Family Safari in South Africa

Tour Overview

Itinerary

DAYS 1—4 | JULY 4—7, 2018 | CAPETOWN @ LAWHILL APARTMENTS

WELCOME TO SOUTH AFRICA!

Welcome to South Africa! Upon your arrival into Cape Town, you will be greeted at your gate and escorted through customs and immigration. Bags in hand, you will be taken via private transfer to your luxury accommodations at the Lawhill Apartments. The next 3 days in Cape Town will be spent at your leisure. Recommended activities are included, including activities specifically tailored to families and children.

ABOUT CAPE TOWN

Resting at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans and sandwiched between the slopes of the iconic Table Mountain and the glistening sapphire waters of Table Bay, the exceptionally scenic city of Cape Town is in a class of its own. Some cities boast rich culture, vibrant nightlife, a cosmopolitan atmosphere, and extraordinary architecture, while others boast breath-taking landscapes and extraordinary natural wonders. Cape Town, is lucky enough to be blessed with all of these attractions and so much more. With its bustling harbor, world-class beaches, top-notch vineyards, and its mountainous surroundings brimming with diverse flora and fauna, Cape Town consistently captivates the hearts of all who visit. 

LAWHILL APARTMENTS

These up market apartments are brand spanking new and offer all the luxuries of a modern city apartment to guests who seek a great space to relax and rest up in. Each of our apartments offer a spacious living area for entertaining guests or simply taking some time out before and after a busy day of exploring and discovering. Lawhill Luxury Apartments are not only new, but also perfectly situated for guests who are visiting South Africa and Cape Town. Lawhill’s apartments are situated next to the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town which is conveniently close to the Cape Town Stadium. Modern and trendy décor will make the most discerning of guests feel right at home.

DEPART CAPE TOWN

On the morning of July 7th, you will be transferred to Cape Town (CPT) International Airport for your 1-hour commercial flight to Port Elizabeth.

DAYS 4—7 | JULY 7—10, 2018 | KWANDE PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

WELCOME TO KWANDWE!

Upon arrival in Port Elizabeth, you will be met by your guides and escorted via private road transfer to Kwandwe Private Game Reserve and the Kwandwe Ecca Lodge.

ABOUT KWANDWE PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

Nestled in the heart of South Africa’s unspoiled Eastern Cape province is Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, a world-class Big Five safari destination in 22,000-hectares of pristine private wilderness. Renowned for understated luxury, exquisite scenery, and the thousands of animals and wildlife that call the Reserve home, Kwandwe offers a range of accommodation options and activities to make every African Dream come true.

KWANDWE ECCA LODGE (with Two Private Game Vehicles)

Ecca Lodge is intimate, relaxed, stylish, and trendy, and is emblazoned with the vibrant colors and textures of the African people. Set in thick vegetation overlooking a dense valley, Ecca Lodge offers breathtaking views onto an escarpment of steep shale cliffs. Expansive wooden viewing decks provide the ideal setting to soak up the bushveld atmosphere with a leisurely lunch or a sundowner drink. Rooms are airy and open, with barely a barrier between the indoors and the African bush. Highlights of the guest areas include the open interactive kitchen, a gorgeous rim-flow lap pool, and the nearby interpretive library.

SAFARI ACTIVITIES (at Kwandwe, Madikwe, & Jamala)

On safari, your days are designed to thrill you with intimate wildlife encounters, and your evenings to delight you with the indulgence and romance of the African night. You will have access to the following activities:

DAILY GAME DRIVES | Explore the natural splendor of Africa on early morning and late afternoon / evening game drives in an open 4x4 safari vehicle. An armed ranger and tracker team share their extensive knowledge of the bush with you as you track the Big Five, as well as a variety of other wildlife. On morning drives, guests have the opportunity to see the predators winding up their nocturnal hunts and settling in for the day. Many animals take advantage of the cool morning hours to graze before the heat of the day. In the late afternoon, wildlife can often be spotted coming down to the river to drink. Night drives produces some unusual sightings, including aardvark, aardwolf, bat-eared fox, and porcupine.

INTERPRETIVE BUSH WALKS | In between game drives, take a closer look at the subtle, unseen wonders of the bush on a leisurely walk within easy reach of your lodge. Dense euphorbia thickets are best explored on foot, revealing a secret world of lichen, mosses and ferns. Various birds of prey and other species nest in the taller trees or in the spiny canopy. An armed ranger guides guests through ‘up close and personal’ sightings of occasional buffalo herds, various antelope species, giraffe, warthog, bushbuck or bushpig.

BIG GAME WALKING SAFARI | Experience the thrill of tracking big game (white rhino, black rhino, elephant and buffalo) on foot in the wilderness, accompanied by an armed specialist ranger and tracker team. The walks last 3 to 4 hours and typically end with a picnic lunch at a scenic spot in the bush. Not suitable for children under 16 years of age.

