EXPLORING THE MAGIC OF SOUTH AFRICA WITH THE FAMILY
Embark on an unforgettable two-week family adventure to the breathtaking landscapes of South Africa, a journey that promises a beautiful blend of vibrant cultures, awe-inspiring vistas, and thrilling wildlife encounters. From the cosmopolitan charm of Cape Town to the vast wilderness of the Eastern Cape, South Africa offers a myriad of experiences tailored to entertain and educate all ages. This magical journey will foster cherished family connections against a backdrop of unforgettable beauty, creating shared memories that will linger long after the African sunsets have faded from view.
Read on to explore every inch of this itinerary in detail and contact our team on +44 1491 575 987 to let us know what you think! If this itinerary doesn’t suit your every need, want and desire, our team are ready and waiting to alter it to fit perfectly to your travel aspirations.
TOUR DETAILS
- 3 nights in Cape Town
- 3 nights in Grootbos Private Nature Reserve
- 2 nights in Klein Karoo
- 3 nights in Plettenberg Bay
- 3 nights in the Eastern Cape
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Private Cape Town City Tour
- Tour of Robben Island
- Private Cape Point and Peninsula Tour
- Meet the penguins at Boulders Beach
- Drive the stunning Walker Bay coastline
- Explore the Swartberg Mountains
- Meet the ostriches in Oudtshoorn
- Drive the coastal section of the Garden Route, past Outeniqua Pass
- Two magical days on safari
ITINERARY IN BRIEF
- Fly from London to Cape Town in approximately 11 hours, 40 minutes
- Spend 3 nights in Cape Town
- Hire a car and drive to Grootbos Private Nature Reserve
- Spend 3 nights in Grootbos
- Drive to Oudtshoorn
- Spend 2 nights in Klein Karoo
- Drive to Plettenberg Bay
- Spend 3 nights in Plettenberg Bay
- Drive to the Eastern Cape
- Spend 3 x nights in the Eastern Cape
- Fly back to London via Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg
day one
Welcome to South Africa!
Upon arrival at Cape Town Airport, meet your guide for your private transfer to your first hotel.
Spend 3 x nights in Cape Town.
Suggested hotel: One&Only Cape Town
Possessing the most enviable location in the Mother City, an unparalleled sense of place takes command of guests from the moment they enter One&Only Cape Town. Magnificently framed views of Table Mountain punctuate an unforgettable arrival experience. Guests enjoy a city stay that’s rich with the advantages of a resort: space, myriad activities, multiple dining experiences, Cape Town’s largest infinity pool, a sense of detachment from day-to-day life, and an immersion in the destination.
Located on the first three floors of One&Only Cape Town’s main building, the prestigious Marina Rise rooms are the perfect gateway to this fascinating city. Enjoy your spacious bedroom, choosing with king-size or two queen-size beds, and pull back the velvety drapes to reveal the stunning vista of Table Mountain. Your en suite bathroom sits behind intricately carved African wood screens, creating an open yet discrete space. An elegant egg-shaped bath, rain shower and two marble vanities are indulgent touches. With the option of interconnecting hotel rooms, these rooms are perfect for families.
day TWO
Private full day tour of Robben Island & Cape Town City
Today, head out on your private guided tour of Robben Island and Cape Town. Experience all the must sees of Cape Town with this private tour following the history of Democracy in South Africa from the dark days of Apartheid to the spirit of Triumph felt so strongly today. We can easily tailor this tour to suit what your children enjoy doing.
Robben Island, steeped in history and famous as the prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his life, is a destination that holds profound significance in South Africa’s narrative of resilience and freedom. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a stark reminder of the country’s apartheid past, yet also a symbol of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. A visit to its austere prison cells, now converted into a museum, is both humbling and enlightening, offering poignant insights into the hardship endured by its former prisoners. From its desolate landscape springs forth a story of hope, making Robben Island an essential part of any journey through South Africa’s rich historical tapestry.
Explore the bustling V&A Waterfront, a hub of dining, shopping, and entertainment set against the backdrop of stunning ocean views and the iconic Table Mountain. Traverse the city’s historic heart, the Company’s Garden, home to the South African Museum, and the beautiful St. George’s Cathedral. Immerse yourself in the multicultural milieu of the city as you wander the colourful streets of the Bo-Kaap district, tasting Cape Malay cuisine and learning about the area’s unique heritage. No visit to Cape Town would be complete without a trip up the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway for breathtaking panoramic views of the city and the surrounding coastline. This guided tour of Cape Town is the perfect way to experience the city’s diverse offerings, providing a blend of history, culture, and natural beauty that will linger in your memories long after your journey concludes.
Your tour includes an English guide, Table Mountain Cable Tickets and all applicable entrance fees.
day three
Private Cape Point & Peninsula Tour
This morning you will be collected from your hotel, where you will proceed along the picturesque Atlantic Seaboard, passing the affluent suburbs of Camps Bay and Llandudno that lie below the Twelve Apostles Mountain range and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Arrive in Hout Bay, a quaint seaside village with magnificent mountain views.
