South Africa Family Safaris, Locations, Accomodation & Travel Itineraries
Why South Africa for a Safari?
Big Five safaris. Food. Wine. Adventure. Perhaps the best reason to visit Africa's most diverse destination is to experience them all. From cosmopolitan Cape Town and its regal Winelands to the exclusive Sabi Sands Game Reserve, your family will be spoilt for choice. If you can take just one trip in this life, South Africa should be it. It's the ultimate bush, city and beach break your whole family can enjoy.
South Africa
Safari Itineraries
South Africa Family Safari Itineraries
South Africa is an ideal one-off family safari destination.
It offers a dynamic range of incredible experiences all in one country. If your family is looking for a diverse holiday combining epic beaches, wildlife, adventure, food and unforgettable hospitality, then South Africa has it all. Take a classic Kruger/Sabi Sand and Cape Town family safari for the ultimate bush and beach experience or combine the verdant Garden Route with the child-friendly Addo Elephant National Park.
Whatever you have in mind, our travel experts know which destinations and accommodations will work best for you and can make interest-based suggestions for which experiences to combine. We know these destinations work especially well but there is much more we can offer you. Reach out and let us help you start planning something special for your family.
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South Africa Accommodation Options
Safari accommodation options in South Africa range from the most basic self-catering units to fully exclusive villas and private homesteads where your family can have a full run of the place.
Private reserves like Sabi Sands near Kruger National Park cater to visitors looking for a high-end luxury safari with opulent family suites. The city of Cape Town has some of Africa's most award-winning hotels but also stately guest houses, family-friendly beachside villas and rustic lodging options for visitors too.
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Top family-safari destinations in South Africa
Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand Reserve.
Kruger National Park is one of Africa's oldest conservation areas and a classic Big Five reserve. Here, it's not unusual to see all these iconic animals in a single morning. Kruger is surrounded by a swathe of private unfenced reserves such as Sabi Sands and Timbavati, where guide-and-tracker teams take game drives to another level. A handful of ultra-luxurious camps in these concessions offer a safari experience second to none...
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Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand Reserve Continued
A rugged self-drive alternative to South Africa's Big Five parks, Kgalagadi is a cross-border protectorate which spans South Africa and Botswana. It is the best reserve in Africa for meerkats and also a cheetah hotspot due to the sparse terrain of little more than camelthorn trees and red Kalahari sand. The Nossob Riverbed is prime for birding, especially raptors like snake eagles and vultures. Additionally, and thanks to the great white sharks and southern right whales that can be spotted off its coastal sections, Addo Elephant Park is one of just a few South African reserves home to the unofficial Big Seven animals. Addo, along with private reserves like Shamwari, specialises in family-friendly with child-adapted game drives, horse-back safaris and an entire adventure centre of fun activities.
Cape Town & Winelands
Every visitor to South Africa must experience the magic of its tourism capital, Cape Town. Guarded by cloud-capped Table Mountain, it is known for exquisite beaches, vineyards, fine dining and the multicultural people who are the life and soul of the Mother City. Whether you have three days or three weeks to spend here, it won't be nearly enough to see all that's on offer, so keep coming back for more. On a stunning stretch of southern coastline is the aptly named Garden Route National Park with epic views in every direction. The towns of Knysna, Wilderness and Nature's Valley are 'adventure central' with hiking, rock climbing, ziplining and paragliding aplenty. But your family can also go it slow — sunbathe on uncrowded beaches or watch whales breach the surface of the Indian Ocean.
The Drakensberg
A land of majestic sandstone cliffs, steep valleys and crystal-clear rivers, the Drakensberg is South Africa's choice outdoor destination. Families flock here for high-altitude hiking and to appreciate the rich botanical diversity of these habitats, also residence to myriad antelope, reptile and bird species. The San rock art found in caves around this park is among the best preserved in Southern Africa.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Nelson Mandela famously said of iSimangaliso that it is the only place on earth where the oldest land mammal (rhino) and largest terrestrial mammal (elephant) share an ecosystem with the oldest fish (coelacanth) and biggest marine mammal (whale). Yet the stunning coastal scenery is at least as compelling as the wildlife. Snorkelling and diving some of Africa's most colourful coral reefs is an exciting option for visiting families. Sharing iSimangaliso's eastern boundary, the private Phinda Reserve is KwaZulu-Natal’s most sought after and eco-savvy safari destination.
Cradle of Humankind
Renowned as the birthplace of humankind, the complex of dolomite limestone caves at this World Heritage Site near the city of Johannesburg contain the fossilised remains of ancient animals, plants and people. Interactive exhibitions bring our brief history as a species to life for visitors and other family-friendly activities in the area include picnicking, caving, horseriding and ziplining.
