South Africa: Cape and bush
A villa in Cape Town, a day in the winelands, and leopard in the Sabi Sand.
Southern Africa
South Africa
Cape Town, the winelands, and private bush in one trip.
Why go
Private South Africa holidays: Cape Town, the winelands, and a private game reserve, with a family-friendly pace and no malaria if you want it.
South Africa gives you a city, a coast, vineyards, and a safari in one trip with easy flights between them. For families it is often the easiest long-haul holiday there is.
We choose the private reserve carefully. The Sabi Sand for leopard and open vehicles; the Eastern Cape or Madikwe when a malaria-free option matters for younger children.
South Africa suits travellers who want more than one kind of trip in a single visit. Cape Town gives you a city with sea and mountains, the Winelands give you long lunches, and the private reserves bordering the Kruger give you reliable big-game viewing in two or three nights.
It is also the easiest safari country for families with young children: malaria-free reserves in the Eastern Cape and Waterberg, short drives, and houses with their own guide and chef.
- Best time
- October to April for Cape Town and the coast. May to September is the best game viewing in the bush.
- Journeys
- 1 example itinerary
What to see and do
The South Africa we would show you
- Cape Town villa or hotel with a view of the mountain
- Winelands by private driver
- Private game reserves with open vehicles
- Malaria-free options for young families
Example journeys
Itineraries in South Africa
Starting points with a guide price. Each is redrawn around your dates, party and pace.
Ways to travel here
South Africa by the kind of trip
South Africa safari
Private reserves with open vehicles and reliable leopard, combined with the Cape.
South Africa family holiday
A Cape Town villa with a pool, a beach, and a family lodge in the bush.
South Africa for couples
Cape Town, the winelands and a private reserve: city, table and bush in one trip, with short flights between.
South Africa villas
A private villa in Cape Town or the winelands with a chef and a driver, and the bush a short flight away.
South Africa celebrations
Cape Town, the winelands and a private reserve for a milestone gathering, with the dinner planned down to the view.
Where to stay
Stays we use in South Africa
Sabi Sand lodge
Leopard country, open vehicles, and a lodge that looks after families.
Cape Town villa
A house with a pool and the mountain behind it.
From the journal
Planning notes
Planning a holiday for three generations
Grandparents, parents and children on one trip: where it works, how to pace it, and what to decide first.
When to go on safari: a season-by-season guide
East Africa and Southern Africa move to different calendars. Here is how we match the month to the country.
Good to know
Questions about South Africa
How long do we need?
Ten to fourteen nights to do Cape Town, the winelands, and the bush without rushing.
Is it malaria-free?
Cape Town and the winelands are. Some reserves are too. We plan around it when travelling with young children.
Can we self-drive part of the trip?
Yes. The Cape, the winelands and the Garden Route are easy to drive. We arrange the bush by light aircraft and have a driver meet you where it saves time.
Which safari area do you recommend?
The private reserves on the western edge of Kruger, such as the Sabi Sand, for reliable big game and off-road driving. For a quieter, malaria-free option, Madikwe or the Eastern Cape.
Plan a private journey to South Africa
A specialist replies within one working day with a first private proposal: stays, pacing, and a guide price. No planning fee for the first conversation.