South Africa Family Adventure

Today you will be met by your guide for an exploration of Cape Town, known affectionately as the Mother City. Your tour will take in the Houses of Parliament, the Castle (built between 1666 and 1679, this is South Africa’s oldest building), lively Greenmarket Square with its daily market, the Company Gardens and of course Table Mountain which will give you spectacular views over the city and Peninsula (cable car fee is not included as it is weather dependent). On our descent, we stop at the Bo Kaap, home to the Cape Malay community, with its cobbled streets and brightly coloured houses.

This morning you will be collected from the hotel and taken along one of the most beautiful routes in Cape Town, to the Cape of Good Hope. Travel via Clifton and Camp’s Bay to Hout Bay. At Hout Bay, we board a boat to Seal Island to see the breeding colony of the Cape Fur Seal. From here we continue to the long-legged birds at Cape Point Ostrich Farm. Here you will join a guided tour throughout the Ostrich Farm where you will be familiarised with the life cycle of the ostriches. You will find out more about the life of ostriches, all the way from the egg up to the adult ostrich.

Afterwards, continue to the Cape Point where you will board a funicular to the top of the Peninsula to witness the symbolic meeting of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans as well as have spectacular views over False Bay. We enjoy lunch near here (not included – own account). After lunch we will continue to Boulders Beach to view the jackass penguins. As you walk down the board walk to the Beach you will hear them honk, haw and bray just like donkeys. They are all over Boulders Beach and you will have to shoo them away before you can spread out your towel or picnic blanket. This is a cosy little cove great for snorkelling or for splashing around with small children.

Return back to Cape Town and if time allows you can have the rest of the afternoon at leisure to visit the Two Oceans Aquarium (Entrance fees not included). The Two Oceans Aquarium on the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town is ideally positioned to showcase the incredible diversity of marine life found in these two oceans. The Aquarium is one of the top tourist attractions in Cape Town and over 3000 living sea animals, including sharks, fishes, seals, turtles and penguins can be seen in this spectacular underwater nature reserve.

This morning you will be met at your hotel and transferred along the R44 from Gordon’s Bay to Hermanus. This is regarded as one of the top scenic drives in South Africa, hugging the coastline with amazing views of False Bay. Between June and November, whales are often sighted on this drive. The route winds through the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, which is known for its beautiful fynbos. En route to Grootbos we will visit Stony Point in Betty’s Bay to view a colony with over 3500 African Penguins (the same penguins, guests would experience in Boulder’s). There are incredible pathways leading past the penguin nests and you will have many photographic opportunities of these amazing creatures.

Grootbos offers many wonderful adventurous trips that weave throughout the majestic reserve; it is the perfect place to recapture one’s outdoor spirit through the panoramic and beautiful scenery. On a guided walk through the nature reserve trails, visitors are far more likely to encounter birdlife which they would not have been able to spot and discuss if they had been in a vehicle. The Grootbos hiking trails offer so much to explore above the obvious flora and fauna. Animal tracks, local insects, flower details and much more are far more easily observed on the pleasant guided walks and hikes through the Grootbos reserve.

Other activities incldue: forest walks, visit the historic Klipgat Caves, spend a day at the beach, or enjoy 4×4 reserve drives through the last of the Cape’s Milkwood forests and the beautiful floral Kingdom. On another day you could choose to go horseback riding. One of the most satisfying and enriching ways of exploring Grootbos Nature Reserve is by horse back. The horses at Grootbos are ideal for beginners and experienced horse riders alike. Experienced staff look after 18 horses at the Grootbos stables, and accompany guests on rides.

Grootbos works with Marine Dynamics located at Kleinbaai Harbour (a mere drive of about 15 minutes), which we regard as the top sharking company in South Africa. It is not only known for its extensive conservation efforts, but also for their highly qualified marine biologists and staff on board, which makes it a truly amazing experience. Transfers from Grootbos to the harbour are included so you don’t have to rise early. After the boat trip you'll come back for a warm shower and a light lunch is already waiting for you.

