Most likely, you'll leave the UK in the evening and arrive in South Africa the following morning. After arrival, you'll pick up your rental car at the airport and meet our local representative (or you'll meet him at the first hotel). Afterwards, you'll drive to your hotel in Pretoria located some 60km from the airport to begin your South Africa family holiday. When you arrive at your hotel you'll have time to freshen up, rest up and visit a few of the sights in Pretoria such as the Buildings of Parliament and their gardens, the Voortrekkers Monument (to commemorate the Boers that trekked north into the heart of the African grassland) and the Paul Kruger House. If you've got enough energy, you can also visit the bars, restaurants and stores in Hatfield in the evening to kick-start your South Africa holiday.

Note: If you choose a direct flight to South Africa, you may arrive late at night. We'll make reservations for you in Johannesburg, not far from the airport, so that you don't have to drive all the way to Pretoria after arrival.

The Pilanesberg Game Reserve lies just north of Johannesburg. Today on your South Africa family holiday, you'll drive from Pretoria to this malaria-free zone and there is a good chance that you'll spot the Big 5 (elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo). The park is less well known than Kruger Park; however it is a great place to spot large wild animals and since the park is less spread out than Kruger, there is a better chance of encountering the Big 5. Pilanesberg is only a two hour drive from Pretoria, so you'll have plenty of time to explore the park by car today. Of course, we can arrange a guided game drive for you if you like. The price is approximately £28 per person.

Parys is a great location for a rest stop during your drive to Drakensberg. It's a lively town with charming little houses and it's a refuge for those living in big cities (Johannesburg is only 120 km away). You'll spend the night in our game lodge near the Vredefort Dome, a crater with a diameter of approximately 40 km. Parys lies on the banks of the Vaal River, on the border of the North West Province, Gauteng and Free State. There's plenty to do in and around Parys while you're on your South Africa family holiday. Go for a hike through the impressive Vredevort Dome, go rock climbing or go white-water rafting in the Vaal River. These optional activities are not, however included in the price of your South Africa holiday.

From Parys, head off early in the morning into the country's interior towards the highest mountain range in the country, the Drakensberg. You'll leave flowing hills behind you and start to see impressive mountainous territory. The Zulus refer to the rugged Drakensberg peaks as Ukhahlamba: ‘a barrier of spears’. The Golden Gate National Park is your final destination for today on your South Africa itinerary, and this park features parts of the Maluti Mountains. The park was named after the gold-coloured reflections created by the sun rising through the sandstone mountain cliffs. The park is known for its' breathtaking views, spectacular sandstone formations (such as Sentinel Rock) and excellent hiking opportunities. The wild animals and birds in the park can only be found in this region. You'll spend the night in a basic, yet comfortable chalet perfect for families in the Golden Gate National Park camp. 

This morning on your South Africa trip, you'll drive for about an hour until you reach Champagne Valley, which is ideally located between 'Central Mountain' and the untainted wilderness of ‘Royal Natal’. In the middle of this picturesque park you'll find the Amphitheatre, a wide half-moon shaped basalt wall that is 5 kilometres long and 500 metres high. The highest peak is Mont-aux-Sources (‘mountain of the sources’). This is where the Tugela River plunges down hundreds of metres and crawls 330 km further towards the Indian Ocean. There are many hiking trails in this area lasting 2-4 hours. They begin from Drakensberg Sun, Monks Cowl and the Drakensberg Boys Choir School. You'll spend the night at the idyllic Champagne Farm in one of the romantic rondavels with ensuite facilities. On arrival at the guest house, relax by the pool or take a short walk through the Central Mountain area near Monks Cowl. Breakfast is also included on this night of your South Africa family holiday.

From the Drakensberg Mountains, you'll drive east to the beach town of Umhlanga (only 15 minutes from Durban). Spend the night at a charming bed & breakfast near a broad sandy beach, perfect if you have the family with you on your South Africa holiday. Your room will have a shower, toilet, tv and a fan. Enjoy breakfast on the pool patio, with many different kinds of plants and flowers surrounding you. A very lively city centre is only about 5 minutes away from the bed & breakfast. There are many bars, stores and great restaurants here. Of course you could also take a quick drive to the Durban boulevard if you're looking for more excitement on your South Africa trip.

Tip: If you have a few extra days to spare on your South Africa holiday and you feel like having a relaxing break..... stay at the sandy beaches of Umhlanga for a few extra days. This is particularly enjoyable during November-April. The average temperature during this time of year is 28 degrees Celsius.

Sometime in the morning you'll drop off your rental car at Durban airport and catch a quick flight to Port Elizabeth. After arrival in Port Elizabeth, pick up your new rental at the airport and drive to your next destination on your South Africa family holiday: Addo Elephant National Park. The park is located in the bush at Sunday's River Valley in the Eastern Cape. Spend the night on a fully operational farm, just outside of the park. 

