1 Week in South Africa - 4 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Family Fun in South Africa: Cape Town, Kruger National Park & Johannesburg

Ideal for families visiting South Africa for the first time, this family fun itinerary combines safari and urban adventures seamlessly. Visit iconic Table Mountain, meet the penguins of Boulders Beach, and search for the Big Five in Kruger National Park. As visitors to Kruger must be over age five, this trip is unsuited for families with younger children. 

After your flight to Cape Town, refuel at Strolla Restaurant & Bar, where the kids can build their own pizza and watch a movie in the games room. Ride the Flying Dutchman for views of Cape Point, then watch the kids' faces light up when they see the penguins at Boulders Beach African Penguin Sanctuary. Enjoy a sunset picnic at Cape Point Vineyards, where parents can sip wine while children frolic on the lawn. Day 3 is dedicated to Table Mountain—hike or take the cable car up, depending on your family members' ages and abilities. Then, if the kids are keen to play pirates, set sail on the Jolly Roger pirate ship. 

Fly to Kruger National Park for your first game drive. Give the kids a wildlife checklist and see how many they can cross off, then let them stay up past bedtime as your guide helps you search for nocturnal wildlife. Start Day 5 at the Orpen Gate, an area where the greatest concentration of animals can be found in the park. The whole family will enjoy looking for zebras, giraffes, and more from the open-roof 4WD vehicle. On Day 6, you'll fly to Johannesburg and take a tour of Soweto that ends with storytelling under the stars with local freedom fighters (an alternative tour can be arranged for younger kids). Learn more

Itinerary #2: South Africa Coast & Safari Family Adventure

Families with younger children and those who may want to skip Johannesburg and spend more time in nature will appreciate this South African coastal adventure's outdoor activities. You can take a harbor cruise in Cape Town, watch whales in Hermanus, and then track wildlife at Gondwana Private Game Reserve. All ages are welcome at Gondwana; kids can participate in the Junior Ranger Program, and childcare can be arranged for children under two (not allowed on game drives). 

Ease into your South Africa adventure with a harbor cruise in Cape Town on arrival. Take a family road trip to Cape Point and enjoy the beaches, views, and a picnic at the lighthouse before visiting Boulders Beach African Penguin Sanctuary—a great spot to snap photos of your kids with penguins in the background. Take a hike or cable car ride up Table Mountain (depending on the energy and abilities of your family). Then, refuel with a 14-course immersive meal; the kids can even jump on stage and play drums with the performers. 

Drive to Hermanus, the "Whale Watching Capital of the World." Take a walk along the coastal paths and task the kids with scanning the water for whales. Even if you don't find any, you can impress the kids with a massive whale skeleton at Whale House Museum. Head to Gondwana Private Game Reserve in the foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains, where you'll set out on a safari to spot lions and elephants. On your final full day, send the kids to learn about tracking, fishing, and conservation in the Junior Ranger Program while you take a guided hike or treat yourself to a spa treatment. Learn more

Itinerary #3: South Africa for Families: Cape Town, Sun City & Johannesburg

This relaxed-paced trip focuses on Cape Town and Sun City Resort, ideal for families looking to combine cultural experiences with a couple of days of fun at a resort. You'll take a walking tour of Cape Town, play in the pools at the Vally of Waves waterpark, and learn about the history of Johannesburg through a tour of Soweto and an evening of storytelling. 

Take the cable car up Table Mountain and capture family photos with the Cape Town views. Then head out on a walking tour of the city with stops that include Greenmarket Square and the Castle of Good Hope before challenging the older kids to an escape room game (families with younger ones can opt for a boat ride). The kids will be tickled to try a "tasting" of juices and sweets at Bloemendal Estate while parents sample wine, followed by a family bike ride through the vineyards. Fly to Johannesburg, and transfer to Sun City Resort, a surf and safari property located on the border of Pilanesberg National Park.

Spend a full day experiencing a variety of family-friendly activities at Sun City. The kids can race through the Maze of the Lost City, splash around in the waterpark, and go bowling. Alternatively, you can opt for a family safari in Pilanesburg. Return to Johannesburg on Day 6 and take a guided tour of Soweto to learn about the important history here. Let the kids sample "bunny chow," a popular dish of stew or curry, in a bread bowl. On your final night, join local artists and freedom fighters for an evening of storytelling under the stars (if you have little ones or prefer an alternate activity for your family, one can be arranged). Learn more

Itinerary #4: South Africa Family Adventure: Cape Town, Winelands & Safari

The variety of activities on this family adventure, combined with the on-site childcare provided at the Shamwari Game Reserve, makes it an excellent choice for outdoorsy and animal-loving families with children of all ages, including little ones. You can kayak with penguins at Boulders Beach, explore the Babylonstroen Winelands and Gardens (kids can sample the fresh produce, and parents can partake of the wine), and learn how to track animals in Shamwari Game Reserve. 

Start with a harbor cruise or a helicopter flight over Cape Town. Experience Table Mountain two ways on your second day: first, pack a picnic and hike (or for less experienced hikers and little legs, opt for the cable car), then admire it from the water while playing pirates on the Jolly Roger ship. Kids of all ages will be delighted to see the penguins at Boulders Beach; to catch more of the action, rent kayaks and watch them dive for lunch. If the kids are clamoring for more animal-related activities, take them to meet the farm animals at Kommetjie Imhoff Village or go for a horseback ride on the beach.

Give the kids a sensory experience—they can taste, touch, and smell the fruits, vegetables, and herbs—on a tour at Babylonstroen Winelands and Gardens, then continue to Boschendal, where children ages 4-14 can participate in farm activities while adults sample wine. Spend the next couple of days at Shamwari Game Reserve, and let the kids go wild on the climbing wall and zipline in the Adventure Center. Your budding naturalists (aged four and up) will be thrilled to spot wildlife and learn tracking skills on game drives or bush walks (on-site care is provided for kids under four). Learn more

More Great 1-Week South Africa Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to South Africa? Check out these other one-week South Africa itineraries, with outdoor adventures, family-friendly trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.