14 night South Africa Family Adventure

Our day begins with a tour of Table Mountain to soak up panoramic vistas of the Mother City and the surrounding oceans (weather permitting & cable car fee not included). We wander through the Company’s Garden and visit the South African Museum, before venturing on to the Castle of Good Hope. Built by the Dutch East India Company, between 1666 and 1679, as a maritime replenishment station, the Castle is the oldest surviving colonial building in the country. During our trip through the city, we pass the Houses of Parliament, the Grand Parade and City Hall – where Nelson Mandela first addressed South Africans after his release. Drop off at the vibrant V&A Waterfront for some time out to explore the restaurants, pubs and shops at your own leisure (or return to your hotel).

Pick up: More Quarters 08:00
Drop off: More Quarters
Includes: Bottled water, vehicle and guide and entrance fees.

This intriguing excursion begins at the Clock Tower, also known as the Nelson Mandela Gateway in the V&A Waterfront. The Island was a training and defense station in World War 2 and has also served as a place of banishment, isolation and imprisonment, which became world famous as the prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years. As your ferry arrives at the Island you will be met by a local guide who spent time here during the Apartheid years and will thus be able to give a personal and often moving account of the experience. You will also see the cell where Nelson Mandela spent a large part of his life before taking the ferry back to the Waterfront.

Depart: 11:00

Duration: 9 hours
Our tour begins at the working fishing harbour of Kalk Bay, with its bohemian arts and crafts shops, quirky boutiques, and antiques stores. We head to the richly historic Simon’s Town, a naval town with museums and monuments to bring insight into the colourful past and the shark diving industry. We go in search of our own splinter colony of rogue penguins, away from the crowded boardwalks, on a beach known only to locals. Next its on to the Cape Peninsula for a gentle hike to explore the reserve’s secluded beaches and unique wildlife. Our return to Cape Town is via Noordhoek Farm Village a food artisan hub of the Peninsula OR alternatively, pop into a gorgeous Constantia wine estate, a well-known wine-producing area, one of the oldest in the southern hemisphere. Time permitting, we may stop for a sundowner at a local brewery, vineyard, beach or scenic look-out.

Please note: your guide may advise route changes to beat the crowds.
Pickup:More Quarters at 09:00
Dropoff: More Quarters

Includes: Lunch, entrance fees, selection of craft beers, wines, local gins & tonic, specialist tea, coffee & hot chocolate, juices, ice tea, gourmet pantry with home baked goodies & local snacks, toy bag for children, car seats, children activity pack, child friendly snacks

Today you have the option to explore the area on your own or to simply relax, enjoying the facilities available at your accommodation.

Private Transfer
Pickup: More Quarters at 12:00
Dropoff: Babylonstoren Farm Hotel (Garden Cottages)

Welcome to the Winelands…

An easy drive from Cape Town, the Winelands dramatic mountains stand guard over a quilt of working vineyards, elegant Cape Dutch estates and quaint towns boasting top restaurants, hotels and spas. Sample some of the regions award-winning wine offerings, stroll through exquisitely maintained gardens or explore art galleries and antique shops in the oak-lined streets of the local towns. The buzzing university village of Stellenbosch was named after the Governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel and, as the historic hub of the Winelands it is surrounded by around 200 wineries.

Overnight at Babylonstoren Farm Hotel (Garden Cottages) (2 Bedroom Cottage – Bed & Breakfast)

Includes: Breakfast, personalised larder in the rooms and laundry (6 items per day). Activities Included: A private guided
garden visit and farm walk, cycling and canoeing/rowing on the farm dam, fishing, Harvest tour, bread baking with bakers and
cellar tour and wine tasting.

Duration: 3 – 6 hours
The Franschhoek Wine Tram hop-on hop-off tour offers a unique and leisurely way to see the Franschhoek Valley as you journey through rolling vineyards in an open-side tram and open-air tram-bus stopping in at some of South Africa’s oldest and most distinguished wine estates. Choose one of eight different lines, each visiting a selection of wine estates showcasing a separate part of the Franschhoek Valley. Each line offers various stops and experiences for wine tastings, a cellar tour, lunch or simply a stroll through the vineyards and when ready hop back on to continue the tour.

