There were many reasons why South Africa made it to the top of our list for a long-haul family getaway. First and foremost, we had been dreaming of a wildlife adventure with the kids ever since they were 3 and 5 and started watching Animal Planet on tv. We were also excited to go somewhere that was new to all of us.
Our full South African itinerary was as follows: Cape Town for 3 nights, then move inland near the winelands for 2 nights, then drive to the Little Karoo for 2 nights, and finally fly to Johannesburg and drive to the Madikwe Game Reserve for a 3-night safari.
Since this was a new destination for us, we had help from a friend who knows the ins and outs of much of the continent. If you want help booking a trip to Africa, I highly recommend getting in touch with Lyndsay at Amani Travel (based in Seattle).
From the moment we landed with wide-eyed enthusiasm (and zero jet lag, I might add) to the moment we reluctantly boarded the plane back to England, this trip exceeded our expectations in every way.
*Tip: Scroll all the way to the bottom for a link to our video
I had a feeling we would love Cape Town because you can’t go wrong with the combination of sea and mountains. Throw in the warm southern latitude, unique history and culture and it’s sure to be a winner.
A note about drought
Cape Town was suffering from a massive water shortage before we left on our trip. It had eased a little by the time we arrived, but most public toilets didn’t have sinks with running water (offering hand sanitizer instead) and we were asked to be extremely thoughtful about our water usage, not just in Cape Town, but throughout the country. It was eye opening, especially for the kids. We had a lot of great discussions about not taking things for granted, especially natural resources that we rely on so much every day.
After an 11-hour flight from London, we arrived in Cape Town in the late morning, rented a car and drove to our apartment at the V & A Waterfront. It’s left-side driving in South Africa, which was not a problem since we are now ambidextrous drivers. We were warned that driving can be risky business, but we found that most trouble can be avoided by using common sense, driving carefully, and following the local “rules” of the road. It’s still very important to be completely alert while driving around the country.
On our first day, our hubcaps were stolen off our rental car when it was parked at Table Mountain at dusk.
*Tip: It’s well worth investing in FULL insurance coverage if you’re renting a car.
V & A Waterfront
Staying in an apartment at the V & A Waterfront worked out well for us. Although we had the option to cook at the apartment, there were so many good restaurants nearby that we decided to eat out for most of our meals. The apartment was beautiful. There was a small swimming pool and a pretty view of the canals. Each morning, we walked along the boardwalks, spotting frolicking seals as we made our way to the food market, being one of the first inside to select our breakfast.
Woof Project
I think I mentioned that the girls love animals. We found a pop-up dog adoption centre along the waterfront. As tempting as it was to take one home with us, we opted to volunteer to walk some shelter dogs each morning. It’s a really lovely organization. If you are in Cape Town and like us, you are missing your own doggy back home, and want to do something nice for some dogs in need, check them out.
Table Mountain
We booked cable car tickets online in advance, which allows you to partially jump the queue. We stayed at Table Mountain until the sun had set, and we took one of the last gondolas down. This is where we met the rest of our traveling team – my brother and sister-in-law, who flew in from Seattle and would be joining us throughout various parts of the trip. What a great place for a family reunion!
*Tip: If you’re going to be there until sunset, take a jacket; It gets cold at 3,500 feet!
Bo Kaap and other parts of town
We spent one of our full days in Cape Town walking around different parts of the city. From Kloof Street, Long Street and Bree Street, to The Company’s Garden (city park) and colourful Bo Kaap, we saw a lot in a few hours.
We did experience one unsuccessful pick-pocket attempt in a busy market area, but for the most part, we enjoyed the relaxed weekend vibe and loved all the brightly coloured buildings.
The Silo Hotel and Zeitz MOCAA Museum
A new luxury hotel called The Silo has been built in an historic grain silo near the V & A Waterfront. It occupies six floors above the Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa). Zeitz MOCAA houses Africa’s largest collection of contemporary African art.
Camps Bay & Cape Point
We started our peninsula drive by stopping for smoothies, coffee and breakfast wraps in Camps Bay and enjoyed a stroll along the beach. I think if I lived in Cape Town, I would choose to live near Camps Bay. We enjoyed the company of locals who were walking their dogs on the beach and admired the gorgeous views along the winding road.
Despite our efforts to arrive early, there was a long queue to get into the National Park at Cape Point. The views were worth the wait, but it was extremely windy and very busy. We walked to the lighthouse, but didn’t stay long.
Boulders Beach
The rumors are true…you can see penguins in South Africa. Located along the Cape Peninsula, near Simon’s Town is Boulders Beach, home to a few thousand adorable penguins. One pair arrived in 1983 and the rest is history. They multiplied rapidly and were becoming rather destructive to the town and local residents, so the National Park has taken over the area and created a tourist attraction and viewing platforms at the beach. 
Photographing them was lots of fun, but watching their adorable little waddle is even more enjoyable.
Want to watch a video recap of our time in Cape Town? Then click below.