Family Trip to Cape Town, Pilanesberg National Park & Sun City - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town, Explore

Welcome to South Africa! Upon arrival, a driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your Cape Town hotel, your base, for the next six nights. Settle in before heading out with the kids to explore. The town's many historical parks are perfect for little legs to run around after a long flight. Afterward, head to the famous V&A Waterfront—an ideal spot to catch the Cape Town vibe while relaxing with a drink and savoring the waterfront views against the epic Table Mountain backdrop.

Day 2: Table Mountain Cable Car, Cape Town Tour, Escape Room

It's your first full day in South Africa! After breakfast, meet your guide and soar up Table Mountain by cable car. Kids will have heaps of fun in the rotating carriage that gives spectacular views over Robben Island and Signal Hill. Treat the little ones to ice cream when you reach the top, and enjoy a walk around the summit before taking the cable car back down. 

Back on terra firma, find your legs with a guided tour of the city. Explore Cape Town's different historical periods as you visit some of the city's most famous sites, including Company's Garden, the Houses of Parliament, the 17th Century Castle of Good Hope, and the Slave Lodge Museum. Along the way, you'll learn about South Africa's extraordinary history and the people who shaped it. Afterward, head to the waterfront and dine at one of the many child-friendly restaurants overlooking the ocean. 

With appetites satisfied, you have several options for the rest of the day. Challenge older kids to a game of "hint hunt," an adrenaline-fuelled sixty minutes inside a locked theme room as you race against time to beat the clock. For younger ones, a cruise on the Jolly Roger pirate ship is sure to be a hit.

Day 3: Bloemendal Wine Estate Family Day, Pizza Making at Strolla

Take a family-friendly wine tour with a difference today as you head to the Bloemendal Estate winery in the heart of the famous Durbanville Wine Valley, just outside Cape Town. As you sit down to taste some of the region's excellent wines, discerning, sweet-toothed little ones are in for a special treat. Enjoy platters of sparkling fresh sushi as the kids try pairings such as apple juice with strawberry and bubblegum ice cream, accompanied by smarties.

If the kids are on a sugar rush, steer them toward the enormous sand pit while older kids can participate in various outdoor activities. In the evening, continue the fun foodie theme and book a table at Strolla Restaurant & Bar. This seaside eatery has a fab Kiddies' Corner where younger ones can become pizza makers and create their own edible masterpieces. Treat yourselves to a cocktail or two as you toast your holiday adventures while the kids relax in the restaurant's kid-themed games room.

Day 5: Two Oceans Aquarium, Traditional African Dinner

Spend a relaxed day in Cape Town, soaking up the relaxed vibe and exploring one of the city's top family-friendly attractions. Located on the waterfront, the Two Oceans Aquarium showcases a vast selection of marine life from the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, including sharks, penguins, turtles, and octopuses. Kids will love getting up close and personal with these incredible species from behind the glass, viewing windows, and discovering the lesser-known species, such as the Knysna seahorses, cryptic klipfish, and sea stars. 

As evening falls, you and your family are in for a treat as you head to one of Cape Town's celebrated restaurants for an immersive African gastronomic experience. Sit down to a 14-course tasting menu served in a communal atmosphere and designed to be shared. As you savor each course, you and the kids will be entertained by a troop of African singers and dancers. If the kids are inspired to join in, watch their faces light up as they learn how to play the djembe drums, enjoy traditional Mali puppetry, and are encouraged to hop on stage and dance with the performers. 

Day 6: Dyer Island Wildlife Tour

Leave Cape Town today for a spectacular day on Dyer Island—a designated Important Bird Area (IBA) home to many avian species, including African penguins. Spend time on the island getting to know these adorable creatures while the natural comedic seals will keep the little ones entertained with their cute faces and playful antics. Then, it's time to hop on a boat and take a 2.5-hour cruise as you explore the channel between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock, home to a 60,000-strong Cape fur seal colony.

Keep your cameras close, and your eyes peeled as you cruise the section of water known as Shark Alley. The area is well-known for spotting the Western Cape's Big Five marine animals—alongside the penguins and seals, you and the kids will likely see great white sharks, whales, and dolphins! Return to the harbor and transfer back to Cape Town, where the rest of the evening is yours to spend as you wish. 

Day 7: Fly to Pilanesberg National Park, Big Five Safari

As you prepare for the next leg of your family adventure, it's an early start this morning. After breakfast, you'll catch a flight to O.R. Tambo International Airport and transfer to Pilanesberg National Park. South Africa is synonymous with safaris, and Pilanesberg has a particularly unique setting. Perched on the remains of a 1,200 million-year-old volcanic crater (one of only three in the world) in the Bojanala Region, the park's 136,000 acres (55,000 ha) covers some of South Africa's most extraordinary landscapes. 

