SOUTH AFRICA FAMILY ADVENTURE ITINERARY:
Days 1 and 2 — New York/Cape Town, South Africa
Depart New York on an overnight flight to Cape Town via
Johannesburg. Upon arrival, check into your hotel, located just
steps from the elegant Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, and enjoy
dinner on your own. Portswood Hotel
Day 3 — Cape Town
Cape Town is nestled in a verdant basin between rocky peaks and
laced with parks. Rising from its midst is the iconic Table
Mountain, a soaring plateau that creates a dramatic backdrop for
the city. If weather permits, ascend by revolving cable car to
the top of the mountain, and take in views of the city and its
bays from 3,500 feet above. Then pay a visit to the South
African Cultural History Museum, housed in a former slave lodge.
In the Bo-Kaap, a historic district settled by the Cape Malay
people of Southeast Asia, see brightly painted cottages that
line cobbled streets. After lunch on your own, set out on a
cruise to Robben Island, the island prison where Nelson Mandela
was incarcerated for 18 years. Discover the fascinating history
of the now defunct jail on a tour guided by one of its former
prisoners. Tonight, gather for a welcome dinner. (B, D)
Day 4 — Cape Peninsula
Trace the stunning coast of the Cape Peninsula to the Cape
of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Hike or ride a funicular to the
summit of Cape Point, where rugged cliffs cut deep into the
water, marking the boundary between the Indian and the Atlantic
Oceans. Spot African penguins on Boulders Beach, and stop in the
vibrant fishing village of Kalk Bay. Return to Cape Town and
explore the city on your own. (B)
Day 5 — Grootbos Private Nature Reserve
Travel to Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, and settle into
chalets overlooking Walker Bay. Here, naturalists will introduce
you to the fynbos, an unusual family of plants that exists only
on South Africa's Western Cape. Venture along meandering paths,
spotting interesting flora, brilliant sunbirds, and weaver birds
hard at work. Take an optional horseback ride and help feed the
livestock. Gather for dinner at the lodge tonight.
Grootbos Private Nature Reserve (B, L, D)
Day 6 — Grootbos Private Nature Reserve
Wander through a tangle of thousand-year-old trees in a milkwood
forest, and participate in a tree-planting ceremony to help
preserve this rare natural treasure. Then hike down to the beach
to explore a vast complex of coastal caves inhabited during the
Stone Age. Stop in at a township to visit a traditional
bead-making workshop. (B, L, D)
Day 7 — Grootbos Private Nature Reserve
Cruise Walker Bay to look for southern right whales — some as
massive as 40 tons. Sail to an island refuge where colonies of
cormorants, terns, and African penguins intermingle, and witness
the underwater antics of a 60,000-strong Cape fur seal colony.
If you choose, muster your courage for an optional cage dive and
come face-to-face — safely — with a great white shark. (B, D)
Day 8 — Cape Town/Nelspruit/Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve
After breakfast, return to Cape Town for a flight to Nelspruit.
Transfer to your lodge within the Sabi Sands Game Reserve.
Gather for lunch on the veranda before your first game drive.
With your expert ranger and tracker, search for Africa's Big
Five. Pause for a sundowner as the sun melts into the horizon,
and dine under the stars in a boma enclosure. Sabi Sabi
Private Game Reserve (B, L, D)
Day 9 — Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve
Rise early this morning and head out on safari. Look for
elephant families munching leaves; lions lolling in the sun; and
kudu and impalas prancing nervously through the grasses, hoping
to evade predators. After breakfast, join a ranger on a walking
safari to discover the plant life and smaller animals of the
bush. On a late afternoon game drive, watch for emerging
nocturnal animals. (B, L, D)
Day 10 — Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve
After an early morning safari, journey to a nearby village to
pay a visit to the Sam Nzima Primary School, founded by a
celebrated photographer involved in the struggle against
apartheid. Meet schoolchildren, play soccer, and check in on a
project established by National Geographic to bring an Internet
connection to the school. Return in time for an afternoon game
drive before a festive farewell dinner. (B, L, D)
Days 11 and 12 — Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve/Johannesburg/New
York
As the sun rises on the savanna, set out on your final safari.
Return to the lodge for breakfast before driving through the
rolling lowveld to Johannesburg. Board an evening flight,
arriving home the next day. (B, L)
Back to NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
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