Day1
Arrival in Cape Town
Land at Cape Town International, pick up your car and settle in. An easy first evening at the V&A Waterfront, where the harbour, a Ferris wheel and plenty of space let everyone find their feet.
Family · Cape, safari & KZN coast
The Grand Family Tour
Three weeks built for families: Cape Town and its penguins, the Garden Route, a malaria-free safari at Addo for the children, and the warm Indian Ocean beaches of KwaZulu-Natal to finish.
Duration
21 days
Distance
~2,200 km + 1 flight
Best season
Oct – Apr
Ideal for
Families
Overview
Three weeks, and every side of South Africa a family could want: a great city, the wild Garden Route, a malaria-free safari and the warm beaches of the Indian Ocean. The pace is gentle, the roads are easy, and the children are kept in mind at every stop.
The trip opens in Cape Town, with four nights to take in Table Mountain, the peninsula and the penguins of Boulders Beach, then follows the coast east. Along the Garden Route you’ll find calm lagoons at Wilderness and Knysna, the primates of Monkeyland near Plettenberg Bay, and the forests of Tsitsikamma, before a malaria-free safari at Addo, where elephants gather at the waterholes and small children are welcome on the drives.
A short flight then carries you north to the warm side of the country. Durban and its uShaka Marine World, the hippos and beaches of St Lucia, an optional safari in the rhino country of Hluhluwe, and a cool, green few days in the Drakensberg round out the journey before you fly home from Johannesburg. Every stage can be shortened, swapped or extended to suit the ages around the table.
Day by day
The full itinerary
Three weeks, from the penguins of the Cape to the warm sea of KwaZulu-Natal.
Day2
Table Mountain & the Waterfront
Ride the rotating cable car up Table Mountain for the big view, then back down to the Waterfront and the Two Oceans Aquarium. A gentle first full day to beat the jet lag.
Table MountainCable carAquarium
Day3
The Cape Peninsula & penguins
The day the children will remember: Chapman's Peak Drive, the Cape of Good Hope, and the African penguins waddling along Boulders Beach near Simon's Town, close enough to watch for hours.
Boulders penguinsCape PointBeaches
Day4
A winelands family day
The winelands aren't only for grown-ups: estates like Spier and Babylonstoren have lawns, farm animals and grape juice for the children while the adults taste. Cape Dutch gables and an easy lunch round it off.
StellenboschFarm estatesFamily
Day5
Cape Town → Hermanus
Follow the coast to Hermanus, the world capital of land-based whale watching (Jun–Nov). Walk the cliff path to spot whales from the rocks, with ice cream and a harbour lunch as a reward.
Whale watchingCliff Path
Day6
Hermanus → Wilderness, the Garden Route
A longer driving day to the start of the Garden Route. Wilderness rewards it with calm lagoons, a long safe beach and gentle canoe paddles among the lakes, an easy place to slow down.
LakesBeachCanoeing
Day7
Knysna & the lagoon
The jewel of the Garden Route: a vast lagoon framed by the sandstone Heads. A Featherbed ferry cruise, fish and chips by the water and a gentle forest walk among the giant yellowwoods.
The HeadsFerry cruiseForest
Day8
Monkeyland, Birds of Eden & Plett
A children's favourite near Plettenberg Bay: the free-roaming primates of Monkeyland and the huge walk-through aviary of Birds of Eden, side by side at The Crags. Settle into Plett for the beach days.
MonkeylandBirds of EdenBeaches
Day9
Plettenberg Bay & Robberg
Golden beaches and the Robberg Nature Reserve, where a coastal trail passes a colony of Cape fur seals. A relaxed seaside day with time to swim and build sandcastles.
Robberg sealsBeachesSwimming
Day10
Tsitsikamma National Park
Where the forest meets the ocean: the Storms River suspension bridge, easy boardwalk trails and a treetop canopy tour for older children. A great day out in the green.
Suspension bridgeForestCanopy tour
Day11
Storms River → Addo
Cross into the Eastern Cape towards Addo Elephant Park. Arrive in time to settle in and take a first afternoon game drive, with elephants almost guaranteed at the waterholes.
AddoFirst driveElephants
Day12
Safari at Addo (malaria-free)
The family safari, and malaria-free, which makes it ideal with children. Addo holds over 600 elephants plus lion, buffalo and zebra. A morning and afternoon game drive, easy and unforgettable.
Big gameGame driveMalaria-free
Day13
Addo → fly to Durban
A last morning drive, then drop the car at Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) and fly to Durban. Trade the cool Cape for the warm Indian Ocean and the easy pace of the KZN coast.
Internal flightWarm coast
Day14
Durban & uShaka Marine World
Durban is made for families: uShaka Marine World with its aquarium and water slides, the wide Golden Mile promenade and the warmest city beaches in the country, safe for a long swim.
uShakaGolden MileWarm beaches
Day15
Durban → St Lucia (iSimangaliso)
Head north to St Lucia, gateway to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site where the bush meets the sea. Hippos wander the village streets at night, to the children's delight and yours.
iSimangalisoEstuaryHippos
Day16
iSimangaliso estuary & beach
A boat cruise on the estuary brings hippos and crocodiles up close, and the wide beaches and turtle shores lie just over the dunes. One of the best family days of the whole trip.
Boat cruiseCrocodilesBeach
Day17
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi safari
A second, wilder safari for those who want it: Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, the oldest park in Africa and a stronghold of the rhino. A guided day drive, or simply another day on the beach if you'd rather rest.
HluhluweRhinoBig Five
Day18
St Lucia → the Drakensberg
The longest driving day, inland to the mountains. The Champagne Valley is the gentle, family side of the Drakensberg, with resorts, pools and short walks under the high peaks.
DrakensbergMountainsResorts
Day19
The Champagne Valley
A relaxed mountain day: a short walk to a waterfall, the Drakensberg Boys Choir if it's a Wednesday, and the Falcon Ridge bird-of-prey show. A cool, green change of scene before the journey home.
Boys ChoirFalcon RidgeWalks
Day20
Drakensberg → Johannesburg
Drive up to Johannesburg and return the car. A last night near the airport, with time to pack and look back over three weeks that took in cities, the ocean, the bush and the mountains.
HighveldLast night
Day21
Departure
Fly home from Johannesburg (OR Tambo). Three weeks, every face of South Africa, and a family's worth of memories from the penguins to the elephants to the warm sea.
The route
Cape Town, the Garden Route and the KZN coast
Plan & book
How to book each step
This itinerary is a free guide. Book each part of your trip directly with our trusted partners — the same price as going direct.
Flights
Compare flights into Cape Town, the internal hop (PE → Durban) and home from Johannesburg.
Search on Skyscanner →Stays
Family-friendly guesthouses, self-catering and lodges at each overnight stop.
Find a stay →Car hire
Two rentals: Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, then Durban to Johannesburg.
Compare cars →Activities & safaris
Penguins, lagoon cruises, the Addo safari and the iSimangaliso boats.
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Plan & book
Book the experiences along the way
From the penguins of the Cape to the Addo safari and the warm beaches of KwaZulu-Natal, book the activities of this family trip through GetYourGuide and our trusted partners — the same price as booking direct.
We may earn a commission when you book through our partner links — at no extra cost to you.