I recently ran a trail run adventure with Pirates Running Club. Sarah from Active Escapes did such a fantastic job with the planning and logistics. We spent four days running from Morgan Bay to Hole in the Wall. Active Escapes managed the hotel bookings, transport, river crossings, packed lunches, route maps, luggage transfers and so much more that went on behind the scenes.Thank you Sarah and your team for a job well done.

Sarah, owner of Active Escapes, thanx for an amazing well planned Pondo Explorer hike! All and I mean really everything we could think off regarding logistics and accommodation were 110% taken care of ... we were 10 ladies in our group and we enjoyed every moment ...the guides were wonderful too and taught us a lot of the area and the rich history! Well done to Sarah and her team ...we will be back!

Sarah planned and organised our run along the Wild Coast for us which went off without a hitch. She was professional, always available and everything was taken care of, we could just arrive and enjoy. It was truly and unforgettable experience and we would, without a doubt recommend Sarah and use Active Escapes again for our next adventure.

We organised the Pondo Explorer hike of the Wild Coast through Active Escapes/Sarah and everything was absolutely brilliant! The hike was exceptionally organised and tailor-made with all logistics and every amenity taken care of. The hike itself was absolutely spectacular and I cannot recommend exploring this untouched coastal area enough. The overnight camps were in perfectly pristine locations, all next to beaches and estuaries and we were well looked after by the friendly guides and camp managers. I would never visit this area with a different company - Sarah/Active Escapes were superb and made for an unforgettable and incredible hiking experience and Im already trying to figure out dates to organise another - If you havent visited the area or used Active Escapes before - go do so NOW!!!!!

Our of group of 20 (European and Asian based) just finished a 6N Drakensberg and Battlefields adventure under the expert advice and guidance of Sarah and Active Escapes. The combination of taking a middle aged team of trekkers to their healthy limit during the day and facilitating 4 convivial lodge locations for the evening unwind was an amazing eye opener for our group. Active Escapes arranged our international links, challenging trekking ( Amphitheatre and Cathedral Peak in particular ), guides, porters and accommodation. Sarah’s patience, enthusiasm and constant smile only added to the experience. 20 new converts to the wilds and wonders that the SA outdoors has to offer. Bravo!

Sarah organised an incredible five day hiking / trail running trip for our group on the wild coast. The accommodations were wonderful, the food outstanding, and the guides patient and knowledgeable. Looking forward to many more adventures with Active escapes!

We did an amazing four days running from Morgan’s bay to hole in the wall!! Sarah ensured we had GPX files, hotels with water points and even ferry men keeping our feet dry along the way!! Then helped with comfy beds, food… so much food, beers in bars with out of this world views!! Add to that she ran a few days with us enjoyed the gees and was all round the berries!!! Defos recommend this over and over again!! Ps the ferryman are not always where they should be (Transkei comms) and your gps gets you off track for 50meters here and there but you never truly lost before you found again!

I cannot recommend Sarah and her team of amazing guides highly enough. Just spent the most unforgettable and life changing week doing the Pondo trail through Active Escapes. The trail was exquisite, the organisation outstanding and the guides were experienced, knowledgeable and professional. Thank you Sarah! Cant wait for the next adventure!

Weve been back just over a week and Im still on a high after our 5 day Pondo Trail run/hike. The scenery was specatular. The weather could not have been better. The trip was perfect in every way. Sarah went out of her way to ensure that everything went according to plan and included a bit of extra spontaneity thrown in for good measure. The nostalgia is already setting in and I cannot wait for our next adventure :)

Pondo Hopper in October was an amazing experience. Truly enjoyed the tented camps and the Beautiful nature we came across during the hike. Everything was wonderfully organised, we did not have to care for anything. The guides were very caring and shared their knowledge with us - definitely will come back.

One of the best experiences of my life running wild coast with Active Escapes

During December 2020 our family of 4 undertook a full day white water rafting excurion on the Unkomaas river that was arranged through Active Escapes. we had an excellent time. Richard and Amy acted as our guides for the day and did a very professional briefing beforehand on the dos and donts of white water rafting. The rivers water is clear and the rapids provided enough adrennalin for us a first timers. Sarah was very efficient and made sure that all the arrangements ran smoothly. I would highly recommend this excursion for anyone looking for some adventure .

