Family Cape Town, Sun City & Madikwe

Your vacation adventure begins at Cape Town International Airport. A private transfer has been arranged for you and will take you to your exquisite home for the next four nights – the exclusive-use Villa Olivier set in a prime location in Camps Bay.

Cape Town needs no introduction as a family-friendly destination, and its wide variety of attractions are sure to cater to each member of your group. The days are yours to spend as you choose: spend a day in the beautiful Cape Winelands, hike up Table Mountain, visit the aquarium, or take a sunset cruise departing from the ever-popular V&A Waterfront. Uninterrupted mountain and sea views at your villa, coupled with state-of-the-art amenities and opulent, imported furnishings probably mean that you will want to spend at least one day relaxing at the pool side with your family and friends.

On this self-catering portion of your vacation you are free to prepare leisurely meals in the exquisite, fully-equipped kitchen, or head out to enjoy the city’s famous culinary delights.

After a private transfer to Cape Town International Airport, you will fly to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Here, a private SUV transfer awaits to take you to the Cascades Hotel at Sun City.

Sun City's sprawling grounds house a wealth of entertainment: play a round on one of the two Gary Player-designed championship golf courses, spoil yourself with a spa treatment, relax at the lake’s edge, visit the exhilarating Valley of the Waves – which has its own tropical ‘beach’ and wave machine - or simply relax on a sun lounger.

Sun City is a place where you can do as much or as little as you like: there are plenty of activities for children, including a farmyard, outdoor adventure centres and an action-packed arcades. Adults can unwind with a cocktail at the Royal Baths, a massive swimming pool reserved for over-18s only. The resort also has plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from – there are a host of establishments from ranging from down-to-earth family favourites to sophisticated venues for special occasions.

After three nights at Sun City, enjoy a final breakfast before you are transferred in a private SUV to Madikwe Safari Lodge in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve. The reserve is renowned for its superb Big 5 game viewing and reliable sightings of white rhino. Cheetah and wild dog are also regularly spotted here, making up the Magnificent 7, and are a major draw card for safari enthusiasts.

Situated between rolling hills, the luxurious lodge overlooks game-rich plains bisected by the majestic Marico River, which cuts a life-giving swathe through this marvelous landscape. Encounters on expertly guided 4x4 game drives are generally limited to a maximum of three vehicles per sighting to maintain exclusivity and ensure the well-being of the animals. You will check into the Lelapa section of the lodge, which is ideal for families travelling with children under 16. Your suite’s veranda is a private refuge, with magnificent views, where you have the luxury of a plunge pool for refreshing afternoon dips. On chilly nights, curl up in front of the fireplace in your elegant suite and, when the weather is warm, cool off in your alfresco shower immersed in the captivating wilderness.

Barbecue dinners are enjoyed around a roaring campfire, accompanied by African song and dance. For a truly intimate wilderness experience, expert guides escort you through the bush on foot, introducing the diverse array of flora and fauna found on the reserve. Identify the tracks of a cheetah and learn how they differ from those of the leopard. Rub the leaves of an acacia tree and listen to your guide as he imparts his knowledge about its health benefits for both humans and our 4-legged friends. Bird watching on the reserve is phenomenal and your guide is always available to assist with identification. Before retiring to your suite for the night, turn your eyes to the pitch-black skies and spot brilliant star constellations as you learn more about African astronomy.

Children can enjoy a kids’ game drive in the late morning, lessons in bushcraft, spoor tracking and dung identification, and trips to the Ecology House, where they can learn more about South Africa’s plants, animals and birds.