Family Fun in South Africa

About This Program

A 16-night family adventure spanning two game reserves, a world-class city, and a pristine coastal wilderness — from tracking lions in Marakele and watching elephant herds in Botswana's Northern Tuli, to penguins on the Cape Peninsula and whale watching from the clifftops of Hermanus. Crafted by Scott Dunn, this is the ultimate family safari combining the Big Five, cultural immersion, and coastal wonder.

South Africa is one of the world's great family destinations — a country of extraordinary contrasts where children can track lions at dawn, swim with penguins at noon, and dine under a canopy of stars by evening. This 16-night programme, crafted by Scott Dunn, weaves together four very different landscapes into a single, seamless family adventure. The journey begins in Marakele National Park, where Marataba Safari Lodge — a Leading Hotels of the World property — sits at the heart of the Waterberg Biosphere. Here, open 4x4 game drives reveal white rhino, sable antelope, buffalo, and brown hyena, while the lodge's dedicated Mack & Maddie Adventure Safari Club keeps younger guests enthralled with nature activities tailored to their age. From Marakele, the route crosses into Botswana's Northern Tuli Game Reserve, where Mashatu Main Camp — a Relais & Châteaux property — offers some of Africa's most intimate elephant encounters. The Tuli Block is home to one of the continent's largest elephant populations, and the landscape of ancient baobabs and sandstone formations is unlike anywhere else on earth. Cape Town follows: four nights at Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel — the legendary pink-painted colonial grand dame at the foot of Table Mountain. The city programme is designed for families: a cable car ascent of Table Mountain, a private Cape Peninsula drive to Boulders Beach and Cape Point, a Winelands day with child-friendly farm activities at Babylonstoren, and evenings at Cape Town's most celebrated restaurants. The journey concludes at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve near Hermanus — a Relais & Châteaux property set within a 2,500-hectare fynbos wilderness above Walker Bay. Whale watching by boat, botanical 4x4 safaris, horse riding, and visits to the Grootbos Foundation's community gardens and football programme complete an unforgettable family adventure.