Holidays
South Africa Family Lodge Safari

Refined

Holidays

South Africa Family Lodge Safari

South Africa

Available Departures: Jan, Mar, Apr, Jul, Aug, Dec

13 days from

US$3,400

Adult

US$3,290

Child

without flights

View Dates & Prices

Multi Activity

Family

LEISURELY

Lodge safari in Kruger National Park, Moholololo and Hlane game reserves, and exciting activities abound in South Africa and eSwatini.

Trip Code: FSD

Minimum child age: 6

Child discount up to and including age: 11

Our Holiday Grades Explained

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

Holidays where the focus is 3-4 days of activities or short walks, or wildlife, sightseeing. The family should have a sense of adventure and fun to enjoy these holidays.

View leisurely holidays

4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as regular walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

Suitable for fitter families who enjoy the outdoors and are capable and enjoy walking for at least 2 consecutive days, and maybe a night camping. There can be the occasional more challenging day.

View moderate holidays

7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

View challenging holidays

10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

View Tough holidays

Section:

South Africa Family Lodge Safari

Age

Swimming

Animals And Wildlife

Boat Ride

Highlights

Seek out the big 5 and countless other species on game drives with experienced guides in Kruger National Park and Moholololo, and enjoy a walking safari at Hlane.
Thrill seekers will be excited to jump onboard a toboggan ride at Long Tom Pass.
Embark on a boat cruise at the Blyde Canyon Dam and see the weeping face tufa waterfall of Kadishi.
Explore the village of Mantega and learn about the traditional Swati way of life.
Visit the coastal wetlands of St Lucia and relax on the beaches of the North Natal Dolphin Coast.

At a Glance

Group Size 5 to 14
13 days lodge safari including 6 game drives
short walks including a game walk
traditional village visit
boat trips
and a toboggan ride.
Join In Johannesburg

Accommodation & Meals

12 Breakfasts
9 Lunches
7 Dinners
6 nights Lodge with swimming pool
2 nights Apartment
2 nights Apartment with dip pool
2 nights Lodge

Overview

This classic route through the north eastern corner of South Africa takes you and your family on a 2-week tour driving through some of the world’s finest and wildest game reserves, spectacular landscapes, and activities including indigenous community visits, toboggan rides, and boat trips among canyons and along the coast with two days on the beautiful Natal coast. Starting in Johannesburg we meet our specialist guide and for the first week, we will be spending our time driving the Panorama route through Graskop, the Blyde River Canyon, Moholololo and eventually on to Kruger. This national park offers the opportunity to seek out all creatures great and small in this natural paradise for thousands of animal species including the mighty big 5: elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino. We’ll stay in a variety of lodges along the way, from tourist resorts with plentiful facilities, pools and putt-putt courses, to tiny rest stops close to the entrance gates to these mighty reserves. These family friendly lodges offer chance to relax by the pool after a day exploring, and at the smaller sites we can gather round the boma (campfire) and tell stories of our sights and sounds of the bush.

We then continue to Hlane Reserve in eSwatini where we can experience a walking safari (over 12yrs only) and camp next to a waterhole watching the wildlife come for a drink at sunset. The safari tradition of a ‘sundowner’ (a G&T or the like as the sun sets) is a practise all the parents can perfect over the two weeks, and at this waterhole is where we should reach perfection as we watch the wildlife emerging to take a drink at dusk. Travelling onwards to the coast we visit the Mantega Village to learn about Swati village life, and at the coast we have a boat tour at the St Lucia Wetland Park, a UNSECO heritage site to see turtles, hippos and crocodiles. Our trip culminates on the lapping shores of the North Natal Dolphin Coast, where we have a couple of days of pure relaxation. The beach stretches for miles here, and there are opportunities to swim and surf, as well as plenty more options if the adrenalin of the last ten days of exploring is still running high. A beautiful end to an incredible 2-week adventure holiday through South Africa with the family.

Is this holiday for you?

