South African Family Safari: Cape Town, Kruger National Park & Johannesburg - 10 Days

Highlights

• Be awed by the views from the top of Table Mountain
• Sample Capetown's finest wines
• Take a sunset safari at Kruger National Park
• Enjoy a braai (traditional barbecue) deep in the African bush

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town & Explore, Dinner at Strolla

Welcome to Cape Town! Famous for its stunning location and rich culture, the city has plenty to entertain you once you've settled into your accommodation. A great place to take the kid is the V&A Waterfront, home to great cafés, shopping, and kid-friendly museums. Grab an ice cream and soak up the view, or head to the Two Oceans Aquarium―the kids will love seeing the sharks, penguins, sea turtles, and other ocean wildlife up close. The Diamond Museum is also worth a visit, or if you're up for an adventure, take a helicopter flight and enjoy views of the city and Table Mountain from above.

In the evening, head to Strolla Restaurant & Bar. Take the stress out of family dining by using their designated kids' area, where, dressed as chefs, your children can roll and build their pizza―adult supervision and help are provided by the restaurant staff. No need to rush your meal, as once they've eaten their creations, there's a designated games room where they can play, watch a movie, or do some coloring. Meanwhile, you can sit back, relax and enjoy a cocktail or two!

Day 2: Cape Point & African Penguin Sanctuary

This morning your family is bound for Cape Point, a paradise of untouched beaches, lighthouses, and a funicular, the Flying Dutchman. Just an hour south of Cape Town, this place is made for fun exploration with the kids! Its unique ecosystem is created by the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and it's home to a stunning array of flora and fauna―keep your eyes peeled for Cape mountain zebras, baboons, ostriches, eland, and sugarbirds. Picnic on the rocks next to the lighthouse, or head to Simon's Town for lunch of fresh seafood.

The stars of the show today will likely be the inhabitants of the Boulders Beach African Penguin Sanctuary, your next port of call. Elevated platforms give comfortable viewing, but if your family is a bit more intrepid and rents a sea kayak, then you'll be able to get up close to the penguins diving for their day's catch. Afterward, swing by the Noordhoek Village Market for crafts and fine foods (there's a great playground nearby for the kids), then head to the Imhoff Farm at Kometjie for plenty of space to run around, a petting zoo that is a destination in itself, and a great family-friendly café famous for its pizzas. 

Day 3: Table Mountain & Jolly Roger Pirate Ship

Get your family dressed in their walking shoes―today, you're going to tackle Table Mountain, the "Mother of all Mountains." There's plenty of scope for hiking here, but unless your kids are particularly experienced hikers, it's probably a good idea to take the cable car both ways and save your walking for the shorter, flatter trails at the top. The views are so amazing that your family won't even notice how much ground they're covering! The kids will love the cable car's rotating carriage, which gives a great view of landmarks like Robben Island and Signal Hill. 
 
Return to the city and head to one of the many restaurants on the V&A Waterfront for a leisurely lunch. Your next activity is a little farther down the waterfront― the Jolly Roger pirate ship will sweep you off for an hour-long sail around the bay. Relax in the refreshing sea breeze and enjoy views of the city and Table Mountain while the kids have fun playing pirate make-believe on this carefully-made replica. The fun isn't over when you get back to the waterfront―round the day off with a family sunset ride on the Cape Wheel Ferris wheel.

Day 4: Family Day Out in the Winelands

Take a tour designed to please all members of the family today with a day trip into the Winelands. Your first stop is the historic town of Stellenbosch, where you'll find the Spier Wine Estate. While adults enjoy wine tasting, the younger ones will be given sips of grape juices to taste. The setting is gorgeous, and to cap it off, you can also opt for an eagle experience, which is bound to be a hit with the younger ones. 

The next stop is the Middelvlei Estate. While the adults enjoy tasting fine wines, the kids can let off steam by playing in the sandpit, feeding the farm animals, scampering around, and even toasting their own marshmallows on a braai (barbecue). Snack boxes are provided for the kids, but you may wish to opt for a full lunch―the estate is famous for its braai, with traditional specialties such as boerewors (sausage) and chicken sosaties (kebabs) cooked over an open fire. 

Day 5: Fly to Kruger National Park, Private Safari

This morning, hop on a plane to the famed Kruger National Park, unbeaten as South Africa's most exciting safari experience. It's also very well set up as a family-friendly destination, with a tailored lodge and safari experience suitable for the little ones. Game drives focus on areas with a high density of wildlife so the youngsters don't get bored, and there are kids' adventure programs run at the lodges, as well as classic entertainment options such as swimming pools. 

