Arrival in Johannesburg
Land in Johannesburg where you'll be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel in the heart of the city featuring ample-sized rooms with twin double beds as well as interconnecting rooms. You have the rest of the day to unwind or head out at your whim discovering the city’s rich history, exciting food scene and creative buzz that gives Cape Town a run for its money. Overnight at Voco Johannesburg Rosebank.
Johannesburg
We've kept today free so you can explore the city with optional activities at your fingertips to keep it flexible. Teens will no doubt love cruising the cool suburbs of Newtown and Maboneng, home to musicians and notable actors such as Black Panther’s John Kani. Your guide is part of Johannesburg's creative DNA and the best person to take you around its graffiti walls, art studios and local markets. Or why not try a spirited bike ride around Soweto – Nelson Mandela’s hometown – for a cultural injection plus a lot of fun. For an adventurous morning out, the Cradle of Humankind is worth the hour drive out of Johannesburg to explore limestone caves below where you can see stalactites, stalagmites and million years old fossils. Overnight at Voco Johannesburg Rosebank.
Things to do:
Discover the spirit of Soweto on two wheels
Uncover Newtown, Maboneng and the Apartheid Museum with a true local
Discover the beginning of our species at the Cradle of Humankind
Johannesburg & Madikwe Game Reserve
Stock up on snacks for your four-and-a-half-hour road transfer this morning to the Madikwe Game Reserve or if car journeys aren’t your thing, it’s a one-hour flight (additional cost). Perfect for families, Madikwe sits in a malaria-free zone with a handful of family-friendly lodges making it joyful to explore with your clan. Lelapa is one such lodge where children can enjoy their very own game drives and a whole smorgasbord of other kid-centric activities. Not to mention fab family suites featuring bedside hot chocolate mugs and bunk beds stashed with games and toys. Overnight at Lelapa by Madikwe Safari Lodge.
Things to do:
Lelapa by Madikwe Safari Lodge: where kids enjoy their very own game drives
A day on safari in the Madikwe Game Reserve
See herds of elephant without moving an inch from the pool at aha Thakadu River Camp
Madikwe Game Reserve
Families can roam the savannah on twice daily game drives while young explorers (3-5 years old) won’t miss out on pancake-fuelled safaris spotting zebra, giraffe and elephant with highly attentive guides. Back at the ranch, it’s easy to swap television for an eco-house filled with animal skulls and other archaeological treasures followed by games around the swimming pool backed by a lively waterhole. Cue cookie baking, scavenger hunts and marshmallow toasting in the boma. There’s even a dedicated children’s menu – and not a processed meal in sight! Adults can dip in as they please although this might be the opportune time to retreat for a massage. Reconvene for stargazing under a dazzling sky and stories by the campfire. Overnight at Lelapa by Madikwe Safari Lodge.
Things to do:
Lelapa by Madikwe Safari Lodge: where kids enjoy their very own game drives
A day on safari in the Madikwe Game Reserve
Madikwe Game Reserve
This morning for a different perspective, you might like to try a walking safari connecting you to the intricacies of the bush (minimum age is 16 years old). Don your comfy hiking shoes and head into the wild with a highly trained guide perhaps identifying tracks, studying plants and getting up close to plains game. After a thrilling morning of adventurous pursuits, there’s every reason to wallow in the pool entertained by the wandering wildlife. Overnight at Lelapa by Madikwe Safari Lodge.
Things to do:
Lelapa by Madikwe Safari Lodge: where kids enjoy their very own game drives
A day on safari in the Madikwe Game Reserve
Madikwe Game Reserve
For an educational slant, conservationists in the making may want to take part in Madikwe’s esteemed rhino conservation (an optional activity). This involves helping gather DNA samples from and notching a sedated rhino in the company of a specialist veterinarian – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you're after extra insight without the heavy price tag, Lelapa’s field guides often conduct wildlife lectures and are all too happy to discuss the week’s findings regaling you with fun facts of the local area. After an exhilarating few days you might then want to hang by the swimming pool as the kids run riot on the lawn, take a dip in your suite’s private plunge pool or read, ensconced on the deck with views over the patchwork of acacia. Overnight at Lelapa by Madikwe Safari Lodge.
Things to do:
Lelapa by Madikwe Safari Lodge: where kids enjoy their very own game drives
A day on safari in the Madikwe Game Reserve
Madikwe Game Reserve & Departure
Transfer back to Johannesburg via road or flight (additional cost) in good time for your onward journey.
