8-Day Cape Town & Sabi Sands Family Safari

Day 01

Arrival in Cape Town (Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel)

Arrive in Cape Town, where you will be met at the airport and transferred to the Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel (approximately 25–30 minutes). Set within a beautifully restored Georgian and Victorian-era building in the vibrant Gardens district, the hotel is known for its intimate atmosphere, personalized service, and stylish design that blends heritage features with contemporary luxury. Guests can enjoy amenities such as a tranquil courtyard, a small swimming pool, and thoughtfully curated interiors that reflect the character of the city.

Your Stable Suite offers a more private and residential-style experience, located slightly apart from the main hotel. The suite is spacious and elegantly designed, featuring a comfortable lounge area, two well-appointed bedrooms (perfect for families travelling together), and modern finishes throughout. Large windows allow for plenty of natural light, while refined décor and high-end touches create a calm and sophisticated retreat—perfect for unwinding after travel.

After check-in, take some time to relax and settle in, perhaps enjoy a quiet moment in your suite or by the pool before heading out to explore nearby Kloof Street, just a short 5-minute walk away. This lively street is known for its boutique shops, cafés, and excellent restaurants, offering a great introduction to Cape Town’s vibrant food and cultural scene.

Day 02

Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour

Today after breakfast, you will head out on a full-day tour around the Cape Peninsula. You will be collected in a fully stocked adventure vehicle and start the tour off as you travel along the breathtaking Chapman’s Peak Drive, where dramatic ocean views and scenic lookout points make for fun stops along the way. Continue through Noordhoek, a relaxed coastal village with a long sandy beach perfect for a quick stretch, a treat at the local ice-cream parlour or photo opportunity. Your next stop is the Cape Point Nature Reserve, part of Table Mountain National Park, where you can enjoy a short hike or take the funicular (at an extra cost) up to the Cape Point Lighthouse. The area is rich in wildlife, and children will love spotting baboons, ostriches, and antelope among the unique fynbos vegetation.

Continue on to Simon’s Town to visit Boulders Beach, where the resident African penguins can be seen up close from the boardwalks. For those wanting a bit more adventure, optional kayaking in the calm bay offers a fun and safe way to explore the coastline. Afterwards, head to the quirky suburb of Kalk Bay for a relaxed lunch and some time to explore. This charming seaside village is perfect for families, with its working harbour, playful seals, tidal pools, and a variety of cafés and boutique shops to wander through. If time allows, end the day with a visit to the beautiful Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, set against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. The gardens offer open lawns, shaded walking paths, and the famous tree canopy walkway, making it an ideal stop for the kids to run around while adults enjoy one of the most stunning botanical settings in the world.

Day 03

Full Day Table Mountain and City Tour

Today will be a more relaxed and varied day that blends natural beauty, culture, and fun activities for the whole family. After breakfast, your day begins with a visit to the iconic Table Mountain, the dramatic backdrop to the city and one of its most exciting and memorable highlights. A short cable car ride takes you to the summit, where flat walking paths make it easy to explore with children while enjoying sweeping views of the city, Robben Island in the distance, and the vast Atlantic Ocean. The unique fynbos vegetation and curious dassies (rock hyrax) add to the experience, making it more than just a viewpoint.

Back down in the city centre, continue exploring some of Cape Town’s highlights at an easy pace. Wander through the historic Company’s Garden, a peaceful green space perfect for a short stroll, or pass by landmarks such as the Castle of Good Hope, one of the oldest colonial buildings in South Africa. A visit to Bo-Kaap adds a vibrant cultural touch, with its brightly painted houses and rich Cape Malay heritage creating a lively and photogenic stop. For a bit of adventure, a scooter tour on the slopes nearby offers a fun and safe activity, especially for older kids looking for something more active.

Later, make your way to Camps Bay, where the beach and promenade offer a relaxed seaside atmosphere. It’s a great spot to pause, enjoy a snack, and let children play while taking in views of the Twelve Apostles mountains.

As the day winds down, head up to Signal Hill for sundowners. Watching the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean is a simple yet unforgettable experience, and the perfect way to end a full and memorable day exploring Cape Town.

Day 04

Cape Town to Sabi Sand Game Reserve (SabiSabi Bush Lodge)

Today is a change of pace as you leave Cape Town and fly to Hoedspruit, where your safari will begin. On arrival at Hoedspruit Airport, you will be transferred by road into the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. The drive into the reserve is part of the experience, with the landscape gradually becoming more remote; the possibility of spotting wildlife even before you arrive is high. The reserve shares an unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park, which allows animals to move freely and makes for consistently strong game viewing.

You’ll be staying at Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge, a lodge that works particularly well for families. It has a relaxed layout with open communal areas, a central pool, and views over the bush where animals are often seen passing through. The atmosphere is informal but still refined, making it easy to settle in quickly.

The villas are spacious and practical for families, with enough room for everyone to spread out. They combine traditional safari style with modern comforts, and each one opens out onto a private patio with it’s own splash pool, so there’s always a sense of being connected to the surroundings without it feeling overwhelming.

The rest of the day is yours to settle into the villa, relax at the lodge, and if you feel up to it – your first afternoon game drive.  Enjoy sundowners along the way before you head back to the lodge for a delicious dinner under the African skies.

Days 05, 06 & 07

On Safari in the Sabi Sands

The next few days settle into an easy, natural rhythm in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, where no two days are the same, but the flow quickly becomes familiar. Mornings start early, heading out while it’s still cool, when the bush is at its most active. This is often when you’ll come across predators before they disappear for the day—lions on the move, a leopard draped over a tree branch, or elephants quietly feeding. The reserve is especially well known for close-up leopard sightings, along with the rest of the Big Five, and because it borders Kruger National Park without fences, the wildlife moves freely and sightings always feel unforced and natural.

Back at Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge, the middle of the day is deliberately slower. After brunch, there’s time to rest, swim, or just sit and watch the bush quietly go about its business. For kids, at the EleFun Centre, children are introduced to the bush through hands-on, outdoor experiences that spark curiosity and awareness. Guided walks around the lodge help them pick up on the smaller details—animal tracks, alarm calls, and how different species all play a role in the ecosystem. For ages 4 to 12, activities like making plaster casts of spoor and learning to navigate using the sun and stars are both fun and engaging, while gently introducing ideas around conservation. It’s a relaxed, interactive approach that often draws in parents too, making it just as enjoyable for them as it is for the kids. For adults, it’s a chance to take things at your own pace. The Amani Spa is there if you feel like it, or you might just find yourself enjoying the quiet, reading, or watching animals pass by from your room or the main lodge.

Later in the afternoon, you head out again as things start to cool down. The light softens, animals become more active, and the bush shifts into its evening rhythm. You might follow a herd of elephants moving through the reserve, stop for a quiet moment out in the open, or track something more elusive as the sun sets. Drives usually stretch into the early evening before heading back for dinner.
After a couple of days, it all starts to feel very easy—less about ticking off sightings and more about just being there, with enough flexibility for everyone to enjoy it in their own way.

Day 08

Departure from the Sabi Sands

Today begins with a final morning in the bush at Sabi Sands Game Reserve. After an early wake-up, head out for one last game drive, a chance to enjoy the quiet of the reserve and perhaps catch a few final sightings before departure. Returning to Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge, there’s time for a relaxed breakfast and a moment to take it all in before leaving. From there, you’ll transfer by road to Hoedspruit Airport for your onward flight to Johannesburg, where your journey comes to an end.