Continue onto Chapmans Peak Drive, one of the world’s most spectacular coastal drives towards the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point. Watch the dramatic clash of the seas from the viewpoint which can be accessed by a foot or the Flying Dutchman Funicular (additional cost to own account). A lunch stop (to own account) will be discussed with your guide en-route to Simons Town.
Arrive in the historic Simons Town, a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base, and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach. Boulders penguin colony is home to a growing colony of the protected African penguin. Wooden walkways allow visitors to view penguins in their natural habitat. Continue to the well-known Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
End the day with a visit to the Kirstenbosch Garden. Founded in 1913 to preserve South Africa’s unique flora, the gardens encompass five of South Africa’s six different biomes and is world renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape Flora it displays as well as for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain.
The tour ends with drop off at your hotel.
day four
Self-drive discovery of the Cape of Good Hope
This morning, after breakfast, check out and collect your hire car which will be delivered to your hotel to head off on a road trip! We recommend a Toyota Fortunner which will come fully insured.
Drive around the stunning Walker Bay coastline on the way to Grootbos Private Nature Reserve – the drive will be about two and a half hours. Arrive and check into your hotel for a three night stay.
Suggested hotel: Grootbos Private Nature Reserve
Located just south of Hermanus, Grootbos is a wonderful place to visit to experience and learn about the remarkable flora and fauna of the region, including the fynbos plant species found only in South Africa’s Cape and the whales and sharks of Walker Bay.
Built on a hillside overlooking the bay and set amidst indigenous Milkwood forest and resurgent fynbos, the lodge is a great base for walks or horse rides in the countryside undertaken with expert guides to help you understand the delicate ecosystems in place. Also offered are coastal walks, either to indulge in some shore-based whale watching (in season) or to explore the caves and rock pools. For the more adventurous, boat trips can be made to view the whales up close, or to look for great whites in the notorious Shark Alley.
Surrounded by lush gardens and an ancient milkwood forest, Garden Lodge welcomes you with unparalleled, panoramic views over the pristine fynbos and glimmering Walker Bay coastline. Soak up the silence and simply connect with nature. This family friendly lodge includes panoramic views across the reserve and coastline, an elegant wine cellar ideal for intimate dining experience, 11 luxury, one and two-bedroom, free-standing suites, a spacious yet cosy restaurant with unparalleled views, a tranquil wellness area with sauna, heated swimming pool overlooking the lush gardens, forest-themed playroom and an exciting kids programmes. Your stay includes all meals and a selection of activities.
day five
Enjoy the activities at Grootbos
You have two full days to enjoy the amazing activities this beautiful lodge has to offer. Horse riding for non- and experienced riders through the reserve Guided Walks including fynbos nature tours and Milkwood walks, nature, marine and coastal drives, and walks including the Walker Bay Nature Reserve, De Kelders cliff walk, Klipgat Cave combined with seasonal land-based whale watching (whale watching especially during June – December), bird-watching; experience a great variety of bird species on the reserve, various maps of the reserve and the area for self-guided walks.
They also have a great range of activities for children which will be tailored to what they enjoy.
day SIX
Another day at leisure in Grootbos
Spend another full day relaxing or getting stuck in to the activities on offer at your luxury lodge.
day seven
Drive to Oudtshoorn – ostrich capital of the world!
After breakfast, check out and drive north east into the stunning Swartberg Mountains, spending some of your journey driving the iconic R62 route.
Dive into the heart of the Karoo to discover Oudtshoorn, a town renowned as the ostrich capital of the world. Here, you’ll have the unique opportunity to visit sprawling ostrich farms and learn about these magnificent birds, their history, and their influence on the town’s development. But Oudtshoorn is more than just ostriches; it’s also the gateway to the Cango Caves, a stunning underground wonder boasting vast halls and towering formations of stalactites and stalagmites. A visit to these historical limestone ridges offers a sublime journey into the earth’s depths, their eerie beauty creating an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re exploring its ostrich-rich heritage or venturing into the silent mystery of the Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn presents a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural richness.
You’ll spend the next two nights in the Klein Karoo region.
