Highlights
- Summit Table Mountain by cable car
- Make friends with the adorable penguins on Boulders Beach
- Play the djembe drums and experience African theater and Mali puppetry
- Take a sunrise safari at Pilanesberg National Park
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Cape Town, Explore | Cape Town |
| Day 2 | Table Mountain Cable Car, Cape Town Guided Walk, Escape Room | Cape Town |
| Day 3 | Bloemendal Wine Estate Family Day, Kids Pizza Making at Strolla | Cape Town |
| Day 4 | Tour Cape Point, Boulders Beach African Penguins | Cape Town |
| Day 5 | Cape Town Aquarium, African Dinner & Theater Experience | Cape Town |
| Day 6 | Fly to Pilanesberg National Park, Big Five Safari | Pilanesberg National Park |
| Day 7 | Sunrise Game Drive, Transfer to Sun City | Sun City |
| Day 8 | Relaxed Family Day in Sun City | Sun City |
| Day 9 | Transfer to Johannesburg, Guided Visit to Soweto | Johannesburg |
| Day 10 | Depart Johannesburg |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town, Explore
Welcome to South Africa! Nicknamed "Rainbow Nation" by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, this extraordinary country is a melting pot of diversity home to people of Indigenous Khoisan and Bantu, European, Asian, and mixed-race ancestry. The country offers incredible diversity and fantastic nature, wildlife, culture, and history, making it a truly remarkable destination for visitors and families.
Upon arrival, a driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your Cape Town hotel, your base, for the next few 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 Guided Walk, Escape Room
It's your first full day in South Africa! After breakfast, meet your guide and whiz up the iconic Table Mountain by cable car. Kids will have fun in the rotating carriage that gives spectacular views over Robben Island and Signal Hill. Treat the kids to ice cream when you reach the top, and enjoy a walk around the top 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 V&A Waterfront and dine at one of the many child-friendly restaurants overlooking the ocean.
With appetites satisfied, you have several options for the afternoon. 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, Kids 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 colorful candies.
If the kids are on a sugar rush, steer them toward the enormous sand pit while older kids can participate in an endless variety of 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 pizzaioli (pizza makers) and create their edible masterpieces. Treat yourselves to a cocktail as you toast your holiday adventures while the kids relax in the restaurant's kid-themed games room.
Day 4: Tour Cape Point, Boulders Beach African Penguins
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
This morning, embark on an unforgettable tour as you and the family head on a scenic drive south around Chapman's Peak and down to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cape Point. Here on the tip of the famous Cape Peninsula, discover fabulous beaches, lighthouses, and magnificent views across the ocean. Kids will adore a Flying Dutchman funicular railway trip, where the vantage point from the iconic lighthouse at the top offers stunning views across both the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.
If the younger ones thought the cable car was fun, wait until they see the adorable penguins at the Boulders Beach African Penguin Sanctuary. View the endangered African penguins up close via a network of wooden walkways before heading to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. With a world-famous reputation, the gardens' setting against the grandeur of Table Mountain is hard to beat. With over 1,303 acres (528 ha) to explore, take one of the trails and admire the colorful flora and fauna as you stroll among a collection of over 7,000 plant species.
Day 5: Cape Town Aquarium, African Dinner & Theater Experience
Spend a relaxed last day in Cape Town, soaking up the 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 Knysna seahorses, cryptic klipfish, and sea stars.
Day 6: 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, or 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 7: 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 one last exploration as you wave goodbye to Pilanesberg and take a short drive to Sun City.
Suppose the little ones are sad to leave their safari adventure behind. In that case, the epic holiday resort of Sun City is tailor-made for families, with plenty of activities to keep kids of all ages entertained. Enjoy an aqua adventure at Waterworld Lake, challenge the family to a mini golf tournament, or get muddy at the mini quad biking track. In the evening, choose one of the many family-friendly restaurants to dine in and recount your favorite memories from the day.
Day 8: Relaxed Family Day in Sun City
Take some time out with the family today as you relax and continue to explore Sun City. If the kids need to burn off some steam, either head to Valley of the Waves with its world-class water slides or get lost in The Maze of the Lost City. The largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the maze recreates the illusion of an ancient archaeological discovery. Younger kids will love a railroad adventure on the Stimela Train or Finders Keepers, where they can dig for treasure.
After lunch, there's still plenty more to explore if you have the energy! 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.
Day 9: Transfer to Johannesburg, Guided Visit to Soweto
Say goodbye to Sun City this morning as you transfer 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.
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 10: 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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