OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: BOTSWANA & SOUTH AFRICA FAMILY SAFARI (11N) – LUXURY

On Day 1, you’ll touch down at Johannesburg’s O. R. Tambo International Airport and transfer by road to the airport at Lanseria. From here, you’ll take a light-aircraft flight to Limpopo Valley Airfield, a journey lasting an hour and 30 minutes, and from the airfield it’s a short drive to Mashatu Lodge. You’ll be accommodated in one of the property’s 14 Luxury Suites, constructed from timber, stone, and thatch. The interiors feature comfy beds, wildlife artwork, and a full bathroom, and double doors lead out onto a private veranda, a great place for watching wildlife! Mashatu’s communal spaces are just as sumptuous, and kids will love splashing about in the spacious pool and checking out the wonderful Discovery Room, a mini-museum with intriguing animal specimens and relics. Activities include guided vehicle and walking safaris, bike rides, and a short cultural trip, in the company of friendly staff members with experience in working with children. Additionally, every guest aged 4–11 years receives a special Mashatu backpack on arrival, containing an interactive checklist, a bird colouring book, stationery, a compass, a thermometer, and water to keep cool!

Board basis and activities:

Full-board accommodation, including all meals and snacks, a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, two scheduled safari activities per day, a scheduled flight into Limpopo Valley Airfield and a road transfer to Pel's Post via Pont Drift border post in South Africa. An extra cost is payable for the short cultural trip.

After your stay at Mashatu, you’ll transfer to the Makuleke Contractual Park, for Pel’s Post. This property is booked on an exclusive basis, making for a highly personalised experience of the park and all its wildlife! It’s set on a high escarpment and boasts spectacular views over savanna and woodland. Made primarily from timber, the accommodation blends beautifully into the natural surroundings. Interiors are modern and fresh, and we love the electric shutters that can be opened or closed as you prefer. The communal areas have a contemporary feel too – they include a large lounge, indoor and outdoor dining spaces, a bar, and a spacious terrace complete with swimming pool! In common with Mashatu Game Reserve, Makuleke contains a wealth of wildlife. Situated in the northernmost region of Kruger National Park, it’s home to all Big Five species – lion, rhino, leopard, elephant, and buffalo – as well as numerous smaller predators, herds of herbivores, and hundreds of birds! You’ll explore Makuleke on game drives and bush walks, led by highly knowledgeable guides. History tours and cultural excursions are also available.

Board basis and activities:

Full-board accommodation, including all meals, teas and coffees, a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, two game drives with snacks and sundowners, private vehicle and driver, personal chef, road transfer from the airstrip to the property, and a laundry service. Other activities incur an additional charge.

Come Day 7 of your vacation, it’s time to fly to Cape Town! You will return by light aircraft to Johannesburg, and then transfer to the Mother City. Once you have arrived, it’s just a quick drive from the international airport to The Last Word Constantia. Here you’ll stay for three nights in the two-bedroom Family Suite, which includes a separate lounge area with flatscreen television and Nintendo Wii. Both bedrooms have smart en-suite facilities. The main building features Cape Dutch-style architecture and plenty of lovely lounge and dining areas – and kids will have a great time playing in the pool and racing around the extensive gardens! Your time here will be spent exploring a vast range of attractions. These include ascending to the top of Table Mountain in a cable car, then tracking a dassie (rock rabbit) and enjoying a few snacks. You’ll also enjoy a bike ride along the Sea Point Promenade, searching for treasure with the use of an ancient San Bushman map! Pausing for a rest, you’ll learn about Nelson Mandela from your guide, before visiting Green Point Park to find out some fascinating facts about the Cape’s plants and animals. You’ll have the opportunity to check out interactive sites such as the Apartheid Benches, as well as relaxing in the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, at the beach, and at Kalk Bay. There’s a lot of sea life to observe, not least penguins – and you can try stand-up paddle boarding too! The final stop on the tour is Cape Point, where you’ll look out for the Cape Five – ostrich, baboon, mountain zebra, bontebok, and tortoise – before resting awhile in the Cape Point Vineyards.

Board basis and activities:

B&B accommodation, including all drinks, entrance fees to attractions, on-board gourmet pantry with various drinks, adventure gear, and travelling toy box. Any activities not included in the itinerary incur an extra cost.

The last two days of your adventure are spent in the De Hoop Nature Reserve. You’ll be chauffeur driven in an SUV from The Last Word Constantia to Morukuru Ocean House, a journey lasting approximately three hours. The reserve occupies the south coast of the Cape, and features fields of colourful fynbos. Three properties are set in these fields, with breathtaking views all the way down to the sea. Ocean House is a contemporary stone-and-glass structure booked on an exclusive basis. You’ll have access to two Dune View Suites as well as sumptuous living areas – and a personal chef and butler will be on hand to grant your every request! While at Morukuru, you can decide how to spend your time, and there’s certainly a lot to see in the reserve. You’ll have hours of fun exploring the fynbo fields on walks or bike rides, looking out for wildlife on the way. Venturing down to the coast, you can spot whales between July and November, and cave tours are available all year round. The beaches here are gloriously unspoilt, and there are oodles of rock pools!

Board basis and activities:

Full-board accommodation, including all meals, all snacks, a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, two guided activities per day, entrance fees, and reserve gate fees. Historical cave tours and fynbos safaris are available at additional cost.

On Day 12, you will be chauffeur driven from Morukuru Ocean House to Cape Town International Airport, for your flight/s home.