Travel to South Africa: South Africa Family Safari

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South Africa Family Safari

			DAYS: 10 GRADE: I-II, active family adventure define PRICE: From $5850 per person HIGHLIGHTS: Kruguer National Park Cape Town Garden Route Active Wildlife Viewing Adventures ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels/Lodges MEALS: As noted  [B-Breakfast, L-Lunch,   D-Dinner] Prices, Departure Dates and Included Services Send to a Friend Print this Itinerary

Discover the wonders of South Africa on an active family vacation featuring fun beach and marine activities along the Indian Ocean, personal, cultural adventures in cosmopolitan Cape Town and incredible wildlife viewing in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve. In Cape Town you witness a kaleidoscope of cultures sampling local dishes and African specialties and enjoying native dancing, singing and drumming.

On safari, share the sense of awe watching a lioness and her cubs strolling through the savannah, a troop of baboons frolicking in the trees or a group of hippos leisurely lounging on the riverbank. All of the chosen accommodations eagerly welcome families and one of our favorite safari camps offers special activities for children. This Wildland South African safari is guaranteed to create unforgettable family memories! 

DAY 1 :  ARRIVE IN CAPE TOWN
Arrive at Cape Town International Airport this morning and transfer for overnight at Gingko Guesthouse. Relax in the morning before an afternoon introduction to the city including the Malay Quarter, Houses of Parliament and a walk through the old Town Square bustling with the market traders.  Free evening to explore the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, the original Cape Town wharfs renovated as an upbeat gathering place full of restaurants, bars and cafes on the water. Overnight More Quarters.

See dolphins, seals, whales, penguins and numerous birds along South Africas rugged coastline.

DAY 2 :  GUGULETU TOWNSHIP & CAPE TOWN
As invited guests, you visit the township of Guguletu and gain insight into the aftermath of the apartheid era as you share the personal history, way of life, lively music, and the hopes and aspirations of the people who live there. Choose to continue your historical exploration with a boat trip across the bay to visit Robben Island. Tour the political prison where Nelson Mandela was held captive for two decades before his historic release in 1991. Or choose to visit the Two Oceans Aquarium to see the excellent interactive displays revealing the contrast in marine life between the warm Indian Ocean and the icy Atlantic. (Depending on interests, the group may split up with some people visiting Robben Island, while others spend time at the aquarium and Victoria and Albert waterfront. Your guide happily accompanies children to the aquarium if adults wish to visit Robben Island). Overnight More Quarters. [BL]

DAY 3 :  CAPE COASTLINE AND AFRICAN PENGUINS
Rise early to be whisked by cable car  to the top of Table Mountain and enjoy spectacular views over the city and out to the sea. Then we head out along Cape Towns Atlantic coastline down the Cape Peninsula to Cape Point.  Stopping to see the Penguin Colony at Boulders and the chance to see Southern Right Whales when they are in the bay to mate and calve. Overnight More Quarters. [BL]

DAY 4 :  CAPE WINELANDS FOR FAMILIES
Striving to make this day interesting and fun for all, there are lots of activities for children as well as opportunities for adults to enjoy some wine tasting if they choose. The day begins with a brief tour of the historic town of Stellenbosch, founded in 1679. Seeing the traditional Cape Dutch homes, whitewashed cottages originally built for freed slaves, arsenal, and general store, it is easy to imagine life in an earlier day. Driving toward Paarl, you stop to wander through greenhouses surrounded by free flying butterflies and exotic plants at Butterfly World before reaching the Fairview Winery. Nestled in the side of Paarl Mountain, with views of Table Mountain in the distance, this winery has won numerous prestigious awards for both its wine and for its farm style cheeses produced from the resident goat herd. Adults have an opportunity to taste some wine while children watch the antics of the goats sunning themselves on the winerys signature goat tower, before you all tour the wine cellar and watch the cheese making process. A stop at the winery next door provides another tasting opportunity and the chance to watch local glass blowing craftsmen at work. Looping back by the Spier Winery you visit a Cheetah Outreach Program for an encounter with a hand raised cheetah and learn more about the program to rehabilitate eagles and return them to the wild. Overnight More Quarters. [BLD]

Southern Right Whales can often be spotted from the coastline between July and December.

DAY 5 :  THE OVERBERG REGION & GANSBAAI
Relax over breakfast before setting out to the fynbos covered mountains, windswept plains and rugged beaches of the Overberg region. This area is well known for excellent whale watching opportunities. With no schedule to keep, let the weather, your energy level and mood dictate the afternoon activities. Hike along the cliffs whale watching, stroll the beach investigating tidal pools, or walk through coastal fynbos and milkwood forests. There will be time to unwind and take a dip in the pool at our guesthouse which overlooks the traditional fishing harbor in Gansbaai. Overnight Saxon Lodge. [BLD]

DAY 6 :  DYER ISLAND RESERVE & CAPE TOWN
Looking for Humpback and Bottlenose dolphins, seals, Cape gannets, Southern giant petrels, cormorants and other marine life you take a morning boat ride around Dyer Island. Located 8 km offshore, this conservation reserve is a bird sanctuary as well as a breeding site for the African penguin and home to a large number of playful seals. Between July and December you are almost guaranteed to spot Southern right whales breeching in the water and may see Great white sharks, Brydes whales, and Humpback whales. Returning to land, you drive the beautiful coastal route to Cape Town. Depending on your interests, you stop to try a bit of sandboarding on the beach dunes, play some cricket or hike to a waterfall in the nature reserve at Harold Porter Botanical Garden. Overnight More Quarters. [BLD]

	View incredible wildlife close up and safely under the guidance of your expert driver and tracker.

DAY 7 :  MADIKWE GAME RESERVE
This morning your guide will take you to the Cape Town airport for a regularly scheduled flight to Johannesburg (not included), where you continue on by charter plane to Madikwe Game Reserve (included). Upon arrival in the bush you are met by a safari vehicle and taken to the lodge, spotting game en route. Jaci's Safari Lodge is built around an ancient termite mound overlooking an established and well used water hole, under a grove of Tamboti trees, on the edge of the Marico River. Jacis Lodge provides the opportunity for the perfect family safari as well as introducing children to the wonders and enjoyment of the African bushveld. Set out on your first exploration of the African bush this afternoon on a game drive. Overnight at Jaci's Lodge.  [BD]

DAYS 8-9 :  ON SAFARI
See the wonders of nature unfold as you watch giraffes stretching their long necks up into the trees, elephants ambling through wooded areas, hippos wallowing in a waterhole or the majestic male lion lazily sleeping in the sun, Always on the lookout for The Big Five (elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo), discover that many of the other animals, such as wild dog and aardvark are just as interesting and amazing to watch. The family safaris at Jacis have evolved from the specialized children's safaris, as there was a demand from parents to see and enjoy their children's wild experiences first hand rather than when they returned to the Lodge, so we had more parents on the specialized safaris than children. The family safari vehicles are only available at Jaci's Safari Lodge this now enables us to put families with children aged 5 - 12 yrs on the game drive with their parents for the morning and evening game drives.  Jaci's is fenced off from the Reserve but there are still small creatures all around in this wilderness area. Overnights Jaci's Lodge [BLD]

DAY 10 :  DEPARTURE
With wonderful memories of your South African adventures, pack up your safari clothes and transfer to the Madikwe airport for your flight to Johannesburg (included) to connect with your international departure or continue on to another African destination. [B]

Questions? Ask Our Program Directors.

. C o n t a c t Jeff Stivers 1(800)345-4453 C o n t a c t Nick Bay 1(800)345-4453