South Africa with the Children
Exceptional Travel's Alex Bellew enjoys a family break in South Africa
- 16th January 2020
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South Africa is well known as a the perfect destination for a family escape – be it February or October half-term, or the Christmas or Easter holidays.
At the end of 2019, our Senior Sales Consultant, Alex Bellew, packed up her tribe for a family adventure, taking in a number of the country’s most notable experiences as well as exploring some new additions to its offering. Here we track her journey, sharing the spots they visited and the memories they created.
After arriving into Johannesburg and taking a short flight up to the Kruger National Park, the family started their trip at the beautiful Kambaku Safari Lodge in Timbavati. A spectacular place to start a holiday, wind down and relax in the beautiful surroundings while also educating and entertaining young minds with there brilliant children’s program. Harry and Lucy were proud to emerge certified junior rangers by the end of their stay – a worthy accomplishment for the future custodians of the planet’s precious wildlife.
Kambaku Safari Lodge
Timbavati Game Reserve
Kirkmans Kamp
Moving onto the Sabi Sands, Team Bellew enjoyed fantastic wildlife viewing at Kirkman’s Kamp, spotting big cats on land and monkeys in the water…
The Sabi Sand shares an unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park, thus benefiting from a great diversity of wildlife. With game drives traversing an area of 26 000 acres coupled with strict vehicle limits at sightings visitors are ensured an uncrowded game viewing experience.
Kirkmans Kamp, Sabi Sands
Kirkmans Kamp, Sabi Sands
An original 1920s homestead, Kirkmans Kamp enjoys spectacular views of the untouched landscape surrounding the Sand River.
Kirkmans Kamp
Their next stop was Dulini River Lodge, a sophisticated property notable for its impressive passage of game and rich birdlife that meander with the river below.
Dulini River Lodge
Dulini River Lodge Sundowners
Dulini River Lodge, Sabi Sands
With their wildlife appetites satiated, the family flew to the Western Cape to enjoy a stay in the Winelands at the exquisite La Clé des Montagnes in Franshoek, famed for it’s spectacular food and wine. All manner of culinary pleasures awaited along the streets and surrounds of the town not to mention the plethora of delightful boutiques and galleries.
La Clé des Montagnes
La Clé des Montagnes
La Clé des Montagnes
For their penultimate stop before returning to Cape Town, they drove south, along the Garden Route to the spectacular De Hoop Reserve where they stayed at the impressive Lekkerwater Beach Lodge. Enjoying the sand between their toes, they dined on the beach accompanied by the regions finest wines, whilst back at the lodge, they were able to whale watch from the comfort of their own bedrooms.
Lekkerwater Beach Lodge
Lekkerwater Beach Lodge
Lekkerwater Beach Lodge
Prior to flying home, the family returned to Cape Town where they stay at the charming More Quarters. The perfect spot for families offering flexibility and an informal environment allowing parents to plan the day appropietely with the freedom for youngsters to explore and be children.
More Quaters
More Quaters
With a just a few days left, the family continued to explore and visited Boulders Beach, home to a colony of African Penguis and ideal for family friendly swimming and exploring the rock pools. There’s also a fantastic Visitors Centre where expert guides are waiting to educated eager little minds on Africa’s own, unique penguins.
Boulders Beach Cape Town
Finally, no trip to South Africa is complete without climbing (or taking the more family friendly cable car) the extraordinary Table Mountain…
Table Mountain
It can be colder than one expects at the top!
And with that it was time to return to the real world, refreshed and recharged by a true family escape, a break from normality spending quality with one another, creating magical new memories to last a life time.
Family Bellew at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge
To find out more or to talk to Alex about planning a trip to South Africa for yourselves then please get in touch.
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