its usually the people who have never camped,backpacked, experienced roughing it that tend to totally fall apart on these tours and return to write these reviews online.You would have probably noticed a few on your recent tour as well, which is quite typical on all these tours.Basically they did not spend enough time with their research and just had a look at the brochere/website proceeded with the booking and did not know what they were getting themselves into.

This video of a kumuka trip may give a bit more of an idea of the touring style:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ4j1CV2HmU&feature=PlayL...&playnext=1&index=15

Going on a conducted tour is the right way as independent travelling in that continent would be too frustrating and can be unsafe.

Thanks Praha335Ci (and thanks everyone for the help/advice). I think I should be ok in the rougher conditions.
As well as having already done a Contiki camping trip, I have also stayed at a place with, I think they're called drop toilets, and having to light fires in stoves in order to have hot water for showers and to cook. And having to deal with creepy crawlies on your bed, and trying to find my way back to cabins with no light or torch.
I've also discovered when travelling through china without a tour (sometimes in areaa where it seemed like no one spoke any english), I can be quite assertive when necessary (for instance in china when getting hassled, I would literally chase away people hassling my dad and yell if needed)
I did say I wouldn't do another camping tour after my contiki one, but I am not prepared to pay the exorbirant costs of the lodge based tour. and I think camping encourages socializing even more, which will be good for me asI will be on my own.

After doing the Scandi and Russia budget tour I said I would never do another budget tour, unless it was the only realistic option. I can understand how you feel about doing another camping style tour, but at least you walk in knowing what you're getting into.

I have just returned from Africa, and I did a trip with Nomad Adventure Tours. They were FANTASTIC!
I have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone. They were well organised, great accommodation and brilliant food, the overland truck we travelled in was well equipped with kitchen etc.
They cater for both accommodted and camping tours and the guides are brilliant - really know their stuff. Our guides also took us to places that were not included, brilliant. Price was great for what we got.
Little hard to book through Australia, but I was determined to go with them and so glad I did. I ended up booking through swagman tours, based in melbourne, brilliant service.

I can't wait to go back to Africa again, just saving the $$$$ it's an amazing country, I went on my own and joined the tour and spent time before and after on my own, I felt safe and welcomed the whole time, Johannesburg was a little dicey though!

Hope this helps, whoever you travel with, enjoy yourself!
Katie

Hi CatherineOz

I am a South African male, 27, living in Johannesburg.
I am sure you will have an awesome time in Africa. As a female tourist I would recommend that you just at all times stick close to a guy and always be on the lookout. With the highest crime rate in the world and over 40 000 murders a year, Iraq is a safer place to be... Never walk the streets at night though...Crime seems to be getting better, however the governments censorship of crime statistics makes it slightly difficult to get the picture...We haven't had a tourist murder for a while though that I can recall...
If you stay clear of the dodgy uncivilised areas you should be perfectly safe though...
There is a reason why most tourists regard SA as the most beautiful country in the world, and by just keeping a good lookout and being aloof I know you will have an awesome holiday!!!

Hiya Howzit?
I do believe S.A government will be really serious in reducing the crime rate for the upcoming soccer world cup next year. Either that or all the politicians are half jack and really need to get on their bakkies or rather their S Class Mercs.Too much corruption has really devastated S.A.

Praha335Ci...

From where the name?
I am leaving for the real Praha in the Czech Republic within the next two weeks for 3 months...cannot wait!

Ja, Ja I just created my avatar name(its combination of my favourite city in Eastern Europe + my jammie ) Great to see that you've done your research. Every1 enjoys Praha, Praga,Prag, Prague!!Praha is the proper slavic name.
S.A has done really well in the cricket Ja.

Have a good 1.