Cape Wildlife Family Adventures

Click on an image below to enlarge

Day 1

(Sat) Cape Town
Cape Town – or The Mother City, as its warmly known – is recognised as one of the world’s most strikingly beautiful cities, and for visitors, there’s no finer place to examine the exquisite lie of the land than from the cable car as you travel right up to the very top of aptly-named Table Mountain. The views from on high are breathtaking. Today, it’s about the seals, penguins and the natural beauty of the Cape, and we continue our journey with a fascinating tour of Seal island, where you’ll be up close and personal with these glossy, sleek seals which crowd on and around this little island – you’ll be metres away from these appealing creatures, close enough to view both their habitat and behaviour patterns. We leave the water for the land, and snake our way along the curves of Chapman’s Peak Drive, relishing the unique natural landscape en route to the famed Cape Of Good Hope Nature Reserve, and enjoying wonderful vegetation unique to this corner of Africa. After lunch (own account), we’re off to Boulders Beach, not just any beach, but one with a wooden walkway which provides access to a superb view site to watch a colony of penguins doing what penguins do in their natural habitat. It’s a real treat, for the children in particular, for penguins are not only cute, but in their vaguely formal garb, amusing too!
Accommodation: Protea Hotel President or similar

Day 2

Day 2: (Sun) Cape Town
From a menacing ragged tooth shark to a dainty Knysna seahorse, adults and children alike will marvel at the wealth of sea life and their intriguing habitats at the renowned Two Oceans Aquarium at Cape Town’s Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. With over 3 000 sea creatures living in this diverse underwater nature reserve, it’s a morning spent in an entirely new magical world. The V&A Waterfront is a vast shopping, eating, entertainment and residential complex set unusually in a vibrant, living, working harbour – you have the afternoon at leisure to explore this fascinating retail, commercial and natural environment and enjoy its innumerable attractions.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel President or similar

Day 3

Day 3: (Mon) Cape Town
Historical, glorious Stellenbosch is the warm and wonderful heart of the Cape Winelands, surrounded by breathtaking wine estates. We enjoy a brief exploration of the little lanes, galleries and appealing architecture of this quaint historical town, before visiting the Cheetah Outreach facility sited on the renowned Spier wine estate – here you’ll have the rare privilege of interacting closely with hand-raised ambassador cheetahs. After the adrenaline subsides, we’ll relax with a gourmet picnic on the tranquil lawns of Spier, while the children expend their energy in the playground. After lunch, we’ll be introduced to two Owls and an Eagle – experienced bird handlers ensure that Wally, the Wahlberg’s Eagle, Fagan, the Barn Owl, and Sykes, the spotted Eagle Owl meet you under perfect conditions. Getting this close to these birds is an experience you’re unlikely to repeat, so enjoy it to the full.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel President or similar

Day 4

Day 4: (Tue) Cape Town
After the wild excitement of the previous days – and those still to come – take the day off! It’s the perfect opportunity to embark on a tour of Robben Island – own account – and get a real sense of the harshness of lives led by Nelson Mandela and others, for the good of all. If you have time thereafter, why not laze by the pool, stroll on the promenade, or visit the superb shopping malls.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel Riempie or similar

Day 5

Day 5: (Wed) Oudtshoorn
This morning, we set off for the fabulous feather capital of the world! Oudtshoorn, and its ostriches. The journey there along Route 62 is uniquely beautiful to this corner of the country, and we celebrate that with a traditional South African lunch (own account) at the Country Pumpkin in Barrydale. What will it be? Karoo lamb curry, Cape Malay Bobotie, Pot Pie or Venison? Enjoy. Our trip continues deep into the heart of ostrich country, and as we approach the farms of Oudtshoorn, the landscape becomes increasingly dotted with these large, slightly comical, flightless birds. Who’ll be riding one tomorrow?
Accommodation: Protea Hotel Riempie or similar

Day 6

Day 6: (Thu) Oudtshoorn
Rise and shine, we have an action-packed day ahead! From the intriguing facts and fiction of crocodiles, to the extreme beauty of the cheetahs at the Cango Wildlife Ranch, we top that by an exploration of the famous Cango Caves. The majesty of these dripstone caverns opening into vast halls of towering stalagmite and stalactite formations will simply take your breath away. You’ve earned a hearty lunch by now, and we’ve chosen authentic South African hospitality and fare in the legendary Kobus Se Gat restaurant , with the Swartberg Mountains as your backdrop. If you’ve been longing to ride that ostrich, here’s your chance. At Safari Ostrich Farm, you’ll not only learn about the lives of these hardy, enigmatic creatures, but the brave can sit on one, and the adventurous can attempt to ride one!
Accommodation: Protea Hotel Riempie or similar

Day 7

Day 7: (Fri) Knysna
Today, we look forward to extreme beauty, a wealth of wildlife and a little decadence! After a hearty breakfast, our day begins as we traverse the breathtaking Outeniqua Pass , travel via the charming town of George to one of South Africa’s most beautiful and popular resorts, Knysna, heart of the famously picturesque Garden Route and renowned for its glorious oysters...which, of course, we need to test and taste. They’re world class! We visit the Elephant Sanctuary where we’re given the opportunity to get up close to these gentle giants. From land to air, we tour the Birds of Eden , an internationally acclaimed free flight bird sanctuary with a massive 2 hectare dome, the largest in the world. Alongside is Monkeyland, a free roaming multi-species primate sanctuary, and you’re at leisure to amble around marvelling at the cute and crazy antics of the many different species of monkeys and lemurs.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel Knysna Quays or similar

Day 8

Day 8: (Sat) Knysna
A day of leisure and pleasure awaits you and your family, and it’s all at your own pace. We recommend a number of optional extra activities, from a serene, leisurely cruise on the Knysna Lagoon enjoying the sight of the gigantic cliffs which form the Knysna Heads, to an organized excursion to the Featherbed Nature Reserve, a National Heritage Site accessed only by ferry, and home to the endangered blue duiker antelope. The day is yours.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel Knysna Quays or similar

Day 9

Day 9: (Sun) Addo National Park
We’re off on safari! Our journey continues eastwards through the glorious indigenous Tsitsikamma Forest to Addo Elephant National Park. This is South Africa’s third largest national park, and home to one of the densest populations of African elephant on earth. The Park boasts the Big Five - elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard - and your hosts at Kuzuko Lodge will undoubtedly endeavour to facilitate your viewing of as many of them as possible, as you enjoy a fully inclusive experience, including game drives, from the professional lodge staff and game rangers.
Accommodation: Kuzuko Lodge or similar

Day 10

Day 10: (Mon) Addo National Park
You won’t want to sleep in! A quick coffee, and we’re off to follow the animal tracks. It’s a glorious day in Africa, filled with safari activities, and we’re on the trail of elephant...
Accommodation: Kuzuko Lodge or similar

Day 11

Day 11: (Tue) Port Elizabeth
We’ll tuck into a good breakfast this morning, for it’s the last day of your South African family safari. No rush, enjoy your last hours here, for it’s only later that morning, you’ll be transferred to Port Elizabeth airport for your flight homewards, carrying a few souvenirs, great photographs, and a whole lot of extraordinary memories to share with those back home.