A Grand South Africa Tour for Families with Teenagers: Cape Town, Safari & More

Teenage photographer on safari game drive in Kruger National Park, South Africa

What to expect on this itinerary

Walking safaris with indigenous guides, kayaking with dolphins, standing on Table Mountain, and connecting with local people; South Africa's playground of experiences provide a thrilling destination for families with teenage children. Using three diverse destinations, this 2-week South Africa tour is packed with adventure and filled with allure. Take the whole family on a tailored teenager safari in the Sabi Sands, then to Cape Town and finally the coastal utopia of Plettenberg Bay.

Countries Visited

South Africa

Places Visited

Sabi Sands, Cape Town, Plettenberg Bay

Suggested Duration

14 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Sabi Sands – Surrounded by the Big Five

A vacation to Africa ignites so many dreamy images and preconceptions: lions roaring, elephants marching, wildlife congregating as if from an animated movie. The Sabi Sands is quick to confirm these images, a drive from the airstrip to the lodge encountering a wide array of Africa's wild mammals. Elephants and giraffes are easily spotted, rising in and out of the trees. Rhinos are equally ubiquitous, sniffing and grazing their way across the savanna. Zebra canter while impala skip across the grasslands. All this and you're just being transferred to your accommodation.

Your family will land at O. R. Tambo International in Johannesburg, where a representative is on hand and assists in transferring you to a domestic flight. Touch down in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve and you're already surrounded by the Big Five and more. After the intercontinental flight, the lodge makes for a quiet place to rest and relax, although there's always an air of excitement here. Wild animals roam past the verandah, the continual procession an indication of what's to come on these four nights in the Sabi Sands. This game reserve shares an unfenced border with Kruger National Park and is an irrevocable piece of the Kruger ecosystem. It's a haven for the complete diversity of Kruger wildlife, with a particular abundance found along the Sands River. You have two interconnected suites at the luxury lodge, along with a wooden verandah overlooking this river.

What's Included:

Accommodation
Transfer
Activity
Dinner
Day 2

Sabi Sands – Game Drives Through the Kruger Ecosystem

Day 3

Sabi Sands – Learning How to Track Animals on Foot

Day 4

Sabi Sands – Hot Air Balloon Above the Kruger

Day 5

Cape Town – Easy Day in the Mother City

Day 6

Cape Town – Table Mountain and Camps Bay for Families

Day 7

Cape Town – Vibrant Family Tour of Cape Town

Day 8

Cape Town – Penguins and Seals on the Cape Peninsula

Day 9

Plettenberg Bay – Relaxing Along the Coast

Day 10 - 13

Plettenberg Bay – Walks, Wildlife, and the Garden Route's Coastal Charms

Day 14

Plettenberg Bay to Cape Town – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Savor all the thrills of a Big Five safari with four nights in the Sabi Sands, a private game reserve in the Kruger ecosystem
  • Learn all about animal tracking as indigenous guides take your family on a walking safari
  • Explore the diverse vibrancy of Cape Town, including an eye-opening tour of a local township and a journey to the summit of Table Mountain
  • Watch wild penguins waddle across Boulders Beach and find rare wild monkeys along the Garden Route
  • Soak up the charms of the coast with five nights in Plettenberg Bay, where the days can be as active or as relaxed as you'd like
  • Try out surfing, go kayaking with dolphins, explore some of South Africa's finest walking trails, or just lie on the quiet beaches of the Garden Route
  • Hot air balloon above the Kruger before being guided along the Panorama Route and Blyde Rider Canyon

Starting Price

$11,700 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 1124 reviews

Carolyn T.
South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe Trip Review: Wildlife, Local Cuisine, 13-Day Trip

Wow, I ran out of superlatives–fantastic, awesome, amazing. Everything was well organized and the recommended accommodations were all top-notch. The guides were so expert in their field. Every activity was well worth the time. Every meal was delicious.

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Anil M.
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Tour Review: 10 Nights

Our first trip to southern Africa was amazing, exceeding all expectations. We saw everything we came to see, and more. The game rides were well structured and safe, the visuals were unbelievable, and taking a side trip to Victoria Falls was a great idea. The accommodations were quite luxurious, despite being considered mid-range. There was always someone there to greet us and guide us at every travel point.

Zicasso's tour operator tailored our itinerary to our wishes and was wonderful to work with. Things couldn’t have gone better.

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Grace J.
South Africa Travel Review: Safaris, 1 Week

We had an awesome trip. Zicasso's travel expert was amazing. She accomplished everything.

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Nancy H.
South Africa, Zimbabwe Tour Review: Cape Town, Franschhoek, Wine Tasting, Elephant Experience, River Cruise, Wildlife, Nature, Scenery, 13 Nights

Zicasso's trip planner arranged the most fabulous trip for my family. She knew exactly what I wanted and delivered a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Africa! She always answered my questions promptly. She chose memorable experiences for us, our lodgings were top-notch, and she "kept in touch, behind the scenes," to ensure all elements were going smoothly. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone planning a trip to Africa!

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LESLIE W.
Rwanda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique Trip Review: Gorilla Trek, Bush Camps, 3 Weeks

It was very well planned. Zicasso's travel specialist was responsive and flexible in the planning process and throughout the final details.

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Catherine R.
South Africa, Zimbabwe Vacation Review: Safari, 11 Nights

The trip was amazing. Zicasso's trip expert did an awesome job planning the trip. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and exceeded all of our expectations. The “in-country” travel was seamless. Our accommodations and tours were all top-notch. I can‘t thank her enough for planning this awesome experience.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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