On arrival at Cape Town Airport you will be met by a representative from AAA Travel and transferred to your first accommodation. Take a city sight seeing bus to orientate yourself with the Mother City. Your hired car can be delivered today or first thing tomorrow depending on your arrival time.
Make you way up the iconic Table Mountain either by cable car or by hiking Platteklip Gorge if you are needing to stretch your legs after your long flight. Scootouring through the Bo-Kaap afterwards is a great way to explore the area too and finish the day with a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium located in the V&A Waterfront
You can either self drive or have a full day trip to explore the Cape Peninsula - driving through Camps Bay and Hout Bay and over scenic Chapman's Peak through Noordhoek ( have a coffee break and walk on "5 mile beach") then continue through Scarborough to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Then to Boulders Beach to see the penguins and to end the day the kids will love spending time picking through a carpet of semi-precious stones at the Scratch Patch.
Head to the best land based whale watching destination in the world but stop en route at the Cheetah Outreach centre to learn more about the fastest animal in the world!
On arrival in Hermanus go for a leisurely walk along the coastal path and hopefully see some whales ( in season - July -November)
If you are visiting out of whale season an alternative could be to visit Skeiding Guest Farm near Swellendam and have two days on a farm - kids will love it as there is so much to do
Take a boat trip to get as close as is allowed to see whales and dolphins.
In the afternoon explore the Hemel-en-Aarde wine valley region.
Head inland and take scenic Route 62 to Oudtshoorn.
Explore the Cango Caves and visit an ostrich farm to learn about the flightless ostrich and see their enormous eggs !
Cango Caves
Cango Ostrich Farm
Back towards the coast and head to Knysna
Explore the Knysna Waterfront, take a boat trip across the lagoon to the Featherbed Nature Reserve or hike or cycle in Harkerville Forest located half way between Knysna & Plettenberg Bay. Just past Plettenberg bay lies Monkeyland and Birds of Eden - both well worth a visit to get up close to these creatures.
A short trip through Tsitsikamma to Storms River where there is lots to do - definitely walk the suspension bridge and pluck up the courage to do the Tree Top Canopy (zipline tour) - both are well worth it.
Drive via Port Elizabeth to Addo area. ( if there is a surfer in the family then extend the trip by a day or two to spend some time in Jeffreys Bay which has some of the best waves in South Africa!)
Explore the Addo Elephant Park either in your own vehicle or you can hop on a guided game drive
A short flight from Port Elizabeth to Durban and then head up the north coast of KwaZulu Natal to St Lucia. A sunset boat cruise on the lake is a perfect end to the day as you should see crocodiles and hippos aplenty.
Take either a morning or afternoon or even a full day game drive into the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Reserve where if you are lucky enough you should see some great wildlife including rhinoceros.
Cross over into Swaziland and stop at the local markets and visit the famous glass factory and candle factory.
Stay either in Mlilwane with its iconic bee hive structures or you could stay at Mkhaya and spend a night or two in their Fred Flintstone type stone huts! Both have game drives on offer.
Hire some bikes, do some horse riding or enjoy a cultural experience.
Head back into South African and make your way into the Kruger National Park - enjoy searching for the Big 5 while you make to your way to your next accommodation on the edge of the park. Arrive in time for a sunset game drive.
Wake up early for a morning game drive and see the animals at their most active. spend the day in the park and then head for Hazyview for the next couple of nights - You could also swap this night in Hazyview for a night in the park.
Nkambeni Tented Lodge
Do a full day panorama route drive visiting Gods Window, Bourkes Luck Potholes and Blyde River Canyon. Stop in Pilgrims Rest for the kids to try panning for gold.
Hot Air Ballooning Hazyview
Make your way to Pretoria - stop en route in Dullstroom for a spot of trout fishing or or indulge in some pancakes at the famous Harries Pancakes.
Trout Fishing Dullstroom
Depending on the time of your flight you can spend the morning or a full day in Pretoria ( visit Kruger House & the Union Buildings) or Soweto and / or the Apartheid Museum learning about the history of South Africa . Cycling in Soweto is always fun way to get to know about the different communities within Soweto. Kids would also love a quick visit to Gold Reef City theme park to expend some energy on all the rides before catching the flight home.
