Great Adventure Trips

South Africa

Self-drive / Family / Walking / Romance / General Tours / Specials
Camping Tours / Wildlife Training Courses / Victoria Falls

Sample Family Itineraries

Above are just a few options. Let us know if you need something else.

South Africa, with its warmth and sunshine, its wildlife and its outdoor culture, offers plenty to enthral children and parents alike. There are golden sandy beaches for beachcombing, warm seas for swimming, magnificent wild animals to discover and wide open spaces to explore. Many flights are non-stop and there is no jet lag.

We create special family safaris during the Northern Hemisphere Summer holidays, the ideal time for game-viewing in South Africa.
When met on arrival in South Africa, our younger guests receive a special travel pack containing South African fables, safari puzzle books and extra goodies.
Our South African director has travelled extensively throughout SA with her small children, so we know first-hand what works and what doesn’t!
Our expert consultants will put together a holiday proposal detailing the nature of the family accommodation, facilities for children and nearby attractions especially suited to children.
Ingredients for success seem to be longer stays and shorter drives. Sometimes these two factors are difficult to achieve simultaneously – a one night stay can break up a longer drive to a stunning area – but resist trying to see all the highlights. You can always come back again! You may like to consider self-catering for additional flexibility over meal arrangements.
Tour prices will depend on the age of your kids, whether you have one family room or a family suite with separate bedrooms and of course when you travel. Ask us for a tailor-made request for your family.

Holidays for Younger children

We recommend the following areas for the under 6’s:

Cape Town – the Oceanarium, Planetarium, World of Birds, Imhoffs farm, boat trips, beaches, forests and mountain trails.
Hermanus and the Overberg – beaches and whales, plus ideal for breaking the journey to the Garden Route.
Little Karoo – Cango Caves to explore, ostrich farms, Cango wildlife ranch and many other child-orientated attractions.
Garden Route – beaches, forest trails, boat cruises on the lagoon, steam trains, boat trips to see the whales, dolphins and seals ……
Eastern Cape – malaria free game reserves, sandy beaches, Addo Elephant Park
Durban and the North Coast – ideal for SA winter sun and swimming, Zulu villages with dancing displays, boat cruises, Natal Shark centre
Pilanesberg Game Reserve near Sun City – Sun City resort for a day visit, game drives in the reserve
Northern Reserves - malaria-free game reserves of Waterberg or Madikwe
We don’t recommend Malaria areas for younger children.

Holidays for Older children

Most areas of South Africa have something to delight the older child.

Relaxing Family Holidays
Older children also enjoy the beaches of the Overberg, Garden Route, Durban & the North Coast. You can add Coastal Maputaland in KwaZulu Natal, which is ideal for winter sun (July and August), swimming & snorkelling, turtle tracking in season (November to February) and a very low risk malaria area.

Exploratory Family Holidays
In addition to the above you may like to also consider:

Cape Town – the Oceanarium, Planetarium, World of Birds, Imhoffs farm, boat trips, beaches, forests and mountain trails.
Little Karoo – Cango Caves to explore, ostrich farms, Cango wildlife ranch and many other child-orientated attractions.
Natal Battlefields (fascinating stories of the Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer battles)
Visiting the ancient rock art sites in the Cedarberg (and perhaps enjoying some white water rafting and hiking as well)
Visiting two different game reserves for an insight into which animals enjoy which terrain
Staying in an authentic Zulu cultural village
Coastal Maputaland for canoeing in the ancient freshwater lakes, swimming and snorkelling, turtle tracking in season (November to February) and seeing the ancient fish traps along this pristine coastland.

Active Family Holidays

Cape Town, the Garden Route, the Cedarberg mountains and the Drakensberg Mountains are all wonderful areas for getting active, especially for older children.
Cedarberg mountains for hiking, ancient rock art, canoeing, white water rafting in season (June to mid September). Ideal for 10 years and up.
Drakensberg Mountains – wonderful walking trails, lots of sporting facilities at the mountain hotels. Ideal for 6 years and up
Drakensberg Escarpment for hiking and horse-riding. Ideal for 8 years and up.

Safaris
South Africa’s best game reserves are in intermediate risk malaria areas. The Northern Hemisphere Summer holidays are during our winter so the risk of malaria is greatly reduced. This is the time older South African children visit the Kruger, the adjacent private reserves and the Northern Natal game reserves and pristine coast. Many of our lodges allow children over 6 on game drives but only children over 12 can take a game walk.