Cape Town, Kalahari and Waterberg
Cape Town, Kalahari and Waterberg
11-day/10-night South Africa family journey
A fabulous family adventure that’s off the beaten path
Perhaps you’re an adventurer who prefers the road less travelled. Or you’ve been to South Africa before and you’re wanting your family holiday to include some of the country’s hidden gems. Either way, this is the journey for you!
You’ll start off in Cape Town, South Africa’s Mother City, where you’ll be immersed in the city’s heritage, maritime history, world-class food and wine, and the kind of natural environment you rarely find in urban areas – even penguins!
From there you travel into the Green Kalahari, that part of the world-famous desert that’s less arid, for a peerless nature experience. You’ll be likely to spot four of the Big Five animals, and also the secretive, shy but no less fascinating Elusive Five. To round off your journey you’ll head further north into Limpopo province’s Waterberg, a stunning UNESCO biosphere reserve, where a family-friendly luxury safari experience awaits.
At a Glance
Highlights
Family friendly
Malaria-free safari experiences
Some of the best wines in the world
Unforgettable cuisine
Endless choice of experiences around the Cape
Stunning scenery
Unbelievable game viewing and bird watching
Location11-day/10-night South Africa family journey
Create your African story, your way
Does this itinerary inspire you to create your own unforgettable African story? Speak to your Travel Architect about curating your perfect African journey.Tell us the Africa you imagine. We’ll take you there!
Book a time to chat
Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest city, with a heritage stretching back nearly four centuries. With its diverse cultures, its natural wonders and spectacular beauty, Cape Town masterfully captures the hearts of visitors.
This diverse metropolis is filled with superb shops and restaurants, extraordinary heritage monuments, a multitude of entertainment venues, and the spectacular and famed V&A Waterfront that is spread out around the city’s working harbour.
Just a few highlights include the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art (MOCAA); Table Mountain's jaw-dropping views; Boulders beach, where penguins might swim right up to you in the warm waters; the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, where you can walk along a treetop canopy among incredible native flora or watch an open-air concert at the base of the mountain; Robben Island, where visitors can see the cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years; and wine tastings in the Constantia Winelands.
Gardens, sandwiched between Oranjezicht and Tamboerskloof, is located at the foot of Table Mountain – part of the Cape Floristic Region, one of the world’s six floral kingdoms. It is part of the greater City Bowl area, and one of the oldest and most established parts of Cape Town. Kloof Street, with its vibey restaurant and café culture, is within walking distance of Oranjezicht. The city centre is a mere five-minute drive away, and the V&A Waterfront 15 minutes.
Mount Nelson Hotel
The Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel, is fondly referred to as “The Nellie” or the “Pink Lady”, for its iconic light pink colour. Boasting a rich history that is woven into the fabric of the Mother City, it has been captivating visitors since 1899.
Tucked away in over 3.6ha (nine acres) of flowering gardens, ancient trees and rolling lawns, this luxurious sanctuary is spread out over seven separate historic wings. Rooms are individually decorated with elegance and opulence, and are reminiscent of a bygone era. Guests enjoy magnificent views of Table Mountain, Lion's Head and Devil’s Peak.
High Tea is synonymous with The Nellie, and a must-do for all guests. Several other curated experiences are available to guests during their stay, such as a coffee and chocolate experience, Mount Nelson garden tour, Mount Nelson history and architecture tour, Nellie’s Pink Kombi for a surf lesson in Muizenberg or a culinary tour around the city, a marine biologist experience (rock-pooling, snorkelling and more with a renowned marine biologist), or a guided first light walk on Table Mountain, among others.
Simon’s Town is a picturesque coastal village in the south of Cape Town, on the western shore of False Bay. This historical location, dating back to 1680, is home to the South African Navy’s largest base. It is renowned for its maritime heritage and is home to the original naval cemetery, as well as beautifully preserved buildings, historical landmarks and museums.
It is also home to a large African penguin colony at the famed Boulders beach, where it is not uncommon to swim or paddle with these delightful, critically endangered birds.
Simon’s Town is located approximately an hour’s drive from Cape Town and 30 minutes from the Constantia Winelands, and is ideally situated for visiting the iconic Cape Point. Various water-based activities are available in the bay, including snorkelling and boat-based whale watching in season.
