South Africa is becoming increasingly popular for family holidays, and children especially enjoy the space and freedom of our country. The Safari Co. recognises that families with children have different requirements to the adult traveller and we have paid particular attention to entertainment opportunities for the younger folk. Accommodation is suited for family needs and the tours are designed for minimal driving and maximum enjoyment time.

Day 1
On arrival at Johannesburg International Airport, you will be met by a Safari Co. representative, handed your world-class documentation and assisted to the Europcar rental counter to collect your vehicle. Travel to the northern suburb of Fourways to recover from the long flight. Accommodation is at InterContinental Palazzo, Montecasino, a short drive away from the world famous Sandton City. Montecasino’s family entertainment centre offers games and regular entertainment in the form of live interactive theatre, clowns, magicians, face painting and cartoon characters, rides suitable for all ages, rock climbing wall, game stalls, bumper cars, shooting gallery and much more. Enjoy dinner at leisure at one of the many restaurants in the Montecasino. Baby-sitting, baby cots and highchairs are available on request.

Approximate travel time: 45 Minutes from Johannesburg International Airport to InterContinental Palazzo, Montecasino

InterContinental Palazzo, Montecasino – bed and breakfast basis

Day 2
After breakfast, depart via Hartbeespoort Dam to Sun City in the North West Province. Sun City boasts four hotels and is internationally renowned as South Africa’s premier holiday resort offering a multitude of attractions and activities to keep everyone occupied. The full variety of entertainment on offer ranges from slots to safaris, theatre extravaganza to a games arcade for children, horseriding to golf, the Valley of Waves to The Lost City and much more. Dinner is at your leisure with an array of restaurants to choose from. A baby-sitting service is available on request.

Approximate travel time: 2 Hours from InterContinental Palazzo, Montecasino to the Cascades Hotel

Cascades Hotel – bed and breakfast basis

Day 3
Breakfast at leisure with the remainder of the day free. Families delight in the amount of Complex activities available. Kamp Kwena - the children’s club offers supervised activity programmes for all young guests ranging from age 2-12 (in season) and children aged 2-14 (out of season). Included are creative activities, swimming, outings, nature walks, bumper boats, cruises, wildlife game drives, sand-castle building, magic performances, races, mini Olympics, sporting fun, outdoor and indoor games, trampolines, Animal World and African Adventure Mini Golf. Facilities at Kamp Kwena include a huge selection of books, puzzles, games, toys, educational toys, cartoon network channel, playgrounds, sandpits, slides and swings. Other attractions include an aviary with over 300 recorded bird species and Kwena Gardens Crocodile farm, home to over 300 Nile crocodiles. Furthermore, the Valley of Waves, a water theme park, offers exceptional recreational features and activities. Water World surrounds the Cabanas and offers a multitude of water sports, from jet and water skiing to parasailing. Other activities include horseback riding, elephant-back safaris, game drives, hot air ballooning and an outdoor adventure centre which offers quad biking, clay target shooting, archery and drumming.

Cascades Hotel – bed and breakfast basis

Day 4
After departing Sun City, make your way in a northerly direction to Jaci’s Safari Lodge situated in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve. The reserve boasts 75 000 hectares of 'Big Five' territory, and is home to abundant game. Arrive at the lodge in time for lunch. Children of all ages are welcome at Jaci’s Safari Lodge which has a special programme designed to cater for the needs of young travellers. Children of the age of 7 and under are taken on a private game drive during the day, which is geared to the children’s interests and age levels. Children between 8 and 12 are allowed on the game drive with their parents and children over 12 are welcome on the bush walks. An early dinner is provided in the dining room and children over the age of 12 are allowed in the boma. Baby-sitters are provided to look after the children whilst the parents are on the game drives, bush walks and having dinner in the boma. For the adults, afternoon high tea will be served prior to departure on the evening game drive followed by dinner in the dining room or boma (weather permitting).

Approximate travel time: 2 Hours from the Cascades Hotel to Jaci’s Safari Lodge

Jaci’s Safari Lodge – full board basis including 2 game viewing activities

Day 5
The day begins with an early wake up call followed by a light snack before departing on the early morning game activity. The remainder of the day is at leisure relaxing by the pool or soaking in the sun in your hammock. Enjoy lunch, late afternoon high tea and game activity followed by dinner in the dining room or boma (weather permitting).

Jaci’s Safari Lodge – full board basis including 2 game viewing activities

Day 6
Start the day with an early game viewing activity and hearty breakfast. Return to Johannesburg International Airport for your flight to George (not included). Upon arrival at George airport, collect your rental vehicle and make your way along the Garden Route to Knysna. The route is richly endowed by nature, golden beaches, indigenous forests, lakes, lagoons and meandering rivers. Your home for the next three nights is beautifully set on a secluded country estate near the lagoon. Nestled amongst timeless oaks and pecan trees, the gracious old manor house forms the focal point of the lodge. Lunch and dinner are at leisure and a baby-sitting service is on offer.

