So I’ve been yapping about this Acacia Africa tour for…20+ blogs now, and I’m safely deposited at my friend’s place in the DRC,and I’ve had a bit of time to reflect on my experience.

It all started so innocently, with a google search about “best way to get to Victoria Falls from cape town”– I was thinking of driving, and then I was thinking of taking a bus, and then I realized that taking an overland safari was only *slightly* more expensive than flying, and would be *so* much more fun!

As you all know, after a few hectic days and a plethora of research, I ended up booking my tour with Acacia Africa the DAY of the initial departure meeting. It was a complete gamble, but I personally think it paid off. Here are the pros and cons, as I directly experienced them, on my Acacia Africa tour!

Cons

• Safari Trucks are HOT! It’s just how it is, especially on these overland tours, but it’s something you really need to be prepared for when you book. Otherwise you’re in for a rude surprise.
• There’s not really any privacy or “down time” away from the group. Again, this is part of a group tour experience, but you’ve got to be ready for it. Personally, I think 19-25 days is the optimal amount of time for me personally on a tour like this.
• The add-on activities are TEMPTING! If you’re on a strict budget, be prepared to struggle with not booking things on a whim, especially if you really like your tour-mates and they’re all doing something pricey.

Pros

• The AMAZING driver and guide team! I don’t know if all the Acacia teams are as wonderful as Maja and Masai, or we were just blessed… but I wholeheartedly believe that our trip would not have been as exceptional as it was if it weren’t for our world-class Acacia team.
• The food was excellent. I know that sounds weird on a $7/pp/d budget, but Maja was a miracle worker. We had eggs almost every morning (on non-egg mornings we things like pancakes and crepes), a fun variety of sandwiches/salads/pastas for lunch, and amazingly hearty dinners. Think braii, spagbol (homemade!), chicken curry… you name it, we probably had it. Plus garlic bread, INSANELY good veggies, oh, and, 5/10 of our original team had food allergies.
• Campsites/itinerary were spot-on. I always felt safe in every campsite, they were all clean and well-kept and had exactly the facilities they promised (except maybe for WiFi on occasion). We also hit our times and dates *every* day on the tour, which I can assure you is not an easy feat.
• Inclusive activities are definitely enough to keep you occupied — which you can’t say for all overland tours! The included tours did encompass every main “attraction” we passed by on the tour. You definitely don’t *need* the add-ons to get your money’s worth.

In Conclusion

 I think it’s rather obvious that I’m an Acacia Africa convert and advocate. The experience I had was absolutely excellent and I 100% believe I was looked after with respect and care by my Acacia team. I feel that the tour was delivered as advertised and that the activities and services were worth the cost.

On a less-business-y note — DO ACACIA AFRICA. Seriously. Figure out where you want to go, or a thing you want to see, and sign up. If you can, do it last minute because they have *great* discounts too! I really don’t think you can go wrong with Acacia — ESPECIALLY if you’re able to request Maja and Masai as your tour team. You’ll have an amazing trip, and whether you sign on for 7 days or for 56, you’ll see some of the most gorgeous (and sometimes unexpected) views of your life, and you’ll make friends that you’ll never forget.