Tintswalo Boulders
Tintswalo Boulders is an exquisite and intimate boutique villa, renowned for its unobstructed views of the famed Boulders beach below (direct access exclusively for guests) and sweeping views of one of South Africa's most picturesque coastlines, across False Bay and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. Furnishings are sophisticated and luxurious, seamlessly blending with the inherent charm of the surrounding natural landscape and fynbos.
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve
“Kalahari” is derived from the seTswana word kgala, meaning “the great thirst”. The southern Kalahari, due to its location and climatic conditions, receives somewhat more rain than the central Kalahari and is often referred to as the “Green Kalahari”.
Tswalu (meaning “a new beginning”) is a vast land of infinite possibility, with sweeping vistas and a liberating sense of space. It is the largest privately owned protected conservation area in South Africa, spanning 1 200km2 (463sq mi).
The Green Kalahari is nature at its most diverse and surprising. The Korannaberg Mountains provide a spectacular backdrop to the landscape of semi-arid grasslands, open savannahs and sand dunes. It forms a huge basin that acts as a natural catchment area and provides a healthy water table, enabling the reserve to support a large diversity of life.
The reserve is also home to many valuable Bushman rock art sites, some dating back 380 000 years, which speaks to the importance that earlier inhabitants attached to the sanctuary that is the Green Kalahari.
Enjoy the ultimate wilderness and the wildlife experience – on horseback (for intermediate and advanced riders). An introduction to the Tswalu Foundation’s research projects and a community visit to the clinic and pre-school will be profound experiences.
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve is home to 80 mammal species, including four of the Big Five: rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard. The variety of habitats and climates provides for a diverse animal population, such as gemsbok, springbok, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, and roan and sable antelope. And then there is the Elusive Five: nocturnal species including the pangolin and brown hyena (both endangered), the aardvark, aardwolf and bat-eared fox.
Along with habituated meerkats, the reserve is known for frequent encounters with cheetahs, endangered African wild dogs and Kalahari black-maned lions, as well as white and desert black rhinos. It is also an excellent birding destination, with 264 recorded species.
Tswalu Loapi
Pioneering and nomadic in spirit, Loapi is a collection of six luxury 5* safari homes surrounded by open savannah grasslands against the backdrop of the Korannaberg Mountains.
Loapi, meaning “the space below the clouds” in Setswana, describes the environmentally sensitive, modular design that combines canvas, glass and steel. The interiors are uncluttered and sculptured, optimising the sense of space. The homes are spaced well apart to ensure solitude and seclusion.
Relax with spa treatments in the privacy of your room or outdoors, depending on the time of the year. The magical safari experience is enhanced by a private guide and tracker, and exquisite meals are prepared by your private chef in an interactive kitchen.
Welgevonden Game Reserve
Welgevonden Game Reserve (its name is the Dutch for “well found”) is a 370km2 (143sq mi) malaria-free area and is part of the UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere Reserve. The region’s scenery and topography range from broad rolling hills to magnificent red sandstone cliffs, perennial rivers, open plains and savannah.
Human occupation in the area dates back to the Stone Age and two separate Bushman rock painting sites, dating back thousands of years, have been found within the reserve.
An impressive relocation and rehabilitation programme over a number of decades has established Welgevonden as a sought-after Big Five reserve. The project was the first to translocate entire breeding herds of elephants in South Africa. The reserve is home to 66 mammal species, 52 species of reptiles, frogs and fish.
Many antelope species, such as eland, duiker, impala, kudu and klipspringer, are found here along with blue wildebeest, giraffes, the rare pangolin, cheetahs, caracals, aardwolves, aardvarks and the endangered African wild dog. The reserve is a birder's paradise, too, with 320 recorded species.
Tintswalo Waterberg
This lodge is an intimate, luxury 5* retreat where contemporary comfort blends seamlessly with rustic charm. Meandering pathways link suites with the main lodge. The location provides panoramic views of the surrounding wilderness and mountains. It is a harmonious blend of adventure, relaxation and wildlife immersion.
The lodge was designed with families in mind and various activities are available for children, curated to suit different ages.
Today you and your loved ones will take your leave of the South Africa that not that many visitors take the time to explore. Your farewell will no doubt be bittersweet: bitter for having to leave behind the rich and unspoilt places you’ve discovered, but certainly sweet for all of the experiences you’ve enjoyed and the magical memories you’ve made.
Speak to your Travel Architect
Create your African story, your way
Does this itinerary inspire you to create your own unforgettable African story? Speak to your Travel Architect about curating your perfect African journey.
