Family Adventure in South Africa

A Family Adventure in South Africa
13 nights / 14 days
Starts Cape Town / ends Port Elizabeth

It is hard to imagine a destination better suited to family holidays than South Africa. It has everything: culture, beaches, adventure and wildlife, topped off with great food, wine and hospitality.

Although most children are entranced by wildlife, for children, especially young ones, the amount of time spent game viewing on a full on safari can be a bit too much. Which is precisely why South Africa works so well.
Our suggested itinerary – and it is just one amongst many possibilities – will take you from everyone’s favourite city, Cape Town, along the famed Garden Route to Port Elizabeth. Along the way you’ll visit a penguin colony, go whale watching (in season), spend 3 days on a private wildlife reserve from where you can traverse the spectacular Swartberg Pass and ride an ostrich. Visit the Addo National Park, known for its prolific elephant population.

Unlike our other family safaris, because the infrastructure in South Africa is so good, this itinerary is based on a self drive vehicle. The great advantage of this is that you can set your own pace and linger where you choose. None of the days has too much driving.
We’ve included some key sightseeing visits as part of our package – and a private guide for your full day tour of the Cape Town peninsula – but there is also plenty of free time for you to add in other activities along the way.

ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS

Cape Town:  Peninsula tour, visit penguin colony, whale watching (season dependent), wineries
Klein Karoo: Walking, hiking, swimming, fishing, caves, ostrich ride (optional)
Garden Route: Elephant Park, canoeing, Indian Ocean beaches, hiking.
Addo: Game drive in Addo Elephant Park, hiking, 

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ITINERARY

Day 1 – On arrival at Cape Town International airport you will be met and transferred to your accommodation. For convenience we have recommended that you stay at Sea Point, close to the ocean, only a short walk to the Waterfront and with plenty of good place to eat nearby. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore this vibrant city.

Day 2 – After breakfast you’ll be picked up by your guide for a full day tour of the peninsula that will take you to Cape Point, Clifton, Camps Bay and Hout Bay as well as Simon’s Town and the penguin colony at Boulders Beach.

Day 3 – Today your hire car will be delivered to you. We recommend a trip out to Franschoek; a delightful small town famous for its wineries, set amongst wonderful scenery.

Day 4 – Between July and October the eastern coast of South Africa is one of the very best places for whale watching. These huge ocean mammals come so close to shore that you don’t need to go out in a boat. One of the very best places to witness this spectacle is the town of Hermanus which is just a short drive from Cape Town. A wonderfully scenic coastal drive will take you through Gordon’s Bay and Betty’s Bay.

Day 5 – Today’s drive – approximately 5 hours – brings you to the Swartberg Private Wildlife Reserve. This 2000 hectare reserve is home to zebras, giraffes and a variety of antelope species. One of the great things about the reserve is that there are no predators, which means that you are free to wander as you wish. The accommodation can either be taken as self catering, or we can arrange for a cook to come in each day and prepare meals.

Days 6, 7 & 8 – Wake up to see Lechwe and zebras grazing on the lawn. With 3 full days in hand you have ample time to explore the area. If it is open, it is well worth driving over the Swartberg Pass to the pretty town of Prince Albert. Just a short distance away is the spectacular underground world of Cango Caves with vast halls and towering formations. Continue towards Oudtshoorn and visit one of the regions ostrich farms, where find out what it is like to ride an ostrich (optional).
Depending on the season, you can swim in beautiful freshwater dams and hike up to see ancient Bushman rock paintings.

Day 9 – Leave the Klein Karoo and join the Garden Route. Take time to visit Knysna’s pretty waterfront and maybe stop at the Knysna Elephant Park (optional). Even though you’ll see plenty of elephants in Addo, this is where you have the chance to get really close.
The Knysna Elephant Park (est. 1994) was the first facility in South Africa to house and care for orphaned African elephants. Over the last twenty years, the park has cared for and raised more than forty elephants.
The day ends at the secluded coastal village of Nature’s Valley. Located within the Tsitsikamma national park, Nature’s Valley is the only residential area inside any of South Africa’s 21 national parks.

Day 10 & 11 – 2 days at leisure for you to be as active or as lazy as you wish. Depending on the weather you can canoe on the lagoon, go swimming in the ocean or try out one of the many nearby hiking trails.

Day 12 – Follow the coast towards Addo. On the way you may like to visit St Francis Bay and Jeffreys Bay, one of South Africa’s – and the World’s – top surfing beaches. Our recommended accommodation is set in a private game reserve atop the Zuurberg Mountain range. The views are every bit as spectacular as you’d expect.

Day 13 – A short guided safari of Addo elephant park in an open game vehicle. If you prefer you can take your own vehicle and spend the whole day in the park. This afternoon is free for you to chill out by the pool or take a walk through the eco reserve.

Day 14 – Morning at leisure before the short drive to Port Elizabeth where you will return your hire car and catch your homeward flight.

Prices – from £1,080 per person in 2019 for family of 2 adults and 2 children.

Includes – Transfer from airport to hotel on arrival, 12 days car hire, full day private guided tour in Cape Town, guided game drive in Addo NP, 13 nights accommodation: (4 nights B&B, 7 nights self catering, 2 nights HB)
Excludes – international flights, visa fees (if any), meals other than those mentioned, fuel, laundry and other items of a personal nature, items listed as optional in the itinerary

Remember

These are just suggestions based on what has worked well for previous guests, you may wish to do something different. In which case you could use our suggestions as a starting point and then make your alterations, or we could simply start with a clean slate. It is entirely up to you.

If you’d like to discuss ideas for your safari in Africa we’d love you to get in touch; either by email or by telephone.

or give us a call

+44 7918162984