Here are some reviews about your guide and trips:
San Antonio, Texas
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve and Table Mtn. hikes
Review of Venture Forth International
Reviewed 15 January 2019
We had two enjoyable mornings with Arie: a hike to the Tweede Waterval in Jonkershoek and a hike/climb up Table Mountain via the India-Venster route. Arie is very knowledgeable about the area (ask him about orchids!), personable and (most importantly on the way up T.M.) confidence-inspiring. The kids scrambled up without much trouble, but the parents made very good use of Arie’s calm advice. We would be delighted to spend time outdoors with him again.
Date of experience: January 2019
From: Anna Greenley
Sent: 07 January 2019 21:50
To: Ariva
Subject: Re: Hike Jonkershoek
Hi Arie!
Just looking at the photos on the way home from a long first day back day at work. Wonderful memories, thank you again.
Best wishes,
Anna
From: Betsy Brint
Sent: 26 December 2018 18:33
To: Arie van Wijk
Subject: Re: Brint Family hike- TM Hi Arie,
Thank you so much for the fantastic hike! You were a stellar guide and incredibly patient. We also appreciated how much you knew about the flora – that was a bonus!
I can’t wait to see all the photos and the video. Our internet here at the hotel is quite slow – so downloading will take a while.
Happy New Year!
Betsy Brint
Denver, Colorado
India-Venster route up Table Mountain
Review of Venture Forth International
Reviewed 16 September 2018
Trust your guide, Arie, and you own abilities to scramble up this challenging route. The path is steep with frequent hand and toe holds required. The path is much less traveled and the views are incredible. It took us about 3 hours to reach the table, and the time just flew by. We spent another hour and half on the top before boarding the cable car for the ride to the bottom.
Date of experience: September 2018
From: Michelle Bainbridge
Sent: 11 September 2018 07:22
Subject: Video of our Table Mountain hike
Good Morning Arie,
We had such a great hike with you yesterday, one we will always count among our favorites. Here is the video Lou made with the MapMyHike app linked to the Relive app (just ask your son to explain how it works). I hope it is in a format you can open and save. Let me know if it doesn’t work for you.
Michelle & Lou
Singapore, Singapore
Reviewed 5 November 2017
Great private rock climbing experience
My friend & I went on a private rock climbing adventure with Arie and we loved it! Although a little pricey, you do get your own guide and private area (as they do know the best spots especially if you are from out of town). As Arie is very experience, we felt very safe and the entire experience was fun yet professional. Would highly recommend. He also looks at your climbing and manages it accordingly! I even managed to do my first outdoor lead climb!
Date of experience: October 2017
San Francisco, California
Reviewed 25 August 2016
Fun day climbing at Table Mountain!
I worked with Arie to decide which type of climbing trip to take and what was appropriate for my skill level. We had an awesome day trad climbing Table Mountain and rappelling down. Since it was my first time trad climbing, Arie did a great job breaking down the major steps. The whole climb was very safe and well planned out. This climbing day was one of the highlights of my trip to Cape Town and I would recommend it to anyone interested in climbing and seeing a great view from the mountain! Thanks again!!
Date of experience: August 2016
From: Verena Wiedmaier
Sent: 22 August 2016 08:40
Subject: Cape Point Hike
Hallo Arie,
Thanks so much again for the beautiful hike and for sending the pictures across!!
If I ever come to CT again (which I certainly will), we’ll definately go hiking together 🙂
Until then, take good care of yourself and enjoy your time in the mountains!
Verena
From: Muhammad Mushfiq Abdurrahman
Sent: 16 August 2016 11:36
To: Arie van Wijk
Subject: Re: Cape Good hope Hike 20160815
Hi Arie
Thank you so much the photos and for your time yesterday, we had such a great outing! Wish we had one more day at least to do some proper hiking but will have to save that for next time!
Thanks so much!
Kind regards
Muhammad
jensherry
Pemberton, Canada
Reviewed 6 May 2016
Great day climbing Table Mountain
Had a fantastic day out with my husband (30-something) and father-in-law (60-something) on a guided hike of Table Mountain. Arie, our guide, was fantastic and took us on a more challenging scrambling/climbing route than we would have attempted on our own. He shared his knowledge of the area with us, and pointed out lots of wild flowers and birds. We felt that we were in very safe hands, and he did well to tailor the experience so that we all felt like we make the most of it. A brilliant day out – thanks Arie!