Tell us the Africa you imagine. We’ll take you there!
Why travel with Your Africa?
It starts with you
No two journeys are the same. We design each itinerary around who you are and how you want to experience Africa.
Seamless planning
Your dedicated Travel Architect handles everything. All you need to do is guide us on what your ideal African journey looks like.
Travel, your way
You decide how you want to explore Africa. This is your Africa, your story, your way.
Cape Town, Kalahari and Waterberg gallery
Cape Town, Kalahari and Waterberg FAQs
The single biggest advantage is that this entire 11-day itinerary is completely malaria-free. This provides immense peace of mind, especially for parents travelling with children, as it eliminates the need for anti-malarial medication and health concerns. You get two distinct, world-class safari experiences in the Tswalu Kalahari and Welgevonden reserves without any of the associated malaria risks.
The logistics are designed to be as seamless and comfortable as possible:
- Cape Town to Tswalu: this is the easiest leg. You will be transferred to a private lounge at Cape Town airport for a direct scheduled charter flight (of around two hours) to Tswalu’s private airstrip
- Tswalu to Welgevonden: you'll take a charter flight from Tswalu to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport. There, you will be met by a private driver for the road transfer to Welgevonden (approx. 4.5 hours). This drive is a chance to see the South African countryside
- Welgevonden to departure: your final leg is a comfortable private road transfer back to OR Tambo International Airport
Packing in layers is crucial. You'll need three main “wardrobes”:
- For Cape Town and Simon's Town: stylish casual wear, comfortable walking shoes, swimwear, and always a warm fleece or windproof jacket as coastal weather can change instantly
- For Tswalu and Welgevonden: lightweight clothing in neutral safari colours (khaki, beige, olive). It is essential to pack very warm jackets, beanies and scarves for the cold desert nights and early-morning game drives
- Essentials for all: High-SPF sunscreen, sun hats, sunglasses and personal medications
Your chances are excellent. This itinerary gives you two opportunities to see them all:
- Tswalu Kalahari: You can see four of the Big Five: lion (including the famous black-maned lions), leopard, buffalo, and both black and white rhino
- Welgevonden Game Reserve: this is a classic Big Five reserve, where you will have excellent opportunities to see lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo
This is a highlight of the trip, as it showcases two completely different ecosystems:
- Tswalu Kalahari is a vast, semi-arid desert environment. It offers a unique sense of infinite space and the chance to see rare, desert-adapted species you won't find elsewhere, such as gemsbok (oryx), springbok, and elusive creatures like pangolins and aardvarks
- Welgevonden Game Reserve is in the Waterberg Biosphere. It is a more classic “bushveld” environment with rolling hills, perennial rivers and savannah, offering a different landscape and Big Five viewing opportunities
This thoughtful split allows you to experience two unique sides of the Cape:
- The Mount Nelson places you in the cultural heart of the city, surrounded by gardens and close to Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront and museums
- Tintswalo Boulders offers a completely different, magical coastal experience. Its main advantage is its exclusive, private access for guests directly to the Boulders beach penguin colony, allowing your family to experience these incredible birds away from the main public crowds
Absolutely. The lodges on this itinerary are chosen specifically for their family focus:
- Tswalu Loapi: the exclusive-use safari homes are perfect for families, providing a private guide, chef and vehicle. This means you have complete flexibility to set your own schedule, go on shorter game drives if needed, and tailor the experience to your children’s interests
- Tintswalo Waterberg: this lodge was specifically designed with families in mind and offers curated children’s programmes to keep younger guests engaged between game drives
Tswalu offers some of the most unique wildlife encounters in Africa. Beyond its famous Kalahari black-maned lions and cheetahs, it is renowned for its community of habituated meerkats. You can get out of the vehicle and spend time on foot observing these fascinating creatures up close. It is also one of the best places in the world to potentially see rare nocturnal animals such as the pangolin and aardvark.
The best time is during the South African winter and spring, from May to September. The Cape will be cooler and greener (it’s the rainy season there), but this is the absolute best time for safari. In the dry winter, the bush is less dense and animals congregate around water sources in Tswalu and Welgevonden, making for phenomenal game viewing.
Your safety is paramount throughout this itinerary. Your accommodations in Cape Town are in high-end, secure properties. On safari you are in vast, private and secure reserves under the care of expert guides.