When you arrive, get settled in your accommodation, explore, or go for a swim. Your first game drive will be a beautiful one―the three-hour open Land Cruiser safari will take place against the stunning African sunset. You'll have the opportunity to see the Big Five, arguably Africa's most dangerous―and exciting―animals (elephants, Cape buffalo, rhinos, lions, and leopards). You'll enjoy dinner and drinks en route, and the search for nocturnal animals will continue by spotlight all the way back to your lodge.  

Day 6: Full-Day Kruger National Park Safari

Get the kids up bright and early this morning―they have a day of adventure before them! You'll be taken by 4WD to the Orpen Gate, one of the western entrances to Kruger National Park. Ideal for kids, this area provides a constant opportunity to spot wildlife, as it has the greatest concentration of animals in the entire park. You've got a great vantage point for taking photos from the 4WD, but you and the kids will also have plenty of chances to get out and stretch your legs. There'll be a lunch break along the way. 

Your skilled guide will be able to take you to giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and impalas―and, with just a little luck, this should also lead to some of the apex predators. Imagine the kids' reactions when they spot a lion in the wild for the first time! The park also has an incredible variety of birdlife, from striking hornbills to large ostriches. Play a little birdie bingo and see who spots the greatest number of different species! At the end of the day, you'll be driven back to your lodge, where a delicious meal awaits.

Day 7: Family Adventure at Lion Sands Game Reserve & Big Five Sunset Game Drive

You'll get the best combination of relaxation and adventure today. Mack & Madi Kids' Adventure Explorers is a club aimed at teaching basic safari skills as well as providing the kids with plenty of entertainment. They'll be taken on "bush bumbles" (game drives), and learn tracking skills, insect identification, and basic bush survival. Childminders at the reserve offer active supervision and entertainment like games, arts and crafts, and storytelling. Meanwhile, you'll get the chance to relax at the spa, swim, explore the galleries and shops, and generally have a bit of me time!

In the evening, you'll head out for another sunset game drive. Dinner will be a braai under the stars, deep in the African bush at the Marula Tree Boma (enclosure), the perfect end to a luxurious day.

Day 8: Kruger National Park Bush Walk

Today sees you head out on a half-day bush walk excursion led by trained safari rangers from Inyati Safari Lodge. Hike across Kruger's beautiful savanna in search of lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos. As you go, your guide will teach you about the surrounding flora and fauna, and you'll get fascinating insights into bush survival, Indigenous medicine, tracking animals, and local folklore and history. This one isn't suitable for the kids, so take advantage of the lodge's childminding service and entertainment program. 

Day 9: Fly to Johannesburg, Soweto Guided Tour & Storytelling Dinner

After a last leisurely breakfast at your lodge, you and the family will head to the airport for a short flight to Johannesburg. Today you'll explore Soweto on a guided tour―with your choice of walking, biking, or taking a tuk-tuk. Once a segregated area for the Black population in the decades of Apartheid, today you'll learn about its importance as a center of civil unrest. You'll see the Hector Pieterson Memorial, as well as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu's former homes on Vilakazi Street. Fuel the family up on "bunny chow," a hollowed-out loaf of fresh bread filled with stew or curry. 

In the evening, you'll have the extraordinary opportunity to learn about all you've seen direct from people who lived through it, with a traditional dinner and storytelling under the stars. Hear the stories of freedom fighters, former students who were part of the 1976 uprisings, artists, and musicians local to Soweto, as they share their experiences with you. This is an opportunity unlike any other for you and the kids to experience living history while you share food around the fire―you'll come away with both a deeper understanding and some new friends.

If your kids are a little young for this, there's also the option of dinner back in the city at Bambanani Family Restaurant―enjoy a modern, stylish dinner and relax while the kids entertain themselves in the playground or attend high-quality craft activities put on by the childminding service there.

Day 10: Gold Reef City Theme Park, Depart Johannesburg

Sadly, it's your last day in South Africa―but that doesn't mean the fun has to come to an end. Head to Gold Reef City Theme Park, voted one of Johannesburg's coolest attractions, to enjoy 18 rides, a trampoline park, multiple shops and restaurants, and an authentic underground mine tour. Get a few more adrenaline hits in before you have to sit on that plane! Do your last-minute souvenir shopping while the kids enjoy the attractions. Afterward, head back to your hotel to meet your driver and set out for the airport. Safe travels!

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