Just returned February from the FDM group tour to South Africa (originating from Copenhagen). This trip was at the invitation of my long-time Danish friends who heard great things about the South Africa tour from their employee who went the prior year. We were very excited about participating on this trip from the USA for more than 6 months. At my request, they provided an English translation of the day by day itinerary in August (prior to final payment and final trip confirmation in December) that clearly stated that the bus tour would have an English speaking guide. Although they accepted payment for a tour that included 4 non-Danish passport holding tour guests (2 came to the tour from Turkey with Canadian passports) no accommodation was made for the non-English speakers. The Norwegian guide, who had lived in South Africa for some years and lived in NYC for 2 years, spoke perfect English to us when off the bus in casual encounters, but refused to speak English during the bus tour or while giving instructions at hotel check-in's. Can you imagine hours on a bus with a guide who provided apparently entertaining and engaging information in Danish only? We were heartbroken and offended when the guide, supported by emails from FDM's marketing manager, stated that "policy" prevented them from speaking English during this Danish tour. I referred to the Itinerary provided to me and they said this was sent by mistake and it was an internal document which should not have had this wording. Well, that's fine to say after collecting our payments. We were then advised to ask questions of the non-Danish speaking Afrikaner on the bus with us. He did not understand what the guide was saying and how could we ask questions about a country we knew little about and that we paid to learn about through a guided tour. He was pleasant enough but not a guide in any sense of the word. As people of color, my partner and I were dismayed and disappointed in this response, and although the sites and the local people were very kind and hospitable, including the Danes on the tour - many of whom spoke very good English, FDM and the local tour guide Hilde made for a poor memory on what could been the experience of our lifetimes. I strongly suggest that they provide clear wording to non-Danish passport holders of this policy with signature prior to payments. In a country like South Africa known for an system of separation and intentional suppression I found it ironic that Scandinavians would support suppression of information rather than uplifting and enlightening when they had the capability to do so. I wish I could have provided a glowing recommendation of this experience but I frankly feel I deserve a refund. In spite of efforts to address this offline via side discussions and emails, the responses were not satisfactory. One 1/2 day in Cape Town we were provided with a splendid private English speaking guide who was a local. The other days were unfortunately lost in little or no translation. Hilde offered to provide a synopsis in English at the end of the day but I found that an inadequate accommodation. We wanted real-time info like everyone else. Points of interest pointed out at the end of the day is no accommodation- I read in my guide book or the internet while on the bus what I did not get from the paid for guided tour. read more