From Addo, you'll head west towards Knysna. Along the way you can stop at the beach towns Francis Bay or Jeffrey’s Bay, both well known for amazing surfing opportunities (why not take a family surfing lesson on your South Africa trip?). Later you'll reach the Tsitsikamma National Park, where you can stop for a while and go on one of the many hikes or trails set out through the area. For instance, go on a one hour walk to the wobbling Suspension Bridge over Storms River. At the end of the day you'll reach your home base for the next few days, Knysna. Your hotel is centrally located near enjoyable restaurants and the waterfront, perfect for a relaxing family meal to chat about the experiences of your South Africa holiday so far.

Knysna is one of the most important towns along the Garden Route built upon a beautiful lagoon. The town itself isn't very large, but you'll definitely need a couple of days to explore the surrounding area on your South Africa family holiday. There are lively bars, pubs and restaurants featuring live-music until late at night. During the day you can visit Plettenberg Bay for a whale-watching trip, try kayaking on Knysna lagoon, go diving, snorkelling, mountain biking or rock climbing, take a canopy zipline tour in Tsitsikamma National Park, and visit the Robberg Nature Reserve.

Today you can recover from all the driving you've been doing during your South Africa road trip. About an hour from Knysna you'll find the Tsitsikamma National Park. It is a long narrow stretch of rugged coastline with massive cliffs created by the relentless pounding of ocean waves. 

If you prefer to stay at Plettenberg Bay rather than Knysna on your South Africa holiday, please let our travel specialists know.

On day fourteen of your South Africa family holiday, you'll travel from Knysna lagoon through George and on to the desert region of Klein Karoo. Here you'll find the world capital of ostrich farming, Oudtshoorn. This is a sprawling town with broad lanes and lovely old buildings. You'll spend the night just outside the town centre, amidst ostrich farms, in a cosy guest house with a swimming pool. Breakfast is included.

In the afternoon, you'll have several different options available to you, such as a visit to the nearby Cango limestone caves. Alternatively, you can drive a little further to the beautiful 'Rust en Vrede' ('Rest and Peace') waterfall. It's located in a small natural park that closes at 16.30. You can also visit the Cango wildlife ranch, where you can cuddle cheetahs, hold snakes and even go cage diving with crocodiles! Click here to find out about visiting an ostrich farm and the Swartberg pass.

Note: If you want to see the ostriches, the caves and the Prince Albert pass, you'll need to book an additional stay in Oudtshoorn- just mention it to our friendly South Africa travel specialists when you book.

Today you'll drive through the small Karoo and visit small villages, such as Calitzdorp (known for its fine South African Port) located in the wine territories surrounding Paarl and Stellenbosch. We suggest that you start driving early today; there is quite a lot to see and you'll want to make several rest stops during the day. You'll spend the night near Somerset West, in Helderberg. The guest house has excellent self-catering facilities and there is a small playground for children making it a perfect stop on your South Africa family holiday.

Today, you'll drive to Cape Town at your own pace where you will spend the last few days of your South Africa trip. It's not too far from Somerset West, so it won't take too long to reach. You may want to take a detour and drive around Cape Point into Cape Town. Follow the beautiful coastal route past False Bay, Muizenberg, Kalk Bay and Simonstown, home to the popular Boulders Beach complete with penguins and white sandy beaches. As you continue along the route you'll reach the Cape Point Nature Reserve, better known as Cape of Good Hope. There are plenty of spots to stop along the way, stretch and perhaps enjoy a picnic on a secluded beach with the family on your South Africa holiday. After lunch, you can continue on the Chapman's Peak Drive and pass by the scenic fisherman's town of Hout Bay. From here it's only a 30-minute drive to Cape Town. In Cape Town you'll stay at a charming guest house run by friendly local owners situated in the heart of Greenpoint, Signal Hill. It is only an 8-minute walk from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Although you'll be staying in central Cape Town, your guest house is located on the top of a quiet hill, so you'll find plenty of time and space for relaxation.

Cape Town, is one of the most beautiful cities in South Africa, well known for Table Mountain, Cape Point and the wonderful surrounding winelands. The city has a wonderful, exciting feel to it - anything is possible! During your Cape Town trip you can visit the city centre, take the cable-car to the top of the Table Mountain, have a picnic at Kirstenbosch botanical gardens, drive through Cape Peninsula and explore the winelands. Be sure to add a visit to Robben island to your itinerary - this is where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for many years during the Apartheid regime. At some point on Day 20 your South Africa family holiday will come to an end. You'll return your car to the rental office at the airport, and board your flight home after a really memorable holiday.