Grootbos boasts the last of the Cape’s Milkwood Forests and the beautiful Cape Floral Kingdom. For those who wish to venture farther you can sign up for other activities as well. Whale Watching - By land, sea or plane (from June to December). Shark Cage Diving - By air, boat or cage diving. Big 5 Marine Tour - By boat, enjoy sights such as penguins, seals, dolphins, sharks, or even whales. Scenic Flights - View mountains, vineyards, shipwrecks and even sharks and whales. View the southern most part of the African land mass from this unique perspective.

The Overberg has long been known for its great wines, starting with Hamilton Russell and Bouchard Finlayson in the late 1980’s. During the last seven years, the area has become known as the new vogue area for wines in South Africa. This area boasts over 70 wine estates, many of them with award winning wines. Grootbos has decided to offer a guided wine tour, visiting three wine estates, where guests have the chance to interact with the winemakers during the wine tasting, and including a visit to the true southernmost tip of Africa – Cape Agulhas, where your guests will enjoy a hearty picnic lunch. The wine route will take guests also through the small village of Elim, which is the second oldest missionary station in South Africa, with the only functional watermill in South Africa.

Grootbos offers many wonderful adventurous trips that weave throughout the majestic reserve; it is the perfect place to recapture one’s outdoor spirit through the panoramic and beautiful scenery. On a guided walk through the nature reserve trails, visitors are far more likely to encounter birdlife which they would not have been able to spot and discuss if they had been in a vehicle. The Grootbos hiking trails offer so much to explore above the obvious flora and fauna. Animal tracks, local insects, flower details and much more are far more easily observed on the pleasant guided walks and hikes through the Grootbos reserve.

Other activities incldue: forest walks, visit the historic Klipgat Caves, spend a day at the beach, or enjoy 4×4 reserve drives through the last of the Cape’s Milkwood forests and the beautiful floral Kingdom. On another day you could choose to go horseback riding. One of the most satisfying and enriching ways of exploring Grootbos Nature Reserve is by horse back. The horses at Grootbos are ideal for beginners and experienced horse riders alike. Experienced staff look after 18 horses at the Grootbos stables, and accompany guests on rides.

You will be picked time in the morning to head towards the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve for your unique safari experience. The transfer time will be approximatly 2.5 hours.

Enjoy another game drive this evening offering spectacular displays of light as the evening sun sets over the Little Karoo. Animals are at their most active in the early evenings and mornings.

Game viewing is carried out during the morning and evening when you are guided by your game ranger in an open game viewing vehicle. The game drives will take between three and four hours. It is always advisable to bring warm clothing along, even in summer. In winter, a warm jacket, beanie, scarf and gloves are advisable. These clothing items are also available in our shops. Please do not forget to bring your binoculars, camera’s and video camera’s along. Your safety is of utmost concern to us, and your game ranger will inform you of the necessary safety precautions as you commence your game drive. During the drive, be it in the early morning or for sundowners, various species of plants, animals, big game and birds can be seen.

You will be picked up by your expert safari guide and taken on a shared afternoon game drive. Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is a photographer’s dream. Due to the perfect light conditions, during the twilight hours of sunrise and sunset it is advisable to use 100 ASA film for exquisite photographic opportunities. A 100 – 300 lens is a good choice. Macro photography is also incredible to capture close-ups of the smaller species.

Before first light you willl meet up with others at the lodge and embark on your early morning game drive. Sunrise is an excellent opportunity for game viewing as this is one of the peak times for when the animals are most active. You will be out in the reserve for a few hours before returning back to the lodge for breakfast.

For the avid birdwatcher, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is home to more than 200 species. There is a very healthy population of raptors to be seen including African Fish Eagles, breeding pairs of majestic Black Eagles and regular sightings of Black Harrier. Interesting birds on the Reserve include the Cinnamonbreasted Warbler only seen in the early light of dawn. The Booted Eagle in the pale form breed well on the Reserve, while the Southern Grey Tit intrigues one with its 13 different calls. The Namaqua Sandgrouse travels up to 80kms in search of water, collecting droplets in its breast feathers, flying back to the nest to give the moisture to its chicks. Blackwinged Stilts can be viewed foraging in and around water areas. Due to the unobtrusiveness of Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, the birds are at ease, affording one with good viewing.

You will be picked up by safari vehicle and guide and transfer to Cape Town today.