South Africa: Family Cape Adventure

Depart London

The adventure begins in Cape Town, a fun-filled seaside city underneath the flat-topped Table Mountain. Today is all about settling into the trip. If you have time, you might want to explore a little, perhaps with a walk along the buzzy V&A Waterfront. Alternatively, relax after your flight with a dip in the hotel pool.

Accommodation: City Lodge Hotel Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (or similar)

We ease into the day with a relaxed breakfast before a transfer to Table Mountain, the symbol of the city and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. A cable car takes us to the summit, where we can enjoy a sky-high view of Cape Town, Table Bay and Robben Island. We then return to our hotel and enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Cape Town has excellent shopping opportunities and many beaches (the beaches at Clifton and Camps Bay are approximately a 15 minute transfer from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront). We can also help arrange a township tour or visit to Robben Island (optional, additional cost).

The order of activities in Cape Town is flexible as being able to take the cable car to the summit of Table Mountain is weather dependent.

Accommodation: City Lodge Hotel Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (or similar)

We have an early breakfast this morning and then transfer to Cape Point, a biodiverse park within Table Mountain National Park, following the scenic Chapman’s Peak drive. Upon arrival, we embark on a leg-stretching walk to the lighthouse before taking the boardwalk to the Cape of Good Hope, a walk of around three hours in total.

We then depart for a true family-favourite in this part of the world: visiting the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach. Also known as the jackass penguin, this endangered species is the only penguin found on the continent. The beach falls under the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area and plays an important part in the conservation of this species. After spending time with these cute critters, we return to our hotel.

Accommodation: Simonstown Quayside Hotel (or similar)

Post breakfast, we can walk to Simonstown harbour for an optional kayaking adventure, in which we paddle with the Boulders Beach penguins. It’s an easy two-hour trip in double-stable kayaks.

After, we relax on a scenic coastal transfer along Clarens Drive to Hermanus – there’s time for a stop at the seaside town of Kleinmond for a drink with views over the harbour. Upon arrival in Hermanus, we can chill at Grotto Beach, a wide sandy expanse with plenty of space to sprawl or take a walk along the rocky shoreline. In season (June to November), we might be lucky enough to spot southern right, humpback and Bryde’s whales from our spot on the shore.

Accommodation: Windsor Hotel (or similar)

Today is all about choosing your own family adventure with a range of optional activities (extra cost) available. Hermanus is the ideal spot for a wild adventure with whale watching (in season) by boat, kayak or from the shore. The tour leader can also walk with the group to Grotto Beach for a dip in the sea or take everyone to the Fernkloof Nature Reserve for a stroll among diverse vegetation and plant life. Alternatively, you may prefer to visit a family-friendly wine farm for a tasting experience.

Accommodation: Windsor Hotel (or similar)

After breakfast, we transfer (one hour) to the town of Grabouw, where we can enjoy a thrilling tree-top canopy tour (optional). Over 4hr 30min, we journey into the mountains and strap ourselves to a series of ziplines, whizzing from platform to platform and learning more about the extraordinary nature and geology here from our expert guides. For those not joining the canopy tour, there is the option of a 3.7 miles (6km) walk in the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve (where the canopy tour is located).

In the afternoon, we transfer to our resort in Montagu where we have free time to enjoy the pool. The day ends in style, with a braai (South African barbecue) in the semi-desert, known locally as the Karoo.

Accommodation: Rainbow Glen (or similar)

We start the day with breakfast cooked by our tour leader (the kids have time to enjoy the pool) before a three-hour drive to Oudtshoorn, known as the ostrich capital of the world. After checking into our hotel, we drive to Buffelsdrift in time for lunch (not included).

At around 3pm, we enjoy a fun-for-all African experience: a bush safari. Navigating the Karoo in open vehicles, we keep an eye out for the extraordinary wildlife that lives here, including hippos, giraffes, zebras, buffalos and springboks, with our expert guide dishing out all the facts and figures.

After, we head back to our accommodation to rest and relax.

Accommodation: Kleinplaas Resort (or similar)

We rise early today but the effort is worth it as we return to Buffelsdrift to spend time with the resident meerkats. Led by a trained ranger, we head out in a safari vehicle (hopefully seeing more of the animals we saw yesterday as we go) to the meerkat burrows, where our expert will tell us more about these fascinating, playful creatures and we can see them going about their day.

In the afternoon, we continue the adventure with a guided tour of the Cango Caves, a subterranean wonder 20m years in the making.

Accommodation: Kleinplaas Resort (or similar)

After breakfast, we hop into the vehicle for a scenic transfer over the Swartberg mountain pass to Aquila Private Game Reserve. We should arrive around midday for welcome drinks and a buffet lunch (have your swimwear to hand to make use of the pool upon arrival).

It’s then time for our afternoon safari, sure to be one of the highlights of the trip. Aquila is home to lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and Cape buffalo and places an emphasis on protecting and conserving these iconic animals. The experience lasts around three hours but the memories will last a lifetime.

After, we journey into the karoo for an extra-special glamping experience. There’s a swimming pool to splash around in and each of the tents – which sleep up to five – comes with a wood-fired hot tub. To cap our night in the wild, our guide will cook up a braai dinner.

Accommodation: Karoo1 Hotel Village (or similar)

In the morning, the kids can enjoy the swimming pool as the tour leader cooks breakfast for the group. There are also short hiking trails, which you can either walk alone or with the leader. Alternatively, you can enjoy an early morning safari at Aquila Private Game Reserve (optional) to spend more time with the incredible resident wildlife.

After check-out, we complete our loop and return to Cape Town. This afternoon, we visit Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Set against the eastern slope of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch is often named among the top botanical gardens in the world and is home to more than 7,000 plant species and indigenous wildlife, including angulate tortoises, snakes (though you’re unlikely to see any) and 125 bird species. There is also a treetop canopy walkway that takes you through and above the trees for panoramic views of the gardens and surrounding mountains.

Accommodation: City Lodge Hotel Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (or similar)

It’s our final day of the trip. Depending on your flight time, you may wish to explore Cape Town some more.

It’s then time to return home. Alternatively, if you’d prefer more time to explore this buzzing city, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.  

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