Family Safari in South Africa
12 Day Sample Itinerary
South Africa is a wonderful destination for families, especially those traveling with children. Several of our preferred providers have special programs for 
children ages five and older. Specially trained rangers take them out to observe insects and collect feathers and leaves. They learn to identify various animal tracks and scat and discover the wonders of our planet. Family accommodations are offered as well as child friendly menus. Intergenerational families are easily accommodated as well as groups of families who are traveling together.
Brief Itinerary
Days 1 & 2 Johannesburg
Day 3 Fly Phinda Private Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
Days 4 - 7 Phinda Private Game Reserve
Day 8 Fly to Cape Town
Days 9 - 11 Explore Cape Town area
Day 12 Begin your journey home
Contact Duffle & Compass to custom-tailor this itinerary for your family’s interests, budget range, travel dates and accommodation preferences.
Family Safari in South Africa - Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
You will be met upon arrival at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport and transferred to an area hotel. Click here to see our preferred Johannesburg accommodations. There are many family-friendly options where you can recover from your journey with 24-hour food and beverage service, swimming pool, spa and area sightseeing.
Day 2
Take a guided tour to the Apartheid Museum, a fascinating place to learn about 20th century South Africa history. Opened in 2001, the museum celebrates the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.
Day 3
Take the scheduled shuttle flight to Phinda Private Game Reserve. Stay at Phinda Mountain Lodge or one of the exclusive use houses in this 56,800-acre private reserve.
Phinda Mountain Lodge suites are air conditioned and have a sitting area, private veranda with plunge pool and outside shower. Triple suites accommodate two adults and one child (aged 16 years or younger). There are also two family suites with interleading rooms with an optional additional bed in each.
Seven distinct habitats shelter an abundance of wildlife including Africa's Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, black and white rhino, buffalo) and over 380 bird species, while the marine diversity off the nearby coast of Sodwana is said to rival the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Days 4 - 7
Spend your days with your experienced guide exploring the wonders of Phinda -- interpretive bush walks, game-drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles, as well as canoeing and riverboat cruising. Optional activities include scenic flights over the reserve and the nearby coastline, a day at the beach, scuba diving and deep-sea fishing in the Indian Ocean. From late November to the middle of January, you can watch the gigantic leatherhead and loggerback turtles lay their eggs on the beach. Younger children can take part in specially designed programs for part of the day.
Families can also gain an insight into the local Zulu culture, history, traditions and modern day living with visits to the area communities. School visits are always wonderful experience for all ages.
Phinda Mountain Lodge offers a shaded swimming pool area for those hot afternoons. And the spacious guest areas are well-stocked with books and games for everyone to enjoy.
Day 8
Fly to Cape Town and check in at the Cape Grace or another family-friendly hotel where you can base to explore this beautiful city.
The Cape Grace sits on its own private quay on the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, where you can walk to restaurants, shops, the Two Oceans Aquarium as well as the ferry to Robben Island. The hotel offers a variety of multi-bedroom suites and interleading rooms which are idea for families.
Days 9 - 11
We can arrange some full-day or half-day tours to the Cape of Good Hope, Kirstenbosch Gardens, Table Mountain, Boulders Penguin Colony, the many beach communities, museums and craft markets. You can choose to visit the townships or Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Or perhaps you’d like to visit the picturesque Cape Winelands for wine tasting and olive oil sampling. For the adventurous ones, we can even arrange sea kayaking or shark cage diving!
Day 12
Depart for home.
Contact Duffle & Compass for the current cost of this itinerary. We will be happy to custom-tailor it for your family.
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