South Africa Family Adventure

Imagine a destination that includes penguin colonies, horseback riding on the beach, ancient cave dwellings, herds of elephant, prides of lions and the famed Southern Cross—your kids will have the time of their lives (and you will too!) Your family adventure begins in beautiful Cape Town, the “mother city” of South Africa. Two action-packed days of discovery include a hike across Table Mountain, biking in Cape Peninsula Park, horseback riding near Misty Cliffs and, especially appreciated by the parents, a bit of wine tasting at one of South Africa’s famed vineyards. Then it’s a short flight to Durban for some awesome hiking in the “soul of the Zulu Kingdom”, the Drakensberg Mountains. This is hands-down some of the most stunning scenery in all of Africa!  Another flight and we’re off to enjoy several days of terrific wildlife viewing in the private Manyeleti Game Preserve that borders Kruger National Park.  With no restricting fences between the preserve and the park, wildlife roams freely, offering unparalleled viewing of the Big Five and so much more. Intimate luxury camps and lovely lodges ensure your comfort throughout.  This is the stuff of long-lasting family memories.  Cameras, binocs and sense of adventure required!

Learn more about REI Family Adventures.

Important Notice: Day 1 is the day you should plan to arrive at the meeting point for the trip. This may require departing your hometown one or more days in advance and traveling on an overnight flight.

South Africa Family Adventure Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Your trip begins today in Cape Town, at the tip of South Africa.  You will be met at the airport and transferred to your lodging for the evening.  Located in the entertainment hub of Cape Town, your hotel is one of a kind. Not only will you enjoy all the amenities that you’d expect of a fine hotel, you can climb its five-story climbing wall, swim around the hotel restaurant (literally!) and sip on a gourmet milkshake!  You’ll love it, and the kids will too!  Dinner on your own.

• Day 2

  After an early breakfast we’re off to the base of Table Mountain.  A scenic, four-minute ride on a cable car offers breathtaking 360° views to the top of the peak.  Table Mountain (3561’) is Cape Town’s icon and is known to be one of the most spiritual places on earth.  Enjoy a hike across the flat-topped mountain and then down to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens via Maclear’s Beacon.  Enjoy a picnic lunch before reaching Kirstenbosch; once at the gardens take time to wander and snap photographs. We make a brief stop at the Groot Constantia Wine Estate for a wine tasting—a little treat for the adults. This estate was established in 1685 and, as important as the wine itself, the heritage of the estate would be incomplete without enjoying its beautiful setting complete with gardens, ponds and pathways.  The evening is at your leisure to wander around the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, a hive of activity with many interesting shops, restaurants, bars, an aquarium and street performers. Breakfast, lunch included.
  
  Hiking: 3 miles / 2 hours.

• Day 3

  Today is a full day of active exploration of the Cape Peninsula beginning with a drive along the Indian Ocean to Simonstown, where we stop to see the resident Jackass penguin colony at Boulders Beach.  Then it’s on to Cape Peninsula National Park where we jump on our mountain bikes (helmets provided) for an easy two-hour ride through this unique reserve of indigenous flora and fauna, unspoilt white sandy breaches, dramatic vistas and animal species such as zebra and ostrich.  (This is a vehicle-supported ride).  Enjoy a delicious seafood lunch before hiking to the lighthouse viewpoint overlooking Cape Point, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.
  
  Next it’s off to Misty Cliffs where we saddle up for a horseback ride along the water’s edge towards Chapmans Peak. This fun ride is suitable for beginners, and ponies are available for the younger crowd).  Enjoy dinner back in Cape Town at a wonderful restaurant specializing in the spicy flavors of African cuisine. All meals included.
  
  Biking: 2 hours hardpacked roads and trails; Horseback riding: 2 hours along the beach. 

