South Africa

:: days 1 — 3 ::

It’s absolutely no exaggeration that Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. South Africa’s second-largest city sits on the shores of Table Bay in the beautiful Western Cape province. With towering Table Mountain as a backdrop and miles of azure coastline, Cape Town enjoys a Mediterranean-like climate, beaches and outdoor activities, a thriving arts scene, and a nearby wine country that produces world-class vintages.

Mandela in exile

You’ll begin your stay in Cape Town with an emotional trip to Robben Island, a former prison whose most famous inhabitant was Nelson Mandela, who spent 18 of his 27 years of imprisonment in exile there. A former political prisoner will guide you through the old maximum security block, where you’ll visit Mandela’s former cell.

When you return from Robben Island, you’ll take the Cape Town City tour and a trip to the top of Table Mountain via cable car for some spectacular views. You also visit Streetwires, where artisans design, create, and market wire and bead handicrafts, and even try your hand at your own wire bead creation. Dinner that evening is at Gold Restaurant, where you’ll sample Cape Malay and African cuisines and do a little African drumming between courses.

Wining, dining, and chocolate in Stellenbosch

Travel to South African Wine Country for a full Gourmet Winelands tour, starting with a guided cuisine walking tour in Stellenbosch, South Africa’s second oldest town. Walk the oak-lined streets and taste the area’s various delicacies—indigenous rooibos, honeybush and buchu tea served in traditional rusks; biltong, a South African take on beef jerky; droewars (dried sausage) paired with different local wines; and sweets from the local candy store.

Continue to Moreson, where the parents will enjoy the finest wines of the Franschhoek Valley while kids make their own bread at the Bread and Wine Restaurant. Best of all, travel to the town of Franschhoek and Huguenot Chocolates, where you will indulge in a chocolate tasting, demonstrations, and a talk on the history of chocolate. Kids will get to “make” their own chocolates to take home. Dinner is at your leisure tonight, but you may not need it. The following morning, the kids will enjoy a scavenger hunt at the hotel before you leave for your next stop: the Garden Route.

:: days 4 — 6 ::

Lush vegetation, beautiful coastline, and calm lakes and lagoons—this is South Africa’s Garden Route in the Western Cape. Its mild oceanic climate, similar to Hawaii’s, attracts nearly 300 different species of bird life, and is ideal for hiking, and other eco-tourism activities. Your home base for your two days in this verdant paradise is the picturesque town of Knysna (pronounced NIZE-nuh), where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean.

Gentle Giants

What’s it like to walk with elephants? You’ll find out first-hand when you visit The Elephant Sanctuary in nearby Plettenberg Bay. One of three African Elephant Sanctuaries in South Africa, this extraordinary place teaches visitors about these magnificent creatures through hands-on elephant education interactions. Your own guide will take you through the sanctuary on foot, where you can touch and interact with the elephants in a beautiful forested area. Brush the elephants, walk hand-in-trunk, even go for a ride. It’s an unforgettable experience for the whole family.

Fly Above the Forest

It's a great day for an eco-adventure. You’ll travel to a forest of giant Outeniqua Yellowwood trees for an unforgettable canopy tour. You’ll zip between platforms built nearly 100 feet in the air. This is the first canopy tour of its kind in Africa, and offers unbelievable views, prime bird-watching, and maybe a chance to see a monkey or two swinging through the forest canopy.

Return to the resort for an afternoon on the beach, starting with a gourmet picnic lunch in the sand. Secluded Noetzie Beach is heaven for sand and wave lovers. Take a leisurely stroll along the shore, swim in the lagoon, or if you have the stamina, play some action-packed beach volleyball. Later, try your hand at archery, canoeing on the river, or mountain biking along some of South Africa’s best trails.

:: days 7 — 9 ::

A family trip to Africa without a safari is like Disneyland® without Mickey Mouse—hard to imagine. For the final three days of your trip, you’ll fly to Phinda Private Game Preserve, in Kwazulu-Natal province on the country’s lush east coast. You’ll likely spot Africa’s Big Five (lions, elephants, rhinoceros, buffalo, and leopards) and have a rare and treasured opportunity to see Phinda’s flagship animal species, the beautiful cheetah, an unsurpassed experience on safari.

For the love of the game

You’ll get right down to business at Phinda—there are two game drives daily, during which you'll explore the seven unique ecosystems present on the reserve. Big Five sightings are common, and Phinda is a birder’s dream, with more than 400 species to spot. Guides will show you how to track different animals, point out different species, and educate you on the resort’s commitment to conservation and community involvement.

In the evening, you’ll witness a very special performance by a Sangoma, a traditional Zulu healer that plays an important role in Zulu culture. You’ll witness ikobongo, an ancestral calling meant to summon ancestral spirits to a gathering. Chanting and drumming by the fireside are part of this highly spiritual ritual.

Seeing spots, spotting the rare black rhino

You have two tantalizing choices today. You can rise at dawn for a special game viewing that includes plenty of Big Five opportunities and hopefully a spectacular sighting of the elusive cheetah. Or you can take a special opportunity to track the black rhino on foot. Tracking rhino on foot is serious business, suitable only for adults and really big kids (over 16). The track is subject to the availability of a specialized tracker once you get to camp, but if you can do it, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

In the afternoon, you have more options—take a short canoe trip on the river, or combine an afternoon game drive with a river cruise (both subject to water levels). Or just relax on the deck of the lodge and enjoy a dip in the plunge pool. Then join your fellow members for a farewell dinner at the lodge.

Bid adieu to Africa

The morning of your departure, you’ll have the opportunity for one last game drive on the way to the airport. Safe travels!

Experience an exhilarating African adventure designed for the whole family, full of everything from chocolate-making and surfing to zip lining, kayaking and safari game drives. Best of all, you’ll enjoy plenty of luxurious comfort throughout your stay in accommodations that have been carefully selected to welcome kids.

Accommodations

:: Cape Town ::

In the heart of the fashionable Victoria and Albert Waterfront, this urban chic hotel is one of the finest resorts in the country. The hotel, located on its own private island, features spacious luxury rooms, restaurants from international celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa and local favorite Reuben Riffel, an infinity-edge pool with its own island, and the incomparable KidsOnly program, which introduces children to the cultural and natural wonders of South Africa. Many rooms are adjoining to accommodate families.

:: Knysna ::

A five-star resort located above the tranquil Knysna Lagoon, the Conrad Pezula is an active family’s dream. Canoe; horseback ride; swim, play, and picnic on one of the top beaches in South Africa; hike the nature trail and do a little bird-watching; even stop by the resort’s own petting zoo. While adults relax in the hotel spa, little ones can enjoy some parent-free time at the Kids’ Club. You’ll stay in spacious suites, with adjoining rooms available.

:: Phinda Private Game Reserve ::

The elegant Phinda Mountain Lodge is both beautiful and ideally suited for a family safari. Suites are spacious and split-level, with huge bathrooms, decks with great views of the reserve and surrounding mountains, and the greatest luxury of all on subtropical safari, air-conditioning. Best of all, the lodge offers specialized programs for children, including the opportunity for those over 16 to track the black rhinoceros on foot. All ages will feel right at home in the heart of the African wilderness.

Notable Inclusions

• All internal airfare as per the itinerary
• All accommodations
• Services of professional Tour Director throughout the itinerarys
• All meals included in the itinerary
• Local beer, wine and soft drinks with included lunches and dinners
• All gratuities for hotel staff, guides, Tour Director, transfers

For the complete list of inclusions, visit the South Africa page on ER Compass.