Approximate travel time: 5 Hours from Jaci’s Safari Lodge to Johannesburg International Airport

Knysna Hollow Country Estate – bed and breakfast basis

Day 7
Enjoy a country breakfast at the lodge and the remainder of the day is free for sightseeing. Knysna is famous for its spectacular environment and natural beauty, which promises hours of fun for the outdoor enthusiast and adventurer. Activities include bird watching, scenic drives, picnics, whale watching (seasonal), hiking trails, horse riding, mountain biking, abseiling, paragliding, sports clubs, walks, beaches, canoeing, diving, fishing, water-sports and much more. Explore the surroundings and visit the enchanted Knysna Forest, the Featherbed Nature Reserve, the Otter Trail, Tsitsikamma National Park or the scenic Bushbuck and Kingfisher Trails. The spectacular Sedgefield lake district is nearby, with an abundance of bird life and nature trails - a must for nature lovers. Alternatively, go for a ride on the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe, a genuine steam train, which runs between George and Knysna.

Approximate travel time: Variable

Knysna Hollow Country Estate – bed and breakfast basis

Day 8
After breakfast, perhaps take a leisurely drive to Plettenberg Bay, the 'jewel of the Garden Route' and on to visit Monkeyland, a unique primate sanctuary and top eco-tourism attraction. Monkeyland has captured the hearts of visitors in its efforts to rehabilitate previously captive primates. Walking safaris are conducted by multilingual game rangers and are fun, exciting and educational.

Knysna Hollow Country Estate – bed and breakfast basis

Day 9 and 10
Enjoy a wholesome breakfast and depart for Wilderness known for its vast stretches of peaceful beach and the absence of windswept headlands and wild, stormy seas. Baby-sitting services are offered all year round with prior notice. In December, a children’s programme is offered at the hotel with sporting activities such as tennis, squash, minigolf, trampoline and jungle gym.

Approximate travel time: 30 Minutes from Knysna Hollow Country Estate to Protea Hotel Wilderness

Protea Hotel Wilderness – bed and breakfast basis

Day 11 and 12
After breakfast, depart for a full day of sightseeing in Oudtshoorn. The Cango Caves is one of the great natural wonders with fascinating limestone formations in a wide variety of colours. Trained guides are on hand to conduct visitors along the magical paths of the world’s finest stalactite cave. Cango Wildlife Ranch is situated just outside Oudtshoorn in the Little Karoo and since its inception in 1977, has grown to become one of the largest tourist attractions of the region. The ranch has developed Cheetahland in an effort to promote its goal of making the public aware of endangered species. Visitors are invited to explore the ranch in the company of fully trained multilingual guides and to experience the thrill of touching hand reared cheetah’s. From a raised walkway, 'the Catwalk' you have the chance to see endangered species such as Jaguar, Wild Dog, Pygmy Hippos and the newest arrival, the White Bengal Tiger. The Snake Park exhibits unusual and rare reptiles from all over the world, such as the giant albino Burmese Python, the extraordinary looking prehensile skink (lizard) to the fearless 4m King Cobra, the longest, deadliest snake in the world. Wander along a variety of crocodile and alligator pools accommodating more than 300 Nile crocodiles. Oudtshoorn is known as the ostrich capital of the world. At a local ostrich farm, a multilingual guide will take you on an unforgettable and fun-filled tour. Learn more about these fascinating birds, from the history of ostrich farming, to the breeding and rearing of chicks. You will be taken through the surrounding lucerne fields where you can witness hundreds of ostriches at their various stages of development. The tour ends with an exciting 'Ostrich Derby' race with local jockeys – and for the adventurous – a chance to ride one of these extraordinary birds. Ostrich steak is a speciality in many of the local restaurants. The Queens Hotel is situated next to the world famous Ostrich Museum and is in close proximity of a multitude of restaurants, curio and coffee shops.

Approximate travel time: 90 Minutes from Protea Hotel Wilderness to Queens Hotel

Queens Hotel – bed and breakfast basis

Day 13 and 14
Enjoy a hearty breakfast before setting off on your journey to Cape Town. The drive takes you through George and Mossel Bay onward to Swellendam and Somerset West before arriving in Cape Town. Warmed by the African sun, the city is dominated by a towering table-shaped mountain, set on a peninsula of soaring, rocky heights and lush valleys, where two oceans converge – The Indian and Atlantic. Spend the next few days enjoying a myriad things to do and places to see including: beaches; Cape Point Tour; Table Mountain; Robben Island; Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens; Jimmy Jungle and Never, Never Land; Castle of Good Hope; scratch patch at V & A Waterfront (digging for gems); Ratanga Junction (Closed from May to November); World of Birds in Hout Bay; camel rides in Kommetjie; Boulders Penguin Island; Seal Island at Hout Bay; Butterfly World; boat trips in Table Bay; theatre performances; Firhands Farm World in Somerset West; Stodels Nurseries in Bellville; Zip Zap Circus; fly kites at Fish Hoek or Bloubergstrand (preteens); 10-pin bowling (pre-teens); ice-skating (pre-teens); horse riding in Hout Bay or Noordhoek; Aquarium and Planetarium; grand prix racing and go-carts (1.2m tall and up); Simonstown Toy Museum. The Bantry Bay Luxury Suites is a well positioned four star hotel with fully equipped serviced apartments and in close proximity to the city centre, V & A Waterfront, theatres, famous beaches and famous vineyards of the Cape Wine route. Baby-sitting service can be arranged at prior notice.

Approximate travel time: 5-6 Hours from Queens Hotel to The Bantry Bay Luxury Suites

The Bantry Bay Luxury Suites – bed and breakfast basis

Day 15
After breakfast, enjoy your last day shopping or sightseeing before returning your car to Cape Town International Airport.

Approximate travel time: 30 Minutes from Bantry Bay Luxury Suites to Cape Town International Airport.

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