Suitable for children from 6yrs old

This fantastic family adventure holiday in South Africa is a busy itinerary, with lots of sightseeing, wildlife viewing and exciting activities. There are a few long drives and game drives in safari vehicles on dirt roads and tracks, although this refined itinerary now contains far less long drives than it used to. Accommodation is in a mix of chalets, lodges and apartments. There are several accommodations with swimming pools (children should be supervised at all times), and most have either a bar and restaurant on site or immediately nearby. This is a participation safari where all members of the group will be called upon to help with preparing dinners, washing up and the like. This is all part of the trip and helps to bond group during our time together. Direct flights from London to Johannesburg make this destination very appealing for families seeking great wildlife experiences and adventure, with direct flights available for the outbound leg, and just a short connection required back through Johannesburg from Durban on the way home.

Why KE?

A point to point adventure through the wilds of north eastern South Africa, finishing on the stunning Indian ocean coast. This refined itinerary has chopped up all of the big driving days common on adventure trips in this region, whilst maintaining all of the most incredible sights and wildlife interest. We take our time to fully immerse ourselves in the places that most tours skim over, and now with beautiful lodge stays throughout, this trip is the perfect mix of adventure and comfort. A complete, once in a lifetime safari adventure for all of the family.

Itinerary

Download Trip Notes

Day 1

Meet at Johannesburg Airport in the morning. Drive to Long Tom Pass.

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Your holiday starts at Johannesburg Airport at breakfast time where we will meet with our guide. We then take the long drive to Mpumalanga and our first destination at the top of the Long Tom Pass. We will break up the journey with several stops including an own expense lunch at Dullstoom and the Long Tom cannon viewpoint. The pass was named after "The Long Tom", silver cannons used in the Second Boer War and a commemorative cannon sits on top of the pass. The Long Tom Pass was once a treacherous journey of steep hairpin bends and hair-raising drops and was originally the route followed by pioneer wagon drivers transporting goods from Mozambique to Lyndenburg. This evening we'll stay in comfortable family lodge accommodation.

Drive time of 5 hours plus stops (350km).

Accommodation

Lodge with swimming pool

Meals

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Day 2

Toboggan ride, Lone Creek and Mac Mac Falls and on to Graskop.

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After breakfast at the lodge this morning we head out to the Long Tom toboggan and enjoy a 1.7km long thrill ride on rails down the hillside, a great way to get the day started. After the whoops and screams of the toboggan, we move on to Lone Creek and Mac Mac Falls and take in the beautiful views, with chance for a quick swim on a particularly hot day, before continuing on to the small town of Graskop. We will have lunch on arrival and then check into our accommodation at Mogodi Lodge. This afternoon we'll visit the Graskop Gorge Lift Company and take the glass lift that descends down through the canopy to the indigenous forest floor. We'll take a short walk here under the cool of the trees where endangered Samango monkey roam, and we will also have some time to do some of the many optional activities here too, including a zip line and gorge swing. Accommodation this evening is in family chalets, each with 2 separate rooms, a shared bathroom and open plan lounge. There is a swimming pool here too.

Drive time will be just over an hour, plus stops (100km).

Accommodation

Lodge with swimming pool

Meals

B L D

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Day 3

Blyde River Canyon and Leopard's Trail.

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Today we will take a short drive of around an hour to check out God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes and the Blyde River, home to spectacular wildlife and birdlife and some of the best views in South Africa. This cavernous view seems to expand around every corner and once we've arrived at our adjacent accommodation we'll have the afternoon free to explore the area. Options include a 4km walk around the upper reaches of the canyon on the Leopard's Trail, surrounded by indigenous fauna with views out to the incredible canyon landscape beyond, relaxing by the swimming pool at the resort, or perhaps a round of mini golf, always a favourite for competitive families to test their mettle.

Drive time today will be approximately 1 hour plus stopping time (50km).

Accommodation

Lodge with swimming pool

Meals

B L D

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Day 4

Panorama Route drive, and game drive in Moholololo.

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Today is a busy day of mind blowing landscapes and our first game drive of the trip. The magnificent Panorama Route drive in Mpumalanga is best-known for its cultural heritage and its dramatic landscapes, and we'll start out on this route immediately after breakfast at the lodge. We'll then journey on via the Abel Erasmus Pass and the JG Strydom tunnels to Moholoholo Mountain View. We arrive with chance to drop our bags before heading back out to visit the Blyde Canyon Dam for a 90 minute boat cruise where we'll take in the majesty of the Kadishi Tufa waterfall, resembling a crying face, the tears forming the waterfall, as well as the impressive three rondavels rock formations from water level. We'll return to the lodge accommodation for lunch before heading back out in the open game drive vehicle in search of some of the many animals on the Moholololo reserve. We have a good chance of seeing buffalo and many of the plains game.

