South African Family Safari
South Africa is one of the most beautiful and diverse countries on earth. You can spend time in dynamic cities, scenic wine regions, and dramatic coasts–not to mention the plethora of safari options. This diversity combined with multiple direct flights from the United States, and a good selection of kid-friendly safari camps, makes it one of the best places in Africa to visit with kids. This itinerary is suitable for all ages and can be done by self drive or private transfer. Safaris can be surprisingly kid friendly and are a magical experience that your children will carry with them throughout their lives.
Safaris can be surprisingly kid friendly and are a magical experience that your children will carry with them throughout their lives.
✧ Your travel playlist includes Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s “Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain”
Grammy award-winning South African choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo gained worldwide attention on Paul Simon’s 1986 Graceland, but they have been performing since the 1960s. They were the sound of peaceful protest against the Apartheid government and continue to spread their message of hope. This song happily plays in our minds every time it starts to rain.
Arrive in Cape Town via direct flights from the United States or Europe. Cape Town is a picturesque cosmopolitan city that is the cultural epicenter of South Africa. It is best known for natural landmarks such as Table Mountain and Cape Point, but there are a plethora of culinary and family-friendly adventures to enjoy here.
We recommend that families stay on the V&A Waterfront, which is safe, has a lovely view of the harbor and is close to multiple playgrounds and restaurants. There are multiple hotels to choose from here, from comfortable low four star options to luxurious world class hotels. We’ll choose the perfect one to fit your tastes and budget.
Spend your first full day in Africa along the waterfront, exploring, shopping, and taking it easy after your flight. Your hotel is minutes away from the famous Two Oceans Aquarium, so we recommend making a stop here for the highlight of your day.
Start the day with a morning trip up the Table Mountain Cable car for an unrivaled view of the city. At the top you can stop for pictures or go for an extended hike in the national park. Make sure to get to the station early or purchase a fast pass to avoid the crowds.
After lunch, continue to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden for an afternoon outdoors. Here you can see the wonders of the Cape Floral Kingdom in one of the world’s finest gardens.
Part of your stay in the Western Cape should also include the scenic Cape Winelands, about an hour outside of town between Franschhoek, Paarl, and Stellenbosch. The area has several charming hotels, but we are partial to Boschendal for it’s kid-friendly atmosphere.
Parents will enjoy tasting some of the best South African wines around, and children will love visiting the hotel playground, or riding bikes through the countryside with the family. The little ones will love walking an alpaca at nearby Alpaca Loom.
Drive two hours east of Cape Town along the Atlantic coast through dramatic fynbos landscapes and charming towns such as Betty’s Bay, where you can see the penguin colony on your way to your next stop, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve.
The reserve comprises two luxury lodges and over 8,500 acres of dramatic Cape Floral coastline. Garden Lodge welcomes guests of all ages and describes itself as a water safari. Between June and October, whales can be seen from both boats and the beach. Great white sharks, seals, and penguins are also found in these coastal waters, and excursions to see them can be organized by the hotel as well. Other activities include horseback riding, quad biking, and floral safaris.
✧ We’ve sent you some reading material including, National Geographic Readers: Roar!
We love selecting a thought-provoking book for your journey, but we don’t want to leave out the kids. These National Geographic fact books are great for curious young minds and will get the whole family excited about seeing wildlife on safari. View on Amazon
Continue your drive down the Garden Route to scenic Plettenberg Bay, where you will enjoy one more stop along the coast at Simbavati Fynbos on Sea. For the next two nights use the lodge to explore the coastline, from the dramatic Tsitsikamma Storms River suspension bridge to surfers at St. Francis Bay. The kids will love the aviary at Birds of Eden.
We’ve saved your safari for last. Despite a fun-filled start to your trip, nothing will compare to encountering a lion or elephant in the wild for the first time. Outside of the popular Kruger National Park, you can find safari lodges that welcome kids of all ages and are malaria free. One of our favorites is Kwandwe Private Reserve. Return to Cape Town from Grootbos to fly to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) or charter a flight directly to Kwandwe Private Reserve in the Eastern Cape.
The reserve encompasses 54,000 acres on either side of the Great Fish River and is home to thousands of animals, including elephants, giraffes, and lions. There are two lodges and three villas for only 26 rooms on the property, so you won’t encounter any crowds here. Ecca Lodge is one of our favorite choices for a family safari in South Africa. There are no age restrictions, flexible game drive times, private plunge pools, and plenty of children’s activities. We hope to send the whole family home from their safari with dust still on their boots and plenty of profound animal memories.
Fly home via Cape Town or Johannesburg.
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