• Day 4

  Early morning departure for flight to Durban (2-hour flight).  You are met upon arrival and transferred by private vehicle inland to the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park.  Referred to as “the soul of the Zulu Kingdom”, this park is blessed with some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Africa. Think craggy peaks and soaring mountains, red sandstone cliffs, sweeping grassland valleys and sparkling cascades cutting through deep gorges, then throw in the ancient cave dwellings and rock art paintings of the vanished hunter-gatherer San (Bushman) people, and there’s little wonder that uKhahlamba-Drakensberg is a World Heritage site!  For the next two nights we stay in the Didima-Cathedral Peak area of the park where there are numerous hiking trails for exploration. Our lodging is themed around the art of the San people with each comfortable chalet opening up to an awesome view.  All meals included.

• Day 5

  Wake up to the quiet and the solitude of the Drakensberg and lace up your boots for a great day of hiking.  Your guide will discuss with you the specific trail options, but they could include such hikes as through the picturesque Rainbow Gorge (3.5 miles) or through the Tarn and Tryme Hills for grand views of the escarpment with its ramparts and spires (6.5 miles) or perhaps to the Blue Pool and Nyosi Grotto in the Cathedral Peak area (3.5 miles).  Whichever trail(s) hiked, your day will be filled with wonder.  Keep your eyes open for the mountain reedbuck, a troop of baboons or the huge bearded vulture overhead.  Visit the San Rock Art Interpretive Center to learn more about the “first people” of this area.  Gather in the evening around one of the lodge’s fireplaces, swap stories of the day before retiring.  All meals included.

• Day 6

  We bid farewell to the Drakensberg for an early morning transfer to Pietermaritzburg and our flight to Johannesburg (1 ½ hour flight). We then hop on another short flight (1 hour) north to Hoedspruit where we are met and transferred to the Manyeleti Game Reserve bordering Kruger National Park.  This is a true Big Five Reserve and the next two full days are all about wildlife!  In addition to seeing lion, buffalo, leopard, elephant and rhino, being on safari is much more than viewing the “big five”.  There’s an enormous array of mammals and bird life: antelope, zebra, giraffe, cheetah, warthogs, hippos and every other animal that you might hope to see in the wild while on safari.  The name Manyeleti, means 'Place of the Stars' in the local Shangaan language – this is so appropriate as you have the opportunity to watch the magnificent Southern Constellation twinkling brightly in the black African skies.  Located in semi-woodland and savannah plains, our intimate lodging is classic African luxury tenting—big tents with all the en-suite amenities.  Manyeleti is situated away from the mainstream tourist areas so you can count on experiencing the tranquility of the African Bush in absolute seclusion. All meals included.

• Day 7-8

  Two full days of spectacular wildlife viewing!  Manyeleti is all about family fun offering child-oriented, ranger-led activities and game drives.  Each day, kids eagerly pile into the safari vehicles, parents in tow, for a morning of wildlife spotting and checking off their wildlife list. Late afternoon game drives often extend into the early evening and after sunset in order to spot nocturnal animals as they begin their hunting forays. In specially designed open safari vehicles, qualified guides and trackers accompany each game drive to insure the best sightings while teaching about wildlife both big and small. In addition to game drives and walks with parents, safari activities designed specifically for kids and staffed by trained rangers happen throughout your stay. There’s even a kid’s menu that guarantees their culinary tastes are satisfied while parents enjoy elegant dining under the stars.  In the evening on the open terrace, gather around the campfire for African stories while listening to the nocturnal sounds of the African bush. After each full day, collapse in bed under lovely down duvets and enjoy a sound sleep.  All meals included.

• Day 9

  Wake up one final time to the freshness of an African dawn, enjoy one last morning game drive and hearty breakfast before bidding your guides farewell. Transfer to Hoedspruit and your flight to Johannesburg and connections homeward.  Breakfast included. 

Note on Itinerary:

Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

Single Travelers:

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on the trip itinerary.  If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available.  If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is half of the full single supplement.  Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms available on most departures.

Price Includes:

All accommodations; all park entrance and permit fees; meals as noted in the daily itinerary; services of expert bilingual guide throughout; specialized support staff as needed; private safari vehicles and transfers; airport transfers if arriving / departing with group.

