Day 1 – Arrival in Cape Town
Your journey begins in Cape Town, where you’ll arrive after an overnight flight from the UK. You’ll be met at the airport, and transfer to your accommodation where you’ll stay for the next three nights. After checking in, you can choose to recover from the flight by cooling off in the pool or if you’ve got itchy feet get started exploring the city’s highlights. Cape Town is a brilliant destination for families, with everything you’d expect from a big city, but also fantastic activities and more than 70 beaches!
A visit to Table Mountain is not to be missed. We recommend heading straight there if the skies are clear, as the weather can be unpredictable and clouds gather rather quickly denying you the spectacular city views. Climbing Table Mountain by foot takes approximately 2 hours, or if you’d rather take the cable car, you’ll get up there in just under 4 minutes.
Days 2 & 3 – Cape Town family walking tour & free time
The next day meet your local guide for an authentic family walking tour of Cape Town, visiting some of the lesser-known spots and historic neighbourhoods like Bo-Kaap – known for its colourful houses and Cape Malay culture. Your guide is a member of the Meljo family, a community with deep connections to the city’s history and culture, who will share their personal stories and experiences giving you a good insight into the town’s heritage. The next day is free for you to explore the colourful city as a family, tackle Table Mountain if you haven’t already, and enjoy your final evening by the waterfront tucking into a delicious dinner.
Day 4 – Pick up your hire car and head for the winelands
Less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town, you’ll find yourself in the heart of South Africa’s most famous wine region. The Dutch settled in Stellenbosch in the 17th century, while the French made their home in Franschhoek. The climate and fertile soil at the foot of the mountains turned out to be perfect for growing grapevines, which is why today there are over 200 wineries producing excellent wines. One of the oldest and best-known is Boschendal. If you’re already in the mood to explore, you can take a tour of the cellars and enjoy some wine tasting with cheese for a small fee. The kids can have fun in the playground or with a game of pétanque.
Day 5 – Bike tour of the winelands
Today you’ll gather at 10am for your family-friendly bike ride through South Africa’s vineyards. Older children will have their own mountain bikes while younger ones join you in the back of the bike trailer*. Together with your guide you’ll cycle through Stellenbosch and its surroundings, following quiet paths, away from busy roads. The exact route and pace will of course be adapted to the kids. During the morning you’ll stop at two different wineries where you’ll have chance to taste the wines they produce. Soft drinks are provided for the children. The bike tour is typically 12 km and ends at around 1.30pm.
You don’t have to worry that the kids will get bored along the way – at Spier they have a centre for birds and at Vredenheim there are zebras, springboks and other antelopes running around. Whilst you’re in the winelands you can lunch at one of the wineries and continue exploring independently in the afternoon.
* Children from two years old are allowed in the back of the bike trailer. If your child is younger than two, the Franschhoek hop-on hop-off wine tram offers a fun alternative to explore the wine route around Franschhoek.
Days 6 & 7 – Glamping in Swellendam
For the next two nights, you will stay in a luxury glamping tent on the Bree River, about a 3 hour drive from the winelands. This glamping camp is run by grain farmer Jaco, who lives here with his wife and daughters. There’s plenty to keep the kids busy from taking a dip in the refreshing swimming pool and renting canoes to paddle on the Bree River. During your stay, you can also explore the Marloth Nature Reserve hiking trails, where you’ll be treated to breath-taking views of the Langeberg Mountains and surrounding valleys, its beautiful flora and fauna including an incredible display of wildflowers during August-September. On the evening of your arrival, you will receive a braai package, so you can enjoy a tasty barbecue around your fire pit. In the morning your breakfast will be delivered to your tent in a basket. The camp is located around 20 minutes drive from Swellendam and there are plenty of things to do here as a family including visiting the whimsical gardens of the Fairy Sanctuary, wildlife spotting at Bontebok National Park and more adventurous activities such as mountain biking or zip lining.
Days 8 & 9 – Glamping and canoe adventure in Wilderness
From Swellendam, you’ll head on a 2.5 hour journey to Wilderness, a region famous for its rugged coastline and beautiful lagoon. At the foot of the mountains, you’ll find luxury glamping tents tucked away among 2,000 hectares of with goats and birds keeping you company. It’s the perfect spot to escape the hustle and bustle and relax on your own spacious 30m² veranda. With air conditioning and a fireplace in your tent, you’ll have everything you need to feel comfortable. Take a dip in the pool, walk along one of the various hiking trails, go fishing or bird watching. In the evening you’ll light your braai (braai package included) for the ultimate South Africa experience!
