Family South Africa—Custom Safari

Limited To Travelers

When you choose Natural Habitat Adventures for your custom South Africa family safari, you may select from a wide range of smaller luxury and deluxe safari camps and lodges, with each property comprising 6–10 guest rooms or tents. You also have the option of Premier Camps, including private, exclusive-use safari homes that accommodate 4–8 travelers on this family adventure, each equipped with a private safari guide and vehicle. As the world’s premier nature travel company, we focus solely on small-group journeys and avoid the large impersonal hotels that devalue an authentic safari experience. Please consult with one of our Adventure Specialists to determine which camps and lodges can best accommodate your group’s size and preferred travel style.

Quality vehicles are an important component of your safari experience. The vehicles provided are designed especially for adventures in Southern Africa, with two goals in mind: comfort during overland drives on sometimes-rough roads, and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. The camps you visit will use several different sizes of Toyota Land Cruisers and Land Rovers. Vehicles typically have 10 cushioned passenger seats: one in front next to the driver followed by three rows of three seats each, though capacity is typically limited to six to seven travelers, depending on each camp, and each traveler is always assured a window seat. If taking private, exclusive-use accommodations, your private vehicle will seat eight travelers with seven outer seats and one middle seat. Most camps use open-sided vehicles, either with or without a canopy overhead, and each row is raised slightly higher than the one in front of it, allowing for unobstructed views of scenery and wildlife. All vehicles have 4-wheel-drive and are fitted with high-quality imported tires to enable us to press on through rough spots. As is the case with all of our vehicles, these safari trucks are enhanced with specialized suspensions to ensure the most comfortable ride possible in the wilds of Africa.

Accommodations as noted in your confirmed proposal, services of professional camp guides and staff, meals and drinks as specified in your confirmed proposal, airport transfers on Day 1 and final day, internal road transfers between lodges as noted, all activities and entrance fees as described in the itinerary, all taxes, permits and service fees.

Travel to and from start and end point of trip, commercial scheduled flights from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth and Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg, any meals and drinks not specified in your confirmed proposal, gratuities, passport and visa fees, optional activities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry and internet, etc.), airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes, required medical evacuation insurance, optional travel insurance. 

Easy
A safari vehicle frequently offers a bumpy ride. Wildlife drives often involve long hours of sitting and sometimes bouncing around. While we don't consider this strenuous, it can be uncomfortable and pose a particular type of physical demand on the body. All travelers must be able to climb into and out of the raised 4x4 trucks that we use for safari vehicles. They must also be able to walk to and from the vehicle to our camp accommodations, which sometimes involves walking over uneven ground or on boardwalks. Additionally, while any short walks (if feasible given the conditions) are considered optional, you will get the most out of your safari experience if you can walk a mile or two over uneven ground without assistance. Days spent on safari can be long, as mornings typically start before daybreak and evening meals are served after sundown. We recommend that all travelers have an adventurous spirit, as they will often enjoy the closest animal encounters.

Our Family South Africa itinerary combines malaria-free locations with private family-style accommodations, making it easy for children of all ages to travel and providing the most personalized experience for your family or small group. While you will be traveling independently, you may accompany other guests from each camp as well as share a naturalist guide on wildlife drives, walks and other activities. An appealing option is staying in private, exclusive-use lodges that sleep four to eight travelers and feature central living and dining areas where your family can gather. A private vehicle, safari guide and small staff will welcome you and facilitate the most intimate and exclusive safari experience available. Because you're choosing a custom adventure, we will check availability for your desired dates. Our recommended accommodations are located in areas that limit the number of visitors yet have abundant wildlife populations. These camps and lodges combine comfort and style with the highest quality nature and wildlife experiences, catered specifically to your family or small group. Depending on the time of year and the movement of wildlife, camp selection will heavily influence the quality of your safari. Our team of professional safari consultants can help you choose the best camp combination for your specific dates. Call our experts at 800-543-8917.

Mandatory Insurance

This itinerary departs daily, subject to availability of your preferred accommodations on your chosen dates. You can arrive at any time on Day 1 of the adventure. We can best serve you if our Natural Habitat Adventures Travel Desk makes your air reservations, as our staff is intimately familiar with the special requirements of these programs and can arrange the most efficient and cost-effective travel. Please call us at 800-543-8917. Note that while we offer you the best possible rates available to us on airfare, you may find special web rates or better fares online.