It was the most spectacular beautiful trip ever. Every detail was planned and the accommodation was excellant and clean.

The Amplitheatre slackpacking hike was made possible by the wonderful Sarah (Active Escapes). She had organized my 50th Kozi celebration which was a life changing experience. This time it was my cousin’s turn and we needed a challenge.As a very enthusiastic but inexperienced hiker, I overcame my fears largely due to the professionalism of our guide Dennis who took no chances, never pushed us beyond our comfort level and made us feel so very safe.It was exhausting, exhilarating, overwhelming, frightening and totally thrilling.The accommodation was beyond our expectations. The views out of our windows were 6 star!Can’t wait to do another one of Sarah’s once in a lifetime adventures!Lynn

We did the Pondohopper recently from Msikaba to Port St Johns. We had THE most amazing time, and we LOVED the hike. We are all blown away at the friendly and efficient service, and what the staff manages to achieve in such remote locations! The accommodation is incredible, the situation of the lodges stunning, and the hike itself just blows one away… The guides were friendly and very helpful, too.

I got in touch with Active Escape to prepare a cycling trip at the Wild Coast. They proved to be very responsive and really eager to do their best to ensure that we have a good time. I am very grateful to their staff for their advices and I hope to go back soon for an adventure with them!

Great experience on the 3-day Amphitheatre Hike! We had a wonderful experience on the Amphitheatre Hike with Active Escapes, everything was well organized, great logging, good guides, good food and perfect logistics. We had a thoughtful support from the team while planning our trip and on site. Thanks!

Excellent. Did the three day amphitheatre hike through active escapes and it was one of the better decisions of my life. Expertly put together - everything was seamless. And the hike itself was exceptional. Id recommend anybody to do it.

We did a 5 days hike along the Wild Coast with Active Escapes, and had an amazing time!A stunning hike in a stunning area! We enjoyed every single moment of it, the rain, the sun, the wind, the amazing and ever changing landscapes, all the nice people along the way, the lodgings,... Very well organized too.Sarah, thank you for a great experience!

After finding their site they helped me with a trip tailormade for my family. It was very nice and everything went as well and better than anticipated. Looking forward to be able to do something with them again.

Sarah organized a fly fishing trip for us on the Pongola river. It was fantastic! The trip plan was very detailed and organized, everything went seamlessly! Also caught a great tiger as a bonus!!

The Dronkvlei ramblers group of 23 ambled from Port St Johns to Port Edward. Trip was superbly organised right down too the weather and whales. Would highly recommend to anyone contemplating taking an amble anywhere in R.S.A. Thank you Sarah.

Sarah planned our three day Wild Coast Trek and her attention to detail, enthusiasm, professionalism and prompt email replies was outstanding. I would highly recommend Active Escapes and Sarah for your trip/tour planning needs.

We had a great time! Sarah and Lisa helped us find just the right hike for our family. Thank you!

I had a last minute trip to Johannesburg for work so searched for a guided trip in the Drakensberg - Sarah at Active Escapes put this trip together for me last minute and it was seamless. It was well organized, the hotels lovely and comfortable, everything worked on schedule. The guides were great. The trip itself, 3 days in the Drakensberg hiking from one hotel to the next, was just right - challenging for someone of average fitness but not too difficult. I felt tired but great at the end of each day. The region itself is spectacular for anyone who loves the outdoors and hiking. Well-maintained trails, not at all crowded. I highly recommend Active Escapes who were professional, very well organized, with great itineraries.

My husband and I decided to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in an adventurous way - we did the Active Escapes Wild Coast Meander hike from Kob Inn to Morgan Bay, and stayed at hotels and guest houses along the way. Fantastic experience I can highly recommend! And everything arranged by Sarah from Active Escapes worked like clockwork. Guides and porters arrived on time, switched zones, payments sorted and detailed maps and guidelines provided. Thank you so much! The trip of a lifetime :)