The following day After breakfast, there is a short drive to the Touws River where you will be kitted out with your canoeing equipment. Once you’re in the water, you’ll soon get the hang of paddling as you head to the towering forest, where you will be treated to incredible scenery. After around forty minutes, you will find a beach where you can land the canoe and continue by foot to reach a small waterfall. Enjoy your packed lunch before heading back.
Day 10 – Continue on to Knysna
Ready for one of the most scenic coastal drives along South Africa’s Garden Route? The journey from Wilderness to Knysna takes you past lush forests and calm lagoons with wide ocean views. The road follows the coastline and each turn reveals cliffs quiet beaches and peaceful waterways. Along the way you pass through untouched nature reserves and dense indigenous forest where tall trees and birdlife create a calm atmosphere.
For the next two nights you will stay close to Knysna where forest meets lagoon. From your accommodation you can enjoy beautiful views over the water while the peaceful setting gives you space to relax. It is the perfect place to explore the area or simply slow down and take it all in.
Day 11 – Introduction to Xhosa culture
This morning you’ll meet your local guide who will take you to the township where they grew up for an insight into the local culture of this region. The community mainly comprises Xhosa, one of the largest tribes in South Africa and which included Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Their language, known for several ‘click’ sounds, is one of the twelve official languages of South Africa.
Since the end of Apartheid, the general prosperity has improved and projects started by Nelson Mandela ensure that most South Africans now have their own house and access to electricity and clean drinking water. You’ll get a taste of what it’s like to live here, meeting several families and seeing children playing on the street, an experience that can be quite impactful on our children as they learn about the differences in their lifestyles. Your guide will take you to visit a local nursery school, a shoemaker, a hairdresser and a library, ending at Ella’s house where you will have a drink and hear stories of Xhosa traditions and maybe play some African drums!
Days 12 & 13 – Safari and glamping in Addo
Next, you’ll drive around four hours to reach The Addo Elephant National Park. The park is home to more than 750 elephants and you’ll get to search the bush for them in your rental car. Along the way, you will likely see warthogs, lions, buffaloes, zebras and herds of antelopes. There are several routes in the park, but we recommend that you also include the waterholes as it will give you the best chance of sightings. Your glamping tent is about a 15-minute drive from the entrance gate of the park, giving you the full day to spot wildlife before returning to another luxury spot in the heart of nature.
Optional: Jeep safari (from 6 years old)
As the park is so close to your accommodation, you have the perfect opportunity to go on a jeep safari with a ranger who knows the National Park like the back of his hand. After three hours you will be dropped off at the entrance. Note that this adventure is suited for children six years old and above.
Days 14 & 15 – Safari adventures continue in Waterberg
Today you will drop your rental car off at the airport and catch a domestic flight from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg. Once you land, you’ll collect another rental car and head to Waterberg for your next family glamping experience. Your luxury tent is fully equipped with everything you need including a private bathroom, kitchenette and a beautiful outdoor decking area with a wood-fired hot tub to relax in. The camp is surrounded by a 2,500-hectare UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, so you’ll be surrounded by the wildlife this region is famous for. Arrange game drives to spot the iconic Big 5, discover the unique landscapes on local hiking trails, visit local cultural villages and learn about the Indigenous communities in the Waterberg area.
Days 16 & 17 – Glamping in the Great Kruger region
Spend two nights enjoying a riverside glamping experience with the family, where you can enjoy the comforts of proper beds, a private bathroom, a kitchenette and a spacious outdoor deck in a peaceful oasis. This camp is nestled in between Hazyview and Sabie, which is the perfect base for exploring the Mpumalanga bush, the breathtaking Panorama Route and the wild Kruger National Park. Aside from the game drives, if it’s an adventure you’re seeking, Hazyview offers zip-lining, quad biking and river rafting for those families seeking an adrenaline rush. Enjoy the traditional South African cooking experience of braai, with your own barbecue and a hamper full of delicious goodies for your first evening.
Day 18 – Departure from South Africa
The following day, you’ll head to Johannesburg Airport to drop off your rental car and catch your international flight back to the UK, full of incredible family memories and stories to share from your adventures in South Africa.
Accommodation