Drive time today will be approximately 2 hours plus stopping time (100km) plus game drive.

Accommodation

Lodge

Meals

B L D

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Day 5

Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. Drive to Kruger National Park.

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After breakfast we'll visit the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre for a guided tour. The centre, established in 1991 is home to many wounded animals and the aim of the project is to contribute to the conservation of endangered species and the rehabilitation of injured and poisoned wildlife. Animals at the centre vary depending upon condition. The aim is to rehabilitate and release able animals, but residents and regular inhabitants include lion, leopard, serval, lynx, honey badger, eagles, vultures and may also include an array of baby animals too! After our tour we'll drive into the Kruger National Park looking out for big game as we drive to our rest camp chalets close to the Phabeni gate to the NP. The rest camp has a swimming pool and small shop.

Drive time 2 hours (150km) plus game drives in the park.

Accommodation

Lodge with swimming pool

Meals

B L D

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Day 6

Two game drives in the mighty Kruger National Park on the lookout for the Big Five.

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Today we'll enjoy morning and late afternoon game drives in the world-famous Kruger National Park. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of almost 20,000 square kilometres is unrivalled in terms of biodiversity and is a world leader in advanced environmental management policies. Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 113 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals, including the "Big Five:" lion, leopard, black rhino, elephant and Cape buffalo. Each of our game drives today will be for around 3 hours, giving us plenty of time to spot many animals great and small in their wild and natural habitats. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to see the animals, so as the heat starts to rise, and the animals retreat for shade, we'll return to our chalets to rest and perhaps chill out by the pool. After our afternoon drive, we'll again return to the chalet camp for sundowners and dinner before some time around the boma (fire pit) sharing stories about our day in the Kruger wilds. There is a swimming pool available here too.

Drive time is only game drives today, and they are approx. three hours each.

Accommodation

Lodge with swimming pool

Meals

B L D

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Day 7

Morning game drive in Kruger. Transfer to Hlane game reserve in eSwatini.

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After a final morning game drive (approx. 3 hours) in Kruger, we will leave the park and cross the border into the fascinating country of eSwatini. This is one of the smallest countries in Africa and one of the world's last remaining absolute monarchies. Bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa and to the east by Mozambique, the country is named after the 19th century king, Mswati II and is about the same size as Wales. Despite its small area, the country has a variety of landscape including mountains, savannah and rain forest. We'll drive to the King of eSwatini's traditional hunting reserve, now a game reserve - Hlane. In the afternoon we'll arrive at our accommodation and sit around the waterhole at sunset, looking out for rhino who come down to drink.

Drive time today will be 3 hours (280km) plus a morning game drive and border crossing.

Accommodation

Lodge

Meals

B L D

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Day 8

Optional game walk. Visit a traditional Swati village.

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In the morning there is the option to take a guided game walk through the reserve with a good chance of seeing rhino. Note that children must be aged 12 and up to take part in the game walk. Alternatively, families can take a game drive or relax by the waterhole. After a late brunch we'll drive to Mantega Nature Reserve where in the afternoon we'll enjoy a guided tour through a traditional Swati village. The Mantega Village is a mini-complex of 16 huts, each with its own specific purpose. Kraals (or byres) for cattle and goats, reed fences that serve as windbreaks and various other structures. With traditional artefacts on display, the village showcases many facets of the ancient Swati way of life. We then transfer to our beehive hut accommodation at Mlilwane for the night. This evening we will have an own expense dinner at the restaurant on site.

Approx drive time 2 hours (130km).

Accommodation

Lodge with swimming pool

Meals

B L

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Day 9

Driving day to the St. Lucia wetlands on the coast.

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After an early start we drive through southern eSwatini before re-entering South Africa at the Lavumisa border. From here we drive to St Lucia, via the Pongolapoort Dam, the third largest in South Africa. We arrive at our apartments in the afternoon with time to explore the village. Tonight we will again have an own expense dinner at one of the many local restaurants here in St. Lucia.

Drive time around 5 hours (350km) plus border crossing.

Accommodation

Apartment

Meals

B L

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Day 10

Morning boat tour and visit crocodile centre.