Depart: 10:00
Includes: Passage on the tram, Commentary guided tour

Private Transfer
Pickup: Babylonstoren Farm Hotel (Garden Cottages) at 06:30
Dropoff: Cape Town International Airport

Welcome to Madikwe Game Reserve…

Madikwe, one of the country’s top game viewing destinations, encompasses vast tracks of land, endless dirt roads and clear views over big game territory. Blazing sunsets close days coated in the greens and browns of Africa, and the sounds of thebush fall softly in your ears. It’s not uncommon to merge your path with that of the animals traveling in the same direction, follow along behind the wild dog pack as it trots along the road, yipping excitedly as dusk falls, move back to give the elephant bull some space as he crosses before you, his ears flapping a slow beat in the heat. Search for that insistent bird calling out in the midday heat, hidden from sight in the trees. Each morning a new chapter begins and the story of the bush starts again, fresh and clean in the morning air.

Overnight at Madikwe Lelapa Lodge (Family Suite – Fully Inclusive)

Includes: Conservation levy, landing fee, all meals, local brand drinks, safari activities, teas/coffees, game drive refreshments & snacks and transfers to and from Eastern Madikwe airstrip. Maximum 8 guests per safari vehicle. Camp Activities: Game drives, bush walks, stargazing. Kids Adventure Safari Club.

Bordering Botswana, this semi-arid reserve has an overlapping of habitats and an abundance of wildlife in addition to many of the unique desert species such as brown hyena and aardwolf. It features dramatic scenery with huge craggy mountains and hills, and the red sand of the nearby Kalahari Desert. Your twice daily game drives provide the opportunity to view the big 5, antelope such as sable, oribi and springbok, as well as rare cheetah and wild dog. Early mornings mean you are up to hear the fresh chattering of birds and view creatures about their business. Spend some time resting after the morning drive, and in the afternoon, hop aboard open safari vehicles and enjoy the change-over as the nocturnal animals become active and the stars come out. Spotlights are used to aid in finding the animals. Should the option be available, a walking safari, is an exhilarating way to immerse yourself in the wilderness and learn about smaller creatures and plant life.

Private Transfer
Pickup: Madikwe Lelapa Lodge at 10:00
Dropoff: Marataba Safari Lodge

Welcome to the Waterberg…

A major catchment area within the Limpopo Province, the Waterberg Biosphere is a region of stunning beauty and invaluable archaeological significance. The steep terrain and unique rock forons of the daunting Waterberg Mountain Range lead down through lush forests to picturesque valleys, gorges and savannah grasslands. Such biodiversity supports a wealth of animals and bird life, at home in the biosphere’s reserves – Marakele National Park and Welgevonden. Stone age findings and those relating to the origins of humankind infuse the Waterberg with a particularly special historical and cultural importance. Towering cycads, rare Cape Vultures and Baobab Trees are some of the unique attractions of this location.

Overnight at Marataba Safari Lodge (2 Tented Suites – Fully Inclusive)

Includes: Entrance fee, conservation fee, Recovery & Rebuild levy, all meals, selected local drinks (soft drinks, beers, spirits, house wines) and snacks, minibar in room, 2 scheduled activities per day with refreshments, snacks and return Matla Mamba Airstrip transfer. Lodge activities include: Game drives, guided bush walks. Maximum 6 guests per vehicle, Family Suite 8.

A transitional zone in the heart of the magnificent Waterberg biosphere, Marakele affords a variety of exciting ways to explore this region, depending on where you are staying. Take a guided bush walk, developing your tracking skills and learning about smaller creatures and bird life. You could take an open vehicle game drive for a morning or late afternoon safari in search of the animals which call this sanctuary home. The ideal time to start your safari is early in the morning, as the sun starts to rise, and animals are most active. A quick coffee stop is the perfect time to warm up and take in the incredible sounds of the bush and birdsong. During the heat of the midday sun, it’s often best to return to camp for a siesta before heading out again in the late afternoon when the bush comes alive, and the waterholes are a magnet for thirsty wildlife.

Private Transfer
Pickup: Marataba Safari Lodge at 12:00
Dropoff: Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport

Farewell, Totsiens, Hamba kahle

Today you say your fond farewells as you make your way back
to the airport to begin your journey home or on to your next destination. We hope you’ve had a wonderful and unforgettable
stay in Southern Africa!