Big Dog's Adventure Tours & Safaris Reviews 33

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.7

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My wife and I missed the previous Camino Tour and I promised myself that I would not let it happen again. Big Dog John Parkin knows his way around sight seeing trips in SA, and this latest edition did... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Wow, what a trip! Ride, ride and ride some more. Met some awesome people made good friends. Saw places we would never usually see. We learnt so much and the churches were beautiful. John our tour gui... See more

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Had the last weekend with John "Big Dog" Parkin on the "Camino Trail" of Trappist Monasteries in the local KZN Midlands area. The tour was started promptly and on time leaving the first poin... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

John Where friends become family .. thank you so much for all the effort and love you put into your tours to make it enjoyable for us. Always a highlight to look forward to when The Big Dog launch... See more

Company replied

Company details

  1. Tour operator

Written by the company

Join the Big Dog on one of his famous dual purpose adventures, combining adventure riding with interesting anecdotes & places rich in Southern African history. We offer a wide variety of tours to suit your skill level, your pocket and your schedule. We operate tours throughout South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana & Namibia.


Contact info

4.7

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

33 reviews

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Riding with Big John is an adventure on…

Riding with Big John is an adventure on its own. From the meeting point, you experience an atmosphere of friendship and great camaraderie. The journey is all part of the adventure, the destination only a reaching point. That said, the reaching point is where discussions about the trip are elaborated on and generally prevail in some mishaps and how to avoid them and the great riding experience enjoyed by all.

While riding Big John will point out a bird, a building,
or a monument, which will later be discussed in detail.
Big John is always informed about the area and destinations that are traveled.

It is always a pleasure riding with Big John and the different groups of riders that accompany him.

We highly recommend riding with Big Dog Adventure Tours, so take the plunge and experience life!

7 April 2021
Unprompted review
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Reply from Big Dog's Adventure Tours & Safaris

Many thanks Clyde.
Looking forward to having you and Lesley join us on a future tour.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Journeys of body and soul, Big Dog style!

John is my Dad, and has from a young age instilled an adventurous spirit in us kids...I gratefully also got his addiction to 2 wheeled machines.

I am all about riding my bike, and tend to lean to those focused style trips. History, not so much. But, on the many trips I've taken with Big Dog and his groups of incredible folk, I have learnt that what and how he leads a trip, is incredibly unique.

The stories, old and new that are told and indeed lived through his presentations and talks, through the people met at churches, monasteries, bed & breakfasts, coffee shops, pubs, visitor centres and just along the roads filled me with delight and child-like wonder.

The riding is sublime, the routes well planned and expertly lead. I've always had a hot shower, a warm, delicious meal, and a comfy bed after a day of magnificent sights, sounds and emotions.

To experience the history of this land in this way, fulfills so many parts of me that I cannot help but keep joining trips.

I cannot sincerely recommend these trips highly enough, the value is simply unmatched.

Thank you Dad, for opening this world up to so many...long may you be able to do it!

7 April 2021
Unprompted review
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Reply from Big Dog's Adventure Tours & Safaris

Thanks Gregs. Always a pleasure having you along. Keeps us old buggers honest and young while adventuring.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Big Dogs Adventurers have known John and Lolly for 33…

I have known John and Lolly for 33 years and they have always enjoyed the outdoors and exploring so when John decided to go into the Touring Industry, i wasn't surprised.
Myself and a friend, were invited to join them on The Camino Trail during 2020 in my vehicle. We visited 9 Trappist Monasteries over 3 days, it was a wonderful experience.
The research John had done, bookings he had made and interesting knowledge he shared with us at each stop was fantastic. In the evenings, we all discussed the day around the dinner tables, shared brilliant stories and retired to our comfortable accommodations after a busy day.
I am hoping to join John and Lolly on one of their Namibia or Botswana tours in the near future.
Wishing you all the very best for 2021 and going forward.
Lotsa Luv to you both.
Yvonne.

