Glamping with the family in South Africa
Itinerary
Days 1-2 – Arrival in Cape Town
Your journey begins in Cape Town, where you’ll arrive after an overnight flight from the UK. You’ll be met at the airport, and transfer to your accommodation where you’ll stay for the next three nights. After checking in, you can choose to recover from the flight by cooling off in the pool or if you’ve got itchy feet get started exploring the city’s highlights. Cape Town is a brilliant destination for families, with everything you’d expect from a big city, but also fantastic activities and more than 70 beaches!
A visit to Table Mountain is not to be missed. We recommend heading straight there if the skies are clear, as the weather can be unpredictable and clouds gather rather quickly denying you the spectacular city views. Climbing Table Mountain by foot takes approximately 2 hours, or if you’d rather take the cable car, you’ll get up there in just under 4 minutes.
Days 3-4 – Cape Town family walking tour & free time
The next day meet your local guide for an authentic family walking tour of Cape Town, visiting some of the lesser-known spots and historic neighbourhoods like Bo-Kaap – known for its colourful houses and Cape Malay culture. Your guide is a member of the Meljo family, a community with deep connections to the city’s history and culture, who will share their personal stories and experiences giving you a good insight into the town’s heritage. The next day is free for you to explore the colourful city as a family, tackle Table Mountain if you haven’t already, and enjoy your final evening by the waterfront tucking into a delicious dinner.
Days 5-6 – Glamping in Cederberg
It’s time to collect your rental car and head out of the city on your first drive to Cederberg. On your two-and-a-half-hour journey you’ll enjoy scenic coastal views, passing vineyards and dramatic mountain landscapes. The Cedar Mountains is a small mountain range, characterised by wide landscapes and dry rocks. Here you will find the only place in the world where Rooibos tea grows. Over the next two days, you can take scenic walks through the rugged terrain, taste tea or Piekenierskloof wines and look for rock paintings of the ‘San’, the original inhabitants of this part of Africa. Your luxurious glamping tent is located near the coast, so you can enjoy the dark starry sky during your two-night stay here. Your tent is fully equipped with a private bathroom, kitchenette and a cosy living area – so your family can enjoy the comforts of home, whilst being immersed in nature.
Days 7-8 – Glamping in Wellington (wine region)
From Cederberg, you’ll head on a 1.5 hour journey to Wellington, a region famous for its wine. At the foot of the mountains, you’ll find luxury glamping tents tucked away among 2,000 hectares of fynbos, rivers, and dams, with goats and birds keeping you company. It’s the perfect spot to escape the hustle and bustle and relax on your own spacious 30m² veranda. With air conditioning and a fireplace in your tent, you’ll have everything you need to feel comfortable. Take a dip in the pool, walk along one of the various hiking trails, go fishing or bird watching. In the evening you’ll light your braai (braai package included) for the ultimate South Africa experience!
Optional: Mountain biking in the vineyards
We also offer a cycling experience through the vineyards about an hour’s drive from your glamping tent. During this tour, you will learn more about the winemaking process and taste some of your favourites. Don’t worry – the kids get lemonade!
Days 9-10 – Glamping in Swellendam
For the next two nights, you will stay in a luxury glamping tent on the Bree River, about a 2.5 drive from Wellington. This glamping camp is run by grain farmer Jaco, who lives here with his wife and daughters. There’s plenty to keep the kids busy from taking a dip in the refreshing swimming pool and renting canoes to paddle on the Bree River. During your stay, you can also explore the Marloth Nature Reserve hiking trails, where you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the Langeberg Mountains and surrounding valleys, its beautiful flora and fauna including an incredible display of wildflowers during August-September. On the evening of your arrival, you will receive a braai package, so you can enjoy a tasty barbecue around your fire pit. In the morning your breakfast will be delivered to your tent in a basket. The camp is located around 20 minutes drive from Swellendam and there are plenty of things to do here as a family including visiting the whimsical gardens of the Fairy Sanctuary, wildlife spotting at Bontebok National Park and more adventurous activities such as mountain biking or zip lining.