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The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of 13 protected areas and is the largest estuarine system in Africa. The marine conditions in the estuary have resulted in a variety of landforms and ecosystems, including wide submarine canyons, sandy beaches, forested dunes and a mosaic of wetlands, grasslands, forests, lakes and savannah. As this is such an extensive area with a wide range of different habitat environments, animals of all sorts may be seen including hippos and crocodiles on the St Lucia estuary. Wildlife in the park also includes nesting turtles on the beaches, migrating whales, dolphins and sharks offshore and huge numbers of birds including pelicans, storks, herons and terns. In the morning we enjoy a boat tour on the St Lucia estuary and will be on the look-out for birdlife and wildlife with a good chance of seeing both. In the afternoon we will visit a local crocodile centre which offers guests the opportunity to learn more about the estuary and one of the world's most fascinating and misunderstood creatures. This evening we will enjoy another own expense dinner in a restaurant in St Lucia.

Accommodation

Apartment

Meals

B L

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Day 11

Morning drive to the Natal Dolphin Coast for beach time.

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After a hearty breakfast in the apartment breakfast bar, we drive south to reach the Dolphin Coast and our base for the next two nights. This afternoon is free to do as we please. There is a beautiful beach where we can spend the afternoon splashing about in the waves or relaxing on the sands with a good book. Lunch and dinner are both at own expense here.

Drive time approximately 4 hours (300km).

Accommodation

Apartment with dip pool

Meals

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Day 12

Free day at our ocean view accommodation.

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Today is a free day for us to enjoy at leisure. Our ocean view accommodation is perfectly placed on the long white sands of Umdloti Beach. A short walk south along the beach will take us to the village of the same name where there are a few bars and shops and a tidal pool for swimming. There is a decent wave here, and a couple of surf shops if you wish to hire a board. We can relax in this small town by the beach, or discuss options with our leader to venture further afield.

Accommodation

Apartment with dip pool

Meals

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Day 13

Departure day. Transfer to Durban King Shaka Airport.

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After a leisurely breakfast and perhaps a short stroll or one last dive into the crystal waters of the Indian Ocean, we will take our airport transfer to Durban King Shaka Airport in time for an afternoon check-in. Your holiday ends at Durban Airport.

Drive time will be approximately 30mins (20km).

Meals

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The Route

Airport

Point

Transfer

Essential Information

We've compiled some of our Frequently Asked Questions to help you learn more about this amazing trip.

Holiday

General

Equipment

What's Included

A professional local guide and driver
Single timed airport transfers on the first and last day
All land transport involved in the itinerary
All accommodation as described
Meals as described in the Meal Plan
Entry fees to the various parks and reserve areas

What's not Included

Travel insurance
Tips for local staff
Some meals as described in the Meal Plan
Entrance fees for optional excursions
Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc

Joining Arrangements & Transfers

The group will meet at Johannesburg Airport.

You should aim to arrive in Johannesburg on Day 1 of the Land Only itinerary between 7am-8am in order to make the long drive to the first night's accommodation. A money saving tip might be to arrive the day before and overnight near the airport.

On the last day of the Land Only itinerary, a single transfer will depart from the apartments on the Dolphin Coast in the early afternoon arriving at Durban King Shaka Airport in time for a late afternoon check-in.

Private transfers are expensive due to the distances. Pre and post tour additional nights are available at an airport hotel.

Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

Meal Plan

All breakfasts, 9 lunches and 7 dinners are included in the holiday price. The group will take the included meals together in camp or lodges, and the meals will be prepared by the guides. While staying on the North Natal Coast only breakfast is included so families can take advantage of the free days. There are many restaurants to choose from, and you should allow approximately £10 per person for lunches and £20 per person for dinners.

Food & Water

Water from the taps may not be drinkable in all locations on this trip - please check with your guide. We recommend taking water purification tablets and a reusable bottle with a filter such as Water-to-Go, which can both be used to help make safe other water sources. Please note that we do not encourage the purchase of single use plastic bottles.

Food throughout the trip will mostly be prepared by the guides within the lodge kitchens, although as this is a participation safari, everyone will be expected to lend a hand! This is usually a fun and sociable time. Breakfast will consist of cereals and yoghurt, with coffee, tea, toast and the occasional cooked breakfast. Lunch will typically be picnic style - cold meats, cheese, salads, bread, rolls and fruit. Dinner is sometimes at own expense where there are a decent amount of local restaurants to chose from, but when cooked by guides will include potjies (traditional stews), braais (barbecue), stir fries and pasta. Fresh produce will be used wherever possible and fruit squash, tea and coffee will be served with breakfast and dinner.