Not Included:

Round-trip international airfare; domestic airfare within South Africa (mandatory $550 internal flight fee or $350 internal flight fee for kids 11 years an under); travel insurance; excess baggage charges; 2 dinners; alcoholic beverages; any optional activities beyond the specified itinerary; optional gratuities to your guides; and items of a personal nature. 

Special Payment and Cancellation Policy:

In addition to the $400 deposit required to reserve your space (fully refundable up to 91 days prior to departure), the cost of the internal flights ($550) is also due at the time of registration. This payment is due in full and is non-refundable unless REI Adventures cancels your departure for any reason. If you needed to cancel your participation on this trip for a reason covered by your optional Travel Insurance plan, this flight cost would be reimbursable by that plan.

Qualifications:

This safari/hiking trip is rated Easy Active [2].  Safaris are not physically demanding but they are in remote locations over rough terrain. The hiking is easy to moderate and may depend upon the particular option you select (several options will be made available when in the Drakensberg mountains). While the hiking on Table Mountain in Cape Town is level and downhill it does require careful footing as it is rocky and steep in sections. This trip is perfect for active people in good health and with the spirit of adventure.  The cycling in Cape Peninsula Park requiring some trail riding (on fairly flat terrain – nothing technical).

Weather:

In the winter months of June to August the average temperatures are between 50° to 70° with cool mornings and evenings.  It will typically be milder in Cape Town than either the Drakensberg or Manyeleti Parks during this time. While these are the wetter months in Cape Town they are the drier months in the interior and are considered prime time for safaris.  December falls in the summer with highs pleasantly in the 80s, less chance of rain in Cape Town than in the winter months and a greater chance for rainfall when in the interior.

General Information:

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable on safari is layering.  To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation.  This gear list is provided to help you in choosing your equipment and clothing for this trip.  Try to bring only what is necessary, as this helps you and the field staff.

Weather

In the winter months of June to August the average temperatures are between 50° to 70° with cool mornings and evenings. It will typically be milder in Cape Town than either the Drakensberg or Manyeleti Parks during this time. While these are the wetter months in Cape Town they are the drier months in the interior and are considered prime time for safaris. December falls in the summer with highs pleasantly in the 80s, less chance of rain in Cape Town than in the winter months and a greater chance for rainfall when in the interior.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Please remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, a change of clothing and medications in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed.
• Copies of birth certificates – It's become quite common these days for a family to have more than one surname. Maybe a mother has kept her maiden name, or perhaps the children are from different unions. Whatever the reason, you'll want to be able to prove that, yes, these kids are yours. (Even if you are the nuclear family, copies of birth certificates aren't a bad thing to have along if your passports are lost or stolen.)
• Parental permission – If you’re traveling with your kids without your spouse, you may need proof that the absent parent has given permission for the child to travel with you. It’s simple enough to write up a letter, sign it, have it witnessed and notarized. Or, you may use the Letter of Consent to Travel REI Adventures provides for your convenience.  Be sure to take this with you on your trip and keep it handy.
• Casual attire is acceptable for Africa.  Neutral, light colored clothing is best for the safari, to blend into the landscape and not alarm the wildlife. Khaki or olive are always good colors while on safari.
• Laundry services are available at most lodges for an additional cost.
• Stuff sacks are great for sorting your gear.  Plastic bags are also helpful to separate clean and dirty clothing.
• If you normally wear contacts, bring a pair of glasses in case of irritation from dust in your eyes.
• Many of the roads in Africa are rutted and dusty.  It is a good idea to pack camera equipment and binoculars in plastic bags to protect them from the dust.  This is in addition to their normal cases.  Also bring lens cleaning materials.

Feel free to give us a call at 800-622-2236 should you have any questions regarding the gear list.  The staff at our stores and Direct Sales (800-426-4840) will be happy to help you with gear questions.  Or visit REI’s website at www.rei.com. The “Expert Advice” section has great information to help you prepare for your trip.