11 Days

Bush & Ocean Family Safari

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Trip Overview

This inspiring, under-two-weeks journey puts all the great ingredients for an ideal family holiday in one basket, from Cape Town’s cosmopolitan delight to marine adventure in the Whale Coast and up-close access to African wildlife in Madikwe. During your first three nights in the mother city, we will show you both the vibrant waterfront and the charming suburb, take you up to the flat-topped Table Mountain, and coast you down the Cape Peninsula to meet the adorable penguins. Then, we’re off to conquer the Marine Big Five along the Whale Coast and enjoy an opportunity to come face to face with all kinds of giants in the sea, including the ferocious great white sharks. Finally, comes a stirring three nights safari in the malaria-free Madikwe Game reserve, where you can have close contacts with all sorts of African wildlife and take part in ample of activities geared toward the young ones.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - 4

Cape Town

Private transfer to Cape Town's Hotel

Cape Peninsula Adventure

Enjoy an action-packed adventure around the Cape Peninsula, through a series of breathtaking sceneries that are impossible to forget. We will start by exploring Kalk Bay, a jovial fishing village that has unique Bohemian arty vibes, visiting the market to check on fishermen’s daily catches, and meet the playful seals who lingers around the piers waiting for food. Next up, steer away from the crowd and enjoy an intimate meeting with the African penguins at a quiet beach near Simon’s Town. We will take a stand up paddle board and head out to the rock pools to view these lovely creatures from a unique perspective.

Then, continue driving down towards Cape Point and do some gentle hiking around the area in search of baboons, ostriches, mountain zebras, and some incredible shipwrecks along the shore. The road back to Cape Town will pass through the famous Chapman’s Peak, and if time permits, we will enjoy a sun downer in one of the tidal pools at Camps Bay.

Half Day Introduction to Cape Town

Spend the morning or afternoon with your private guide taking in delightful attractions in Cape Town. We will meander through a myriad of dazzling stalls selling African trinkets in Greenmarket square, stroll the Company Garden, and educate yourself with unique Malay culture in the colorful Bo-Kaap neighborhood. Then, let the aerial cableway transport you to the summit of Table Mountain for magnificent views of the city and the Cape Peninsula. We will finish the tour at your hotel or continue to wander around the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront on your own and sip on refreshing drinks while waiting for the glorious sunset

Family Vineyard Visit

The beautiful Cape Winelands is no longer an adult-exclusive destination as more wine estates now also cater to the little ones so that the entire family can have a pleasant time. There are several child-friendly estates around the Winelands, and our travel designers will make sure that you visit the ones that suit you. Spier Farms, for example, offers a variety of activities for all ages, where kids can join your tasting session with their own grape juice or enjoy a close-up encounter with rare aviaries in the bird sanctuaries. In Fairview Estate, kids will love the climbing goats, while parents can indulge in carefully paired cheeses and wines. Another great spot for lunch is the Middelvlei, where the entire family can have fun roasting marshmallows and African sandwiches in an open fire.

Road Transfer to Whale Coast

Day 4 - 6

Whale Coast

Coastal Safari Experience

Starting in the outskirts of Cape Town and following the Atlantic shoreline along the Western Cape to the tip of Africa, The Whale Coast is the perfect place to unleash your adventurous spirit. Here, the entire family can enjoy swimming in one of the sheltered beaches, visiting caves that belong to the stone age world, race down the towering dunes, and horseback ride through the fynbos. But, of course, nothing will beat the excitement of visiting the aquatic wonderland off the coast with a chance to have close encounters with whales, sharks, dolphins, and seals

Shark Cage Diving

There is no mystery when it comes to the great white sharks – its torpedo-like speed, powerful tails, and deadly jaws are featured repeatedly in many Holywood movies. On this heart-pounding excursions, you will take a boat ride to the shark alley and get the opportunity to come face to face with these apex predators inside the water, separated only by a metal cage. It may seem terrifying at first, but after you were dropped below the surface, you will realize that they are not quite the ruthless killing machine like those shown on the movie screen. They are quite calm and gentle, but you can always sense their presence around – more than enough to get your adrenaline stirred up.

Scheduled flight to Madikwe National Park

Day 6 - 9

Madikwe Reserve

Private transfer to Madikwe Reserve's Accommodation

Madikwe Safari Games

Following a tremendous success of the famous “operation phoenix” in 1991, which sees over 8,000 animals of 28 species translocated into abandoned farmland, Madikwe has since transformed into a wildlife sanctuary. Located at the very threshold of the African wilderness, bordering the Kalahari Desert and Botswana, it is still one of the lesser-known destinations in South Africa that offer intimate Big Five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo) safari experiences. This malaria-free region is also perfect for the whole family, with lodges providing special jungle drives and children’s safari, where kids can learn valuable lessons such as survival techniques, animal tracking, and bush medicine.

Scheduled flight to Johannesburg

Day 9 - 11

Johannesburg

Private transfer to Johannesburg's hotel

Guided City Tour & Soweto Township

Take a full day to unearth the pulse of Johannesburg through contradicting scenes of the capital: behemoth glass structure, colonial mansion, and sprawling highways on one side and small houses crammed next to each other on the other. With your expert guide, you will retrace the anguished footprints of South Africa’s past inside the Apartheid Museum and visit the town of Soweto that produced three Nobel winners for fighting Apartheid, including the famed Nelson Mandela. Other highlights including the famous financial district, the iconic Nelson Mandela Bridge, and the Market Theatre Complex that is still currently presenting cutting edge African voices

Private transfer to O.R Tambo International Airport

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