Special Diets

Whilst we can cater for vegetarians, albeit sometimes with a more limited choice, we cannot always provide for special diets. Due to the nature of some of the trips that we operate and the countries in which we operate them, it can be very hard (and sometimes impossible) to cater for a wide range of dietary choices and you may have to supplement your meals with food/snacks from home. If you have specific dietary requirements please do speak to our sales team and they will be able to advise you whether or not we will be able to offer your specific choice. Please note that we are unable to provide separate menus and cannot accept liability for any problems arising from special dietary requirements or intolerances.

Accommodation

During this holiday we stay in a mix of accommodations. Many of the accommodations have access to a swimming pool. The accommodations are selected for their small and family friendly atmospheres, and are often local family businesses. Please note that all accommodation is subject to change, but where possible a similar standard and facilities will be selected.

Our first three nights are in family chalets on small resorts each comprising 2 bedrooms with a shared bathroom and an open plan lounge/kitchen area. The first two of these nights there are pools for swimming in our downtime, and all three locations have bar/restarant communal areas. On day 4 we spend the night in a family sized reed hut chalet. At Kruger (2 nights) and Hlane (1 night) we stay at rest camps inside the National Parks in twin chalets with en-suites. Larger than two person families will have two adjacent chalets booked to accommodate them. Hlane is a particularly stripped back experience with no electricity available on site. Our evening meal and rooms are lit only by candlelight making for an incredibly wild and intimate wildlife experience. At Mlilwane we stay in twin room traditional bee hive huts with en-suite facilities. Again two adjacent huts will be booked for larger families. Both Mlilwane and Kruger have swimming pools, and all three have restaurant/bar communal areas. At St Lucia and the Dolphin Coast we will be in modern and functional apartments. St Lucia has two room apartments with shared bathroom facilities, and the Dolphin Coast are twin rooms with en suites, so again larger families will have two adjacent rooms booked to accommodate. Dolphin Coast has a dip pool and both have breakfast room restaurants.

Group Leader & Support Staff

The group will be accompanied by a local English-speaking professional guide from arrival on day 1 to departure on day 13. During the tour the group will travel by minivan driven by a professional driver.

Altitude

This holiday does not involve any significant ascent to altitude and we would not expect any altitude issues with this trip.

Spending Money

We estimate that a total of around £200 per person (or equivalent in euros/dollars) should be allowed for tips, soft drinks, snacks, non-included meals and miscellaneous expenses. Alcoholic drinks, souvenirs and optional activities are additional so you may wish to budget for these.

You can choose to take your money in pounds sterling, dollars, euros or in South African Rand. There will be the opportunity to change money into local currency on arrival at Johannesburg Airport, but you may be able to obtain a better exchange rate if you exchange in advance of your trip. Additionally, you will be able to get currency from bank ATMs in many of the towns that we will visit. Credit cards are particularly useful as many businesses post covid are becoming cashless, this won’t be everywhere is SA, particularly in more rural locations, but it is increasingly common, so it is a good idea to carry one with plenty of credit available. There are many interest free cards that work well when travelling abroad. Check with your supplier for the best way to use your card whilst travelling.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY COSTS:

Please note that these prices are correct at time of writing, but are subject to change without warning. Optional activities taken outside the KE holiday are at your own risk.

Graskop Gorge (cashless location so please bring a payment card):

Big Swing: R700pp

Zipline: R265pp

Big Swing & Zipline combined: R850pp

Cliff Walk: R595pp

Cliff Walk & Zipline combined: R745pp

There are age and weight limitations for each activity as follows:

Big Swing: 12 years and up, max weight: 135kg

Zipline: 7 years and up, max weight: 120kg

Cliff Walk: min height: 1.2m, max weight: 120kg

Optional night game drive (2hrs) in Kruger National Park (note that during this period all other morning and evening game drives in our vehicle are already included):

Adult: R343

Under 12: R172

Optional game drives in Hlane Royal National Park (note that there is one morning (non big game) walk already included here) no child discount available.

