FAQ's
We answer all your need-to-know's...
I can book a holiday myself to South Africa using the internet. Why should I use Where It All Began?
We know that these days with the assistance of Booking.com and TripAdvisor, it’s perfectly possible to book your own South African trip with ease and security. The problem with internet bookings is that you only get to see what the big sites want you to see: the small and unusual places with low marketing budgets are hidden from view. The big sites also charge large commissions to establishments to advertise them: smaller agents like us don’t work on such big commissions, so we can pass these savings on to you, the traveller. We nearly always beat online prices, even those on Booking.com!
I’m too busy to plan a trip from scratch, even with help. Do you offer ready-made tours?
We certainly do: we have several sample tours to view on our website. You can also literally list the places you’d like to visit and we will send you two or three completed trips to choose from.
I’m travelling on my own and want to join small groups for sections or possibly all of my trip. Can you do that?
Certainly: we’re in touch with several overnight tour operators who conduct regular, small group tours in popular areas or across whole countries.Certainly: we’re in touch with several overnight tour operators who conduct regular, small group tours in popular areas or across whole countries.
For example, you might like to travel five days down the Garden Route with a small group but then spend three days on your own on the Wild Coast. We also have many tried and tested day tour operators who do small group tours from many of the venues our clients like to visit: for example whilst staying in Cape Town, you might like to join a small group photography tour down the Cape of Good Hope for a day.
How safe is it to travel on independently in South Africa?
If you follow a few simple rules, very safe.
One rule is not to drive at all before dawn or after dusk (animals on the road and vehicles travelling at speed without lights are common). Many of our clients have driven themselves through South Africa every year for over ten years and only had good positive experiences.
Also bear in mind that with few exceptions, all of our recommendations are small, owner-managed places, with owners nearby at all times.
How do we pay you? Do you take credit cards?
We have a European (sterling and euro) bank account and also accept Visa and Mastercard.
How do you charge?
In terms of how we charge, we ask our clients for 3% on top of the overall cost of the trip. However, as the business has grown and we’re able to send more and more clients to the places we select, we get better and better discounts, which we pass on to you. Most of our clients find that we manage to not only save them our fee but also quite a lot in addition. Generally, savings come in somewhere between 5% and 7% which is quite a chunk of change when you’re spending two weeks or more in the country.
How it works
- Describe your dream adventure
- A travel expert will help curate your experience
- Confirm & start packing
Let's plan your journey
Enquire now and our Travel Expert will get back to you within 24 hours or Whatsapp to start chatting.