Suggested hotel: Rosenhof Country House
Rosenhof Country House is situated on the outskirts of Oudtshoorn. The carefully renovated homestead (circa 1852), with its yellowwood beams and ceilings and antique furniture, exudes an aura of authenticity. The lovely rose garden, which gave Rosenhof its name, leads to stylishly decorated bedrooms, each individually furnished in Victorian Style with patios opening onto the courtyard. All rooms provide air-conditioning, satellite tv, telephones, minibar and tea trays. Rosenhof has a cosy pub and several luxury lounges with fireplaces where guests can relax and admire works for well-known South African artists. In summer, guests can cool down in the pool or take tea in the manicured gardens. The Wellness Center offers a fully equipped gym, Jacuzzi, sauna and beauty clinic where relaxing and stimulating treatments are offered. The restaurant at Rosenhof was voted one of the top 100 restaurants in South Africa. Traditional country cuisine with a cordon bleu touch and an extensive wine collection with make dining here an unforgettable experience. Breakfast is equally memorable, served in the sunny breakfast room overlooking the manicured gardens. Rosenhof’s luxury and comfort is surpassed only by its staff’s commitment to individual care and service. You will soon realise why it is recognised as one of the finest establishments in the Klein Karoo and Garden Route.
The two Executive Suites are privately situated with unspoilt and tranquil views of the Swartberg Mountain. Each suite has its own private lounge with fireplace and swimming pool.
day eight
Explore Oudtshoorn
After breakfast, spend the whole day exploring Oudtshoorn.
Other than ostriches and the wonderful feathers and meat they provide, the Oudtshoorn area also boasts the spectacular Cango Caves; the largest show cave system in Africa, permeated with sparkling stalactites and stalagmites and captivating rock formations.
day nine
Drive to Plettenberg Bay
This morning, after breakfast, head south to the coastal section of the Garden Route. Your drive today is around two and a half hours – with plenty of lovely spots to stop at along the way, so you can take your time. The drive itself is beautiful with the stunning Outeniqua Pass as a highlight.
Once in Plettenberg Bay, check into your forest lodge on the coast for a three night stay.
Suggested hotel: Hog Hollow Country Lodge
Hog Hollow Country Lodge is just 18km east of the coastal town of Plettenberg Bay along the renowned holiday destination of the Garden Route, set in a private nature reserve, on the edge of indigenous forest with breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys and Tsitsikamma Mountains.
Overlooking the Matjies River Gorge & the Tsitsikamma Mountains, this congenial hub is where it all happens. The boma deck is the place to check-in, sip some bubbly, or a good cup of tea, relax after a day’s outing, chat to newly found friends and catch up with family news – comfy chairs, a crackling fire, and a sundowner in hand – what better way to end the day!
day ten
Day at leisure in Plettenberg Bay
Spend the next two full days at leisure in Plettenberg Bay.
The choice is yours: laze around the pool on balmy sunny days, relax in the sauna, have a massage in your suite, read a book, take a walk to the Donkey Sanctuary, or travel a little further. Not only are there over 50 charted walks in and around the area, but you can visit Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary, The Birds of Eden or The Elephant Sanctuary. Visit the wild cats at Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre or Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary, and if you like the more slithery things there is even have a Snake and Crocodile sanctuary. Not to mention, for those adventure-lovers, kloofing at Africanyon, and, a little further up the road there is the HIGHEST bungy in the world and the Treetops Canopy tours.
day eleven
Another day at leisure in Plettenberg Bay
Spend one more day enjoying Plettenberg Bay.
day twelve
Welcome to the Eastern Cape!
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and continue the drive into the Eastern Cape towards your safari lodge. This drive will take around four hours.
On arrival, check into your stunning lodge for a three night stay. Unpack and refresh before heading out on your first game drive this afternoon!
Suggested hotel: Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
Ecca Lodge offers an indoor-outdoor lifestyle embracing the African wilderness. Set in the heart of the Kwandwe Private Reserve in thick vegetation overlooking a dense valley, the lodge offers breath-taking views onto an escarpment of steep shale cliffs. A highlight of the main guest area is a wooden viewing deck that showcases the exceptional views.
With only six suites, three of which are dedicated to families, the lodge is intimate, relaxed, and trendy, with decor inspired by the vibrant colours and textures of the African people. Family suites accommodate two adults and two children (under 16 yrs on day beds in the lounge). Family suites also include a private vehicle and ranger. All rooms have private plunge pools and outdoor showers to enhance the connection with nature.
day thirteen
On safari!
Spend the next two days on safari!
All guests at Ecca can enjoy twice daily game drives, nature walks and big game walking safaris (for adults). Guests in family suites are allocated a private guide and vehicle. At the lodge, a play centre for kids keeps little hands busy for hours and a shared lodge pool provides the perfect place for a communal splash. Additional family activities include kite building, board games, scavenger hunts and more.
On your game drives, keep an eye out for the magnificent Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant) as you traverse the rugged terrains in an open safari vehicle, led by experienced guides who bring you up close to the heart-stopping action. As the African sun sets, immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty of the bushveld, punctuated only by the distant roars of lions or the nocturnal stirrings of the park’s varied inhabitants.
day fourteen
On safari!
Spend another full day in safari in South Africa today!
day fifteen
Head home
Sadly, your South African adventure has come to an end. This morning, you’ll have time to enjoy one more game drive and a final breakfast before your drive to Port Elizabeth in time for your flight to Johannesburg and onto London.