Big Game Drives (No children under 13 years permitted in big game area):

Sunrise/Sunset (2½ hrs) R545pp

Midday (2½ hrs) R500pp

Non big game drive (No children under 6 years permitted):

Rhino Drive (1½ hrs) R390pp

Optional game drives at Mlilwane Wildlife sanctuary

Game Drives:

Roan Drive (1½ hrs) R390pp

Sunrise/Sunset Drive (2 hrs) R515pp

Guided Walks:

Guided Game/Birding Walk (2½ hrs) R310pp

Guidance on Tipping

In South Africa it is usual to tip staff including your local guide and driver if you are happy with the services provided. We suggest you co-ordinate these tips as a group and as a rough guide we recommend each group member contributes around £30 per family member. The exact amount should be determined by the group and the guide will give advice on the appropriate levels.

Beat the Jet Lag

Our holidays are normally designed with minimal 'down time' at the start of the trip, but having a day or two at the beginning will have the additional benefit of allowing you time to get over the stress of a long journey or travelling across time zones, leaving you refreshed and ready for your holiday. We can easily arrange for you to have additional nights and airport transfers.

Baggage Allowance

For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage and a daypack. Your baggage will travel in the vehicle with the group, and you should try to keep the weigh to approximately 12kg. You should bring a soft bag as these are more suitable to pack in the vehicle. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline.

Group Size & Holiday Status

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in the ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

South Africa Indemnity Form

As a member of the South African Tourism Service Association, our ground agent in South Africa may require you to complete an indemnity form at the start of your holiday, which you will need your insurance details for. As a client of KE Adventure Travel, your rights under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangement Regulations (2018) are unaffected and KE Adventure Travel will remain liable for the actions of our suppliers.

Passport & Visas

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders.

A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

For other nationalities, please refer to your own Government website for the latest information.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents including vaccinations and health certificates (see Health & Vaccinations below), and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check the FCDO for the latest advice for each country visited before travel.

Visa South Africa

UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa for short stays. You must have 2 blank pages in your passport.

Rules on travelling with children under 18 years have been relaxed. Visa exempt children entering South Africa only need passports, and not birth certificates as previously required. This applies if the child is travelling with both parents, one parent or an adult who is not a biological parent, and school groups. There are some different requirements for unaccompanied children, and children who do not have UK passports or visa exempt passports. For full details please see the FCDO website.

Health & Vaccinations

VACCINATIONS

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you specific require any vaccinations or other preventive measures. On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentist check up. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella), along with hepatitis A and typhoid. In addition you should check whether any specific vaccinations are needed to the regions that you are travelling to. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro.

Yellow Fever

A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required if travelling from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and for travellers having transited for more than 12 hrs through an airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Severe Allergies

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

Currency

The unit of currency in South Africa is the South African Rand.

Climate

South Africa has a generally sunny and pleasant climate, with regional differences due to the weather systems from the surrounding oceans and altitude above sea level. This area experiences most of its rainfall in the southern hemisphere summer, from October to March. From May through to August is drier, with long spells of mild, stable weather. Daytime temperatures range from around 10 - 20°C between April and September, to 20 - 30°C between October and March.

Travel Aware

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware’ campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that before travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates directly from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

Single Use Plastic

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

FAQ’s about our family holidays

We welcome all family dynamics and we will try to accommodate you in the roomings of your choice. The only stipulation for joining a family group holiday is that 1 party member is 17yrs or under, and they are accompanied by an adult. An average group size is around 10 members in total. Further general information and FAQ's are available here: KE Family Adventure Holidays general information.

Private Groups Information

Make this KE family holiday your own!

Choose your own departure date
Travel on this holiday with just your family and friends
Tailor your holiday by adding extra days for relaxation or upgrade your hotels

If our standard dates do not fit with your school holidays or you wish to travel with just your family or with your family and friends, we will be pleased to set up a private departure for any of our family holidays.

Depending on what you are looking for we can look at tweaking the itinerary to allow you some extra relaxation time or upgrading the hotels. Our personal service means you’ll be fully involved as we make the arrangements for your perfect family adventure holiday.

Independence with Security

Travelling as a KE private family group allows you more flexibility and choice, but still with the peace of mind that everything is pre-planned and arranged for you and your family and friends by a reputable adventure travel company.