5 April 2021
Unprompted review
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Reply from Big Dog's Adventure Tours & Safaris

Thanks Yvonne. Looking forward to you joining us again, soon.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Big Dog Camino Tour KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, September 2020

I had the pleasure of attending the Big Dog Camino tour in September 2020. It was a reasonably priced and well run tour. John pays attention to detail and puts the safety of the riding group at the top of the list. His ability to combine Adventure Biking and local history is incredible. The accommodation and meals were top notch. I would definitely be interested in taking part in another Big Dog tour.

3 April 2021
Unprompted review
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Reply from Big Dog's Adventure Tours & Safaris

Thanks David. Hope to see you on another Big Dog's tour soon.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Trip of a lifetime!!!

What an amazing trip down memory lane. Money, time and effort well spent on the Battlefields of ZA tour!!

I am gob smacked at the places I was taken to, as well as the amount of information covering the various subject’s and places. The relevance of each aspect, was covered in such detail, that it was easy to form a picture of what actually took place those 118 years ago! All this, while doing some amazing adventure riding looking for the different battlefields, blockhouses and many other places of interest. Just being on the battlefield where 14 Victoria Crosses were earned, was certainly a highlight – such brave young men!!

As someone from the UK I can highly recommend this operator and guide, interesting to listen to, friendly and efficient and so knowledgeable on what must be one of the most interesting topics of yesteryear!!
 
Can't wait for my next African adventure on your River's Wild tour around the Okavango Delta.

2 April 2021
Unprompted review
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Reply from Big Dog's Adventure Tours & Safaris

Thanks Matt. Wonderful having you tour with us, looking forward to you joining us again.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding!

I have had the privilege of doing several BIg Dog’s tours. John’s knowledge, passion, and knack for finding places I have never heard of before is truly astounding.

Nothing is too much trouble for ‘The Big Dog’ and this is what sets John apart from other tour operators! Lolly adds the perfect feminine touch, and it is always an absolute pleasure chatting to her.

I look forward to joining John and Lolly for more incredible tours, because outstanding is exactly what they will be!

1 April 2021
Unprompted review
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Reply from Big Dog's Adventure Tours & Safaris

Thanks very much Jade. I hope to see you and Kevin on exciting future trips.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We Have been on many tours

We Have been on a number of tours with Big John, they are always well organised. The knowledge John has of the area and the history is what attracts us to go on tour with him. The Camino trail has been the highlight so far, to know that places like this exist is just awesome. Thanks Big Dog

1 April 2021
Unprompted review
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Reply from Big Dog's Adventure Tours & Safaris

Thanks Charlie. Always great sharing to new places with you and Tracy. |A new tour coming up soon - Battlefields of KZN - keep an eye out. Date - 27th to 30th May 2021.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I have been on two tours with John

I have been on two tours with John. One was a weekend camping trip. It was well-organized and very informative. I have travelled the area on several occasions and was not even aware of the various heritage sites and paces of interest right next to the road. The camping was comfortable with all the amenities readily available. I also met some great riders and has since become life-time friends with them. My other trip was a day-trip also full of surprizes with wonderful scenery and history right under our noses. John`s subject knowledge and research was inspiring and very informative and interesting. Besides this all the riders and John also assisted with tips on general riding skills and safety. I can recommend a trip with them anytime.

1 April 2021
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I will recommend Big Dog's Adventure…

I will recommend Big Dog's Adventure Tours & Safaris to any person for there excellent service, knowledge and experience in the field. All the tours I was privileged to attend was well planned and executed, and very informative.

Regards

Pierre van Dalen

1 April 2021
Unprompted review
Big Dog's Adventure Tours & Safaris logo

Reply from Big Dog's Adventure Tours & Safaris

Thanks Pierre, hope to see you on another tour shortly.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Was very fortunate to do a Tour with…

Was very fortunate to do a Tour with John from Big Dog's Adventure Tours & Safaris.
The man is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to the history of the South African Anglo (Boer) War.

1 April 2021
Unprompted review
Big Dog's Adventure Tours & Safaris logo

Reply from Big Dog's Adventure Tours & Safaris

Thanks Marius, hope to see you on another tour soon.

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