Six fellow hikers and myself walked from Port St Johns to Hole in the Wall with the assistance of Active Escapes. What an amazing time. Not only is that part of South Africa blessed with wonderful people, but the scenery is something one could only imagine - rolling green hills, spectacular Coastline ... it’s a time I will treasure. Active Escapes were superb. We had a wonderful guide, Khanyile, a young man who fitted in very well. He was enthusiastic and contributed to our journey in a positive way - sharing his knowledge on the flora and fauna - and ending the day by sharing a quart of Black Label. The accommodation was a mix - from luxury, backpackers to a home stay. All were superb. The home stay was especially nice - our hostess was lovely, our accommodation basic but comfortable, and the meals simple but tasty and adequate. Our driver, Jola, who was entrusted to drive the group to and from our starting and end points, was a perfect gentleman and excellent driver. Thank you Sarah for organising a never to be forgotten experience.

Active Escapes planned and booked our 35K slackpacking trek in the Northern Drakensberg this week, beginning and ending at the Cavern Lodge with two nights at Whitsieshoek Lodge. The advance communications were clear and accurate, and Sarah was very responsive to all our emails.Everything went exactly as planned. The accommodations were great and the food was fine everywhere.The guides and porters and shuttle drivers she arranged provided great service with good communications and personality.The Amphitheater summit and view from the top of Tugela falls was a highlight of our time in South Africa.We will certainly return to Active Escapes for help with future trips.

Just done the Pondo-hopper through Active Escapes. Everything worked just like clockwork, the organisation and food were fantastic.Excellent service from Sarah at Active Escapes as well.

A group of 10 of us organised a 6 day MTB cycle tour through Active Escapes from Morgans Bay to Port St Johns. The tour exceeded my expectations on all levels. It was very well organised and the guide and back up driver that they provided made sure that everything ran smoothly and that all our needs were catered for. The landscape that we rode through is beautiful and pristine and cycling this route enables you to see areas that would otherwise be almost impossible to get to - a real privilege. Some of the days are long and the terrain is challenging so you have be fit and prepared to portage your bike at times and go with the adventure of it all. This experience should be on every mountain bikers bucket list!

We have used Active Escapes twice in the past year to arrange customised hikes for us, in Kosi Bay and the Drakensberg respectively, and will continue using them whenever we can! Sarah has been very helpful in advising us what the best options are based on our group size and fitness level, and has been very patient with our endless questions and changes to our bookings! I can highly recommend using Active Escapes for any hiking trip

Port St Johns to Coffee Bay Hike:What an amazing hike and experience it was. Khanyile was the best guide we could have asked for. He is very knowledgeable about the indigenous fauna and flora along the route and was always helpful when we were struggling to get over rocks and carried my heavy pack for a while up the hills.The homestay experience was extraordinary and I felt so welcome in their homes. I would have preferred to have only homestays the whole way, however everything was lovely. Hluleka was beautiful although there was no drinking water available for us, and the water that came out of the taps was saline. We were received by an unfriendly lady at Mdumbi backpackers who had said that she preferred the hikers to stay at homestays rather than their backpackers as they were designated for the hikers. However we enjoyed the whole experience and cant wait to book the same hike again in the near future! Thanks to Active Escapes for planning the trip!

The best place to book adventure tours in KZN ..

I would like to thank Active Escapes for seamlessly organising the guided Maluti Hiking Trail for us. Our chalet hosts were so hospitable and generous. The food was delicious and plentiful and we were really spoilt. In particular, Cindy produced a superb braai, in very difficult circumstances. Thanks so much! A very special thanks goes to our guide, Mkhizi, who was extremely knowledgeable and did everything to ensure that we had an unforgettable hiking experience. Siyabonga was a great driver and we really appreciated seeing him at the end of our trail. We were very privileged to have met all of you.

Amphitheater hike - fantastic. scenic, well organised, hard but rewarding work. witsies sentinel rondawels fantastic. thank you

We have just returned from the Pondo- Voyager 5 day hike from Port Edward to Mboyti, but unfortunately had to bail on the last day due to severe blisters.The hike is truly awesome and well organised. The friendliness of the locals, hosts and camp managers was unsurpassed.We highly recommend the services of Active Escapes’ Lore and Sarah, who were most helpful and accommodating.Do yourselves a favour and make use of the porters……..Pierre and Liz van Deventer

Just did the 5N Pondo-hopper & it was absolutely magical