To take your first step to an amazing adventure with your family and friends complete the private group enquiry form, or call our Sales Experts on: 017687 73966

Travel Insurance

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation. When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct. Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

Equipment List

The following is a check-list to help you with your packing. You do not necessarily need to bring everything on this list and you should use your own experience and judgement to determine what is best for you. However, we ask you to make sure you have any specialist equipment mentioned and any items marked as mandatory. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. Please make sure you have read the separate information on baggage allowance.

Socks
Underwear
Shirts/T shirts
Trousers
Jacket e.g. fleece
Shorts
Footwear*
Washbag and toiletries
Antibacterial handwash
Sunglasses
Sun hat
Wet wipes
Camera
Travel clothes
Small padlock (to lock your KE bag)

Equipment List

Please try to keep the weight of your baggage to a minimum. See the ‘baggage allowance’ section for further details.

You should bring the following items:

Comfortable walking shoes/trainers and sandals
Lightweight trousers / shorts / skirts
Socks & underwear
T-shirts / tops
Fleece jacket
Lightweight waterproof jacket
Swimwear
Sunhat with wide brim
Warm hat
Sunglasses
Daypack 20 to 30 litres (depending on how much of the kids' stuff you need to carry)
Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)
Water bottles 1 Litre x2 (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic)
Water purification tablets
Dry bags(s) for daypack (to ensure they keep dry)
Washbag and toiletries
Antibacterial handwash
Headtorch and spare batteries
Basic First Aid Kit – Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters, blister treatment, Insect repellent, antihistamine cream and tablets, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multi-vitamin tablets are a good idea.

The following items are optional:

Binoculars (a really good idea so you can see the wildlife better)
Travel clothes
Pen-knife (note: always pack sharp objects in hold baggage)
Repair kit – (eg. needle, thread, duct tape)
Camera
Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)

Videos

Reviews

Fabulous South Africa

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By Pauline from St. Albans | 07 August 2023

South Africa Family Safari Holiday

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By from from London | 23 August 2022

Fabulous South Africa

View all (11)

By Pauline from St. Albans | 07 August 2023

South Africa Family Safari Holiday

View all (45)

By from from London | 23 August 2022

View Dates & Prices

Private Departure?

Gather a few friends, family or club and take over your own departure.

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South Africa Family Lodge Safari
With Flights

Without Flights
Departure Reference: FSD /05/26/
This trip departs the UK on Sun 20 Dec returning to the UK on Sun 3 Jan

This trip begins on Mon 21 Dec and ends on Sat 2 Jan
This departure is available to book. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$475
Download Trip Notes

Land Only Information

Please refer to the 'Joining Arrangements & Transfers' within Holiday Information for further details.

Flights and other transport to your destination should not be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'.

The LAND ONLY dates and prices are for the itinerary, joining at Johannesburg Airport.

Private Family Groups

If you've found the perfect adventure for your family but want to travel on dates that suit you, then please contact our friendly Family Adventure Team who will be happy to discuss the possibility of arranging a private departure for you and your family.

BOOK WITH KE CONFIDENCE - No surcharge guarantee

The price of our holidays can change depending on a variety of factors but unlike some other tour operators, KE have undertaken to guarantee the Land Only price of your holiday will not change after you have booked. The price when you book is the price you will pay, whether you are booking for this year or the next. Book early to avoid any tour price increases, get the best flight prices and take advantage of our 'No Surcharge Guarantee'.

KE Adventure is a fully bonded tour operator. We hold an ATOL license (No: 2808) and are bonded with ABTA (Membership No: W4341)

South Africa Family Lodge Safari

Holiday Grades

Our Holiday Grades Explained

1 - 3 LEISURELY

4 - 6 MODERATE

7 - 9 CHALLENGING

10 - 12 TOUGH

South Africa Family Lodge Safari

Highlights

At a Glance

Accommodation & Meals

Overview

Is this holiday for you?

Why KE?

Itinerary

The Route

Essential Information

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY COSTS:

VACCINATIONS

Severe Allergies

Make this KE family holiday your own!

Independence with Security

You should bring the following items:

The following items are optional:

Videos

Reviews

Traveller Reviews

Fabulous South Africa

South Africa Family Safari Holiday

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DATES & PRICES

2026

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Land Only Information

Flight Inclusive Information

Private Family Groups

BOOK WITH KE CONFIDENCE - No surcharge guarantee

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