DEPART KWANDWE

On the morning of July 10th, you will be transferred back to Port Elizabeth Airport (PLZ) for your 1.5-hour flight to Johannesburg (JNB). Upon arrival in JNB, you will be transferred to a private airfield for your charter flight to Madikwe Game Reserve.

DAYS 7—10 | JULY 10—13, 2018 | MADIKWE GAME RESERVE

WELCOME MADIKWE GAME RESERVE!

Upon arrival at the Madikwe airfield, you will be met by your guides and transferred via private vehicle to the Madikwe Game Reserve and your accommodations at Madikwe Hills and Little Madikwe. 

ABOUT MADIKWE GAME RESERVE

The Madikwe Game Reserve is the newest of South Africa's prime safari destinations. A public-private partnership resulted in the creation of this Big Five game reserve on almost worthless cattle farms and today it is home to 66 mammal species. Madikwe is a haven of amazing diversities. The landscape has mountainous areas, plateau, rocky hills, a perennial river, seasonal wetlands, a variety of sandy and clay areas, bushveld, Kalahari veld, and savanna areas. The rich diversity of vegetation ensures a wide range of game and the topography offers ideal game viewing opportunities in a malaria-free environment. There is a good chance of seeing the ‘Magnificent Seven,’ which comprises the ‘Big Five’ as well as the rare and endangered wild dog and cheetah. The Reserve is home to the largest elephant population outside the Kruger National Park, black and white rhino, and the biggest disease free herd of buffalo in the country. In addition to these, one may see brown and spotted hyena and all other South African predators. A multitude of plains game includes giraffe, zebra, springbok and sable.  There are also large populations of wildebeest, impala and warthogs. For bird watchers, Madikwe is a must-visit destination, with the latest official bird list boasting an incredible 340 species.

MADIKWE HILLS PRIVATE GAME LODGE (with Private Game Vehicle)

Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge is situated on a hill in the heart of the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve. Ingeniously set amongst boulders and age-old Tamboti trees, the lodge offers visitors the utmost in luxury and hospitality, where you will find yourself enchanted by a world of intrigue and majestic beauty. The fully quipped gym at Madikwe Hills, with treadmill, spinning bike, rowing machine, fitness flyer, weights and bench, dumbbells and barbells and aerobic mats, allows guests to keep up with their fitness regime, or a place to release the guilt built up after indulging in mouth-watering delights.

Little Madikwe Hills

The ultimate in luxury and privacy, Little Madikwe Hills boasts an opulent self-contained 2-bedroom Private Villa accommodating 4—5 guests, with its own game drive vehicle and game ranger, as well as a personal butler to take care of your every need! A diverse wine selection, gourmet kitchen and lounge complete the picture. By reserving suites 9 and 10, Little Madikwe forms a completely private camp accommodating up to 8 guests, ideal for families and small group safaris. This Private Villa also boasts a large swimming pool and offers extended amenities to groups of guests wanting to truly get away from it all on a wildlife safari in Africa.

A personal luxury is being able to set your own meal and safari game drive times, making this the ideal, exclusive family escape in Africa. Your sumptuous gourmet experiences are enjoyed in Little Madikwe’s beautifully decorated and enchanting dining room, and prepared in the state-of-the-art gourmet kitchen by your personal chef. You can even pick up a few culinary tips whilst you watch your meal being prepared! A butler is on hand to respond to the group’s every need. A dedicated game ranger and game viewing vehicle mean that Little Madikwe’s guests can enjoy private game drives at their leisure, for as long or as short as they wish.

TRANSFER TO JAMALA MADIKWE ROYAL SAFARI LODGE

On the morning of July 13th, you will be transferred via private vehicle from Madikwe Hills to Jamala Madikwe Royal Safari Lodge, another exquisite property in the Madikwe Game Reserve.

DAYS 10—12 | JULY 13—15, 2018 | MADIKWE GAME RESERVE

ABOUT JAMALA MADIKWE ROYAL SAFARI LODGE (Exclusive Use)

Tradition and eccentricity are tastefully united in an atmosphere that knows no equal. Jamala Madikwe reflects a classic sense of style that is sufficiently robust to match the savage beauty that lies beyond. Jamala is the Swahili word for "natural elegance." Jamaal Madikwe is graceful ,stylish, pleasantly ingenious, and simple. Safari is the Swahili word that means "journey" or "to travel,” but has come to mean so very much more. Imbued with a sense of the exotic, more typically a sense of Africa, the word safari has today become symbolic of something far more romantic; it evokes images of adventure and stylish indulgence.

DEPART MADIKWE & SAY GOODBYE TO AFRICA

Your safari comes to an end on July 15th. You will be transferred to the airfield in Madikwe for your charter flight back to Johannesburg. Once there, you will be escorted to your gate for your international flight home.