Date of experience: October 2015
Stockholm, Sweden
Reviewed 15 April 2016
The guide (Arie) guided us to a good mountain for our level of climbing. We felt safe, had fun and a wonderful morning.
Date of experience: March 2016
From: Hilma Gustavsson
Sent: 24 May 2015 08:59
Subject: RE: Table Mountain Half Day Hike: 22 May 2015
Dear Arie,
Thank you for organising an absolutely fantastic hike up Table Mountain on Friday. Carl and I truly enjoyed the hike, and it was such a spectacular way of seeing the mountain and some of South Africa’s lovely nature.
Thank you Arie for your excellent guiding and for sharing so much about the flowers and plants, the surroundings and the mountain itself. We could not have had a better experience.
Kind regards
Hilma Gustavsson and Carl Nordqvist
Ranomafana, Madagascar
Reviewed 9 October 2015
Nice scrambling on thé Table Mountains
The organization was perfect and the guide was professional. I really enjoy the hike, the guide adapted the walk to my level.
Date of experience: October 2015
Melbourne, Australia
Reviewed 17 October 2015
I booked a day hike with Arie. He was very helpful and flexible in booking the trip. I had an amazing day and it was an unforgettable experience! I cannot recommend Arie and the company highly enough.
Date of experience: September 2015
Philippa L
Reviewed 16 January 2016
We booked a guided tour based on recommendations to use Venture Forth. Arie our guide took us up on an amazing route to the top, and clearly knows his stuff about the Mountain and her flora. He was kind and had a great sense of humour. The hike was incredible, can’t recommend enough!
Date of experience: January 2016
lemon345
Reviewed 26 January 2016
Climbing in the Cape Peninsula
We booked a half day climbing trip with Venture Forth. Arie was fantastic throughout, and he was helpful with any questions we had before the trip. The climb was great, and was challenging enough for people of our level without being too difficult. Arie was…More
Date of experience: January 2016
JamesPGo
Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Reviewed 13 March 2016
Excellent way to spend the morning
I highly, highly recommend hiring a guide from Venture Forth for a hike up Table Mountain. Firstly VF have an excellent website, the booking process is super easy and they were very quick to confirm. No fuss. My guide (Arie) was a passionate outdoors enthusiast, he knew the trails, he knew the local flora and he had some great insight and stories. The trail we went up was challenging but very beautiful and uncrowded. It also helped that we had superb visibility all the way until the very top. Tips for those who are interested: bring lots of water (it gets hot in the sheltered spots on the mountain), bring some snacks (the full up and down took us just over 4hr 20min, you’ll need some fuel), bring a warm coat (it gets cold in the wind and cloud). Also be prepared to have to walk down, we had to as the cable car was’nt operating due to the wind, if the cable car isnt running then the shop and restaurant up top will also be closed – hence be prepared!
Date of experience: March 2016
From: Jennifer Muller
21 November 2014
To: Arie van Wijk
Subject: Re: Hike – India venster
Hi Arie
Thanks so much for the pictures, really great!!
Thanks so much for what was a great day, certainly memories made, great views and lovely flowers and wildlife! I have been telling everyone about these tiny, elusive wild orchids 🙂
I had a great time going on the Botanical Tour of Table Mountain, it was one of the highlights of my stay in Cape Town! We walked up the mountain (cable car was not running due to high winds) and it was worth all the effort of the walk up, as the guide stopped regularly on the way up to show me many of the special plants that can only be found on Table Mountain. One of the highlights were seeing and looking out for the tiny wild orchids which are at specific locations and difficult to see and find. It was mind-blowing to see them. I would totally recommend going on the Botanical tour because you 1) get to hike Table Mountain with a guide and see all the great views over the city and the peninsula and 2) you get to really appreciate the wonder of Table Mountain and the flora that is *unique* on this planet. There is no comparison to seeing these plants in the wild, have them pointed out to you, explained their speciality and significance, it makes you appreciate Cape Town and this part of world even more (more than just enjoying the magnificent
Jennifer