Days 11-12 – Glamping in Oudtshoorn
Ready to drive along one of the most beautiful routes of South Africa? Route 62 takes you right through the outback past high cliffs, crystal clear rivers, vineyards and hot springs. The landscape changes after each mountain pass. For the next two nights, you’ll sleep in a luxury safari tent located on the grounds of an ostrich farm. Ostriches are not the only animals you can see here. There are also zebras, springboks, kudu, impala and other wildlife on the site. It almost feels like you are on a safari. You can enjoy the beautiful view over the lake from your very own wooden terrace and there is plenty of space for the children to play.
Optional: Jeep safari
A fifteen-minute drive from your glamping tent leads to Buffelsdrift, where you can join a jeep safari through the reserve. Together with a ranger, you’ll search for meerkats, zebras, rhinos, buffalo, giraffes, and antelopes.
Days 13-14 – Glamping in Plettenberg
Your next glamping stop is Plettenberg, which is around a 2.5-hour drive from Oudtshoorn. The camp is located just outside Plettenberg Bay, in a luxury safari tent on the grounds of a farm. You will feel completely immersed in the safari atmosphere here, surrounded by beautiful views from your own wooden terrace and plenty of room for the children to play. In the morning, the owner will bring you a picnic basket full of tasty treats for breakfast. The fireplace and your own braai complete the South African camping experience, with an added touch of comfort. All tents have a private bathroom, a wood stove, electric blankets for the winter and air conditioning for the summer. Some tents even have a wood-fired hot tub for you to relax in.
Optional: Snorkelling with seals
Nearby Robberg Peninsula is home to a large colony of fur seals. We can arrange a snorkelling tour where you can get in the water and swim alongside these curious and playful creatures as they dive around you. The water here is usually calm and has great visibility so won’t have any problem spotting the seals.
Days 15 – 16 – Glamping in Addo
Next, you’ll drive around four hours to reach The Addo Elephant National Park. The park is home to more than 750 elephants and you’ll get to search the bush for them in your rental car. Along the way, you will likely see warthogs, lions, buffaloes, zebras and herds of antelopes. There are several routes in the park, but we recommend that you also include the waterholes as it will give you the best chance of sightings. Your glamping tent is about a 15-minute drive from the entrance gate of the park, giving you the full day to spot wildlife before returning to another luxury spot in the heart of nature.
Optional: Jeep safari (from 6 years old)
As the park is so close to your accommodation, you have the perfect opportunity to go on a jeep safari with a ranger who knows the National Park like the back of his hand. After three hours you will be dropped off at the entrance. Note that this adventure is suited for children six years old and above.
Days 17-18 – Glamping in Waterberg
Today you will drop your rental car off at the airport and catch a domestic flight to Port Elizabeth. Once you land, you’ll collect another rental car and head to Waterberg for your next family glamping experience. Your luxury tent is fully equipped with everything you need including a private bathroom, kitchenette and a beautiful outdoor decking area with a wood-fired hot tub to relax in. The camp is surrounded by a 2,500-hectare UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, so you’ll be surrounded by the wildlife this region is famous for. Arrange game drives to spot the iconic Big 5, discover the unique landscapes on local hiking trails, visit local cultural villages and learn about the Indigenous communities in the Waterberg area.
Days 19-20 – Glamping on the Panorama Route
Spend two nights enjoying a riverside glamping experience with the family, where you can enjoy the comforts of proper beds, a private bathroom, a kitchenette and a spacious outdoor deck in a peaceful oasis. This camp is nestled in between Hazyview and Sabie, which is the perfect base for exploring the Mpumalanga bush, the breathtaking Panorama Route and the wild Kruger National Park. Aside from the game drives, if it’s an adventure you’re seeking, Hazyview offers zip-lining, quad biking and river rafting for those families seeking an adrenaline rush. Enjoy the traditional South African cooking experience of braai, with your own barbecue and a hamper full of delicious goodies for your first evening.
Day 21 – Departure from South Africa
The following day, you’ll head to Johannesburg Airport to drop off your rental car and catch your international flight back to the UK, full of incredible family memories and stories to share from your adventures in South Africa.
Accommodation
