Your South Africa Family Safari starts at Grootbos Nature Reserve with the marine Big 5, horse riding and a progressive tourism experience. The Eastern Cape is your next stop with activities for the children a priority to ensure full enjoyment for all. Adventures include cooking, game drives, camp fires, barbecues and tree planting. A visit to the breathtaking Victoria Falls in Zambia with a range of activities for the entire family, a boat cruise and helicopter trip over the Falls is a perfect ending to your family adventure.
You may leave at the end of your South Africa Family Safari but find that a piece of South Africa will never leave you.
Highlights
- Guided walks including Fynbos nature tours and Milkwood walks
- Boat ride to view the Marine Big 5
- Horseback riding
- Twice daily game drives at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
- Rhino tracking with armed ranger
- Boat excursion on the Zambezi River
- Helicopter flight over the falls
- Tour of the falls
Itinerary
DAY 1
Travel day to South Africa
Your South African Family Safari begins as you board your international flight to South Africa.
DAY 2
Welcome to Africa
After clearing customs, transfer to Grootbos Nature Reserve. Tucked between mountains, forest and sea, Grootbos offers one of the most unique and stunning landscapes in Africa. Enjoy an entrancing stroll through Milkwood forest or a more revitalizing hike up fynbos-clad mountains. From a sunbird sipping from a flower to a beautiful ocean vista, kids will love all the surprises around every corner. Return to the lodge for a relaxing afternoon by the pool before dinner and your overnight stay.
DAY 3
Grootbos Nature Reserve and the Marine Big 5
Today you will set out on a sea safari. Enjoy close encounters with whales, sharks, dolphins, seals and penguins in all their glory as they feed, frolic and play. Hop onto a purpose-built, eco-friendly tour vessel and enjoy a trip led by experienced marine biologists and guides. Witness thousands of Cape Fur Seals basking in the sun, try and spot some fearsome Great White Sharks or delight as bottlenose dolphins surf right by the boat. Return to the lodge for dinner and your overnight stay.
DAY 4
Horse Riding and Progressive Tourism Experience
After breakfast, set out on horseback, which is a particularly special experience on our South African Family Safaris. Enjoy a slow trot down the sweeping sand dunes along the coast. Here the special horses are specifically trained for the beach. After lunch, the whole family will experience a special ‘progressive tourism’ experience. From the freshly grown tomatoes you eat at lunch, to the recycled candles in your room, to the earrings you buy at the gift shop – kids will learn about and get involved with some of the many ways the conservancy is working to create sustainable livelihoods for the people who call this unique area home.
DAY 5
Flight – Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
This morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to Cape Town for your flight to Kwandwe Ecca Lodge. Set in thick vegetation overlooking a dense valley you will enjoy breathtaking views onto an escarpment of steep shale cliffs. Kids will love the open, interactive kitchen as they watch, and even participate in tonight’s dinner.
DAY 6
Morning and Evening Game Drives
This morning, grab a quick cup of coffee and hop into the safari vehicle for your first game drive in Africa. An armed ranger and tracker team share their extensive knowledge of the bush with you as you track the Big Five, as well as a variety of other wildlife. Return to camp for a full breakfast and time to relax in the afternoon. After high tea, head out on an afternoon game drive, quietly driving along the Great Fish River where plenty of wildlife will be drinking as the heat of the day breaks. Stop for sundowner cocktails and take in the bright orange setting sun before returning to camp for dinner and your overnight stay.
DAY 7
Campfire Cooking and Spekbloom Planting
Today the kids get their hands dirty. Start the day planting Spekboom, a type of thicket vegetation that is native to the Eastern Cape, prolific on the reserve and one of the top five carbon-storing vegetation types on the planet. Then, continue by assisting with gardening projects at the local Mgcamabele Community. After lunch, the entire family will learn to master the art of barbecuing while on safari. Few countries are as renowned for their barbecues as South Africa. Kwandwe provides an exciting opportunity to learn about preparing and cooking authentic South African ‘braais’ and favorite dishes with local ingredients. Return to camp for dinner and overnight.
DAY 8
Flight to the Victoria Falls – Tongabezi Lodge
This morning, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the Victoria Falls, where you will be accommodated at Tongabezi Lodge located on the banks of the iconic Zambezi River and within close proximity to the mighty Victoria Falls. This evening, sit back, relax and take in the surrounding views of the great Zambezi river aboard a small boat. From this unique vantage point, view bird life and wildlife up-close on the islands along the river.
DAY 9
Victoria Falls Scenic Flight and Tour
Today, explore the largest sheet of falling water in the world! Board a helicopter for a scenic flight one the falls. Viewing the spectacular Victoria Falls from the air is one of the most breath-taking and exhilarating activities in Africa! Afterwards, enjoy a private guided tour of the mighty ‘Smoke That Thunders.’ Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 10
Travel home
Enjoy your last breakfast in Africa, before departing on your flight home.