Settle into your accommodation on the reserve and head out with an expert guide as you and the kids search for the Big Five. Capture the kids' faces as they spot their first lion, cheetah, and elephant, and hear stories from your guide about the habits and environment of these magnificent animals. Back at the lodge, take a dip in one of the secluded pools, head to the tennis courts, or explore the various Stone Age and Iron Age archaeological sites. A gourmet dinner at one of the on-site restaurants and an evening of complete relaxation await. 

Day 8: Sunrise Game Drive, Transfer to Sun City

Wake up early this morning to the unmistakable sounds of the African bush coming to life, and set out for one of the highlights of your stay; a three-hour sunrise game drive in the reserve. Sleepy little ones will soon be wide-eyed and full of wonder as they spot the magnificent lions and big cats in the beautiful morning light. Return to your lodge for a hearty breakfast before saying goodbye to Pilanesberg. If the kids are sad to leave the reserve, console them with the promise of plenty of theme park fun as you head to Sun City.

Day 9: Relaxed Family Day in Sun City

Take some time with the family today as you relax and explore Sun City. Tailor-made for families of all ages, the resort is full of activities to keep the kids entertained. Head to the Valley of the Waves with its world-class water slides before navigating the archaeologically themed Maze of the Lost City. Younger kids will love a ride on the miniature Stimela Train or Finders Keepers, where they can dig for treasure.

After lunch, there's still plenty more to explore. Opt for a mental challenge at BreakOut as you and the kids work together to solve a series of puzzles and problems to escape a locked room or head to Crocodile Village to watch the spectacle of feeding time. There's even an on-site cinema where you and the kids can enjoy some downtime in the company of the latest blockbusters. 

Days 10-11: Additional Activities at Sun City

The following two days are yours to relax and unwind fully. Water babies can enjoy a range of activities, from gliding along the relaxing Lazy River to the adrenaline rush of the Roaring Lagoon wave pool, with its 6-foot (2 m) waves every 90 seconds. Take a spin on Viper and Mamba tube rides, or take a deep breath and brave the Temple of Courage, with its 56-foot (17 m) near vertical drop. If that sounds too strenuous, amble to the beach bar for a cool drink and post-swim snack. 

Families seeking adventure on land should head to the Chimp & Zee rope adventure park. Soar across ziplines, navigate rope bridges, and tackle the balance beams and hanging spider nets for an adrenaline rush in the treetops. Alternatively, challenge the family to a mini golf tournament, get muddy at the mini quad biking track, or head to the on-site spa and make use of the resort's creche facilities.

A visit to the Forest of Lights is a must in the evening. Discover twinkling lights and hidden pathways as you stroll among the beautiful light installation that will captivate kids, both big and small. Afterward, either enjoy one of the nightly spectacular live shows or head to one of the resort's many family-friendly restaurants and recount your favorite trip experiences so far.

Day 12: Transfer to Johannesburg

Say goodbye to Sun City this morning as you drive three hours southeast to Johannesburg, South Africa's most diverse, vibrant, progressive, and welcoming city. With a fantastic dining, music, and arts scene, its family-friendly Gold Reef City Theme Park, and proximity to Soweto, South Africa's largest township, the city wears its culture, activism, and optimism with pride. 

Check in at your hotel, and then, depending on the kid's ages, you have several options. Families with younger children in need of burning off some energy, and seeking fun rides and activities, should head to Gold Reef City. Spend a thrilling few hours as you try out the numerous rides and jump to your heart's content in the trampoline park before dining at one of the nearby family-friendly restaurants.

If the kids are a little older, go for a walking tour of the Maboneng Precinct, a former industrial zone that has been transformed into a vibrant part of the city. Maboneng, a Sotho word for "Place of Light," is a fitting name for a neighborhood that has quickly become a center for creative urban artists. There are plenty of art galleries and historical museums, perfect for curious older kids. Afterward, head to the 50-story Carlton Center for a bird's eye view of the city. 

Day 13: Soweto Guided Tour & Storytelling Dinner

Families with older kids who want a better understanding of South Africa's Apartheid era and the struggle to end segregation should take a guided visit to the nearby township of Soweto. Discover the former homes of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu and the Hector Pieterson Memorial as you learn about the township's importance as a center of civil unrest. In the evening, you'll enjoy a traditional dinner under the stars as you and the kids share food and hear stories from former students, artists, and musicians who lived through and were part of the 1976 uprisings. 

Day 14: Depart Johannesburg

Sadly today marks you and your family's last day in South Africa. With hearts full of adventure and memories to last a lifetime, head to the airport, drop off your rental car, and catch your flight home. Safe travels!

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