Southern Africa Family Adventure Adventure Tour

Boasting some of the most iconic wildlife and vibrant landscapes, southern Africa makes for an unforgettable family adventure. Take in charming Cape Town by foot, visit Boulders Beach to spot the African penguin on parade, and keep your eyes peeled to spot the "big five" on safari in Kruger National park. Then complete your adventure in Zimbabwe with a tour of stunning Victoria Falls.

Optional Activities  

Table Mountain
- Table Mountain Hike (720-1700ZAR per person)
- Table Mountain Cable Car (420ZAR per person)

Cape Town
- Guided Kayak Adventure (450ZAR per person)
- Hop-on Hop-off Bus (110-220ZAR per person)
- Bicycle Rental (75-275ZAR per person)
- Two Oceans Aquarium (235ZAR per person)

Hazyview
- Aerial Cable Trail (540ZAR per person)
- Tree-top Challenge (160-190ZAR per person)

Victoria Falls
- Victoria Falls Whitewater Rafting (120USD per person)
- Full Day Excursion to Chobe National Park
- Victoria Falls Helicopter Ride - 15 Mins (150USD per person)

Livingstone
- Zambezi River Sunset Cruise (57USD per person)

Itinerary Disclaimer  

While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.

Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.

Minimum Age  

Minimum age of 7 years for this trip.

A Couple of Rules  

Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our CEOs have the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they use prostitutes.

Travel Insurance  

Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. G Adventures can provide you with the appropriate coverage. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.

Trip Specific Safety  

GENERAL: Look after your personal items. Do not leave your valuables visible in a car or hotel room. Lock your hotel room door when you enter and when you leave. Do not carry large amount of cash on you. Avoid displaying flashy jewellery and carry your camera in its pack on your shoulder rather than around your neck. Keep your passport, airline tickets, money, important documents locked up in your room/safe - do not carry it with you. Vital Information when you are staying the KNP or any Reserve: Please ensure that your stay is happy and safe by taking note of a few simple warnings. You will be sharing your stay with many exciting and unusal creatures but without knowledge some of them could be dangerous: Example: Bats, Spiders, Snakes, Scorpions, Malaria Zone. If you must walk around at night please DO NOT DO SO WITHOUT A TORCH. Remember: by feeding any wildlife, you are signing their death warrant as they become aggressive!

Please note that the use of drones in national parks in Southern Africa is prohibited.

Feedback  

After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us that we'll give you 5% off the price of your next G Adventures trip if your feedback is completed on-line within 30 days of finishing your trip. Your tour evaluation will be e-mailed to you 24 hours after the conclusion of your trip. If you do not receive the tour evaluation link in the days after your tour has finished, please drop us a line at customersolutions@gadventures.com and we will send it on to you.

Health  

We recommend you contact your family physician, or your local travel clinic for the most up-to-date health information at least one month before departure. Travellers should also carry a basic first-aid kit and hand sanitizers/antibacterial wipes on their travels. Medical facilities are basic throughout these countries. For your own safety, we strongly recommend that you advise your tour leader of any medical condition that may affect you while travelling with the group. Your tour leader will be able to inform you of local health advisories (e.g. drinking water quality). Please ensure you have all the inoculations recommended by your doctor.


Yellow Fever Certificate Note: (Updated: May 2023)

It is compulsory to show a valid Yellow Fever Certificate if you are travelling to the following G Adventures-visited countries from a Yellow Fever endemic country:

- Botswana
- Ethiopia
- Kenya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Rwanda
- South Africa
- Swaziland
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe

For some of these countries, proof of Yellow Fever vaccination is also required for passengers who have travelled more than 12 hours through the airport of an endemic country. If other countries not endemic to Yellow Fever have been visited after visiting an endemic country, then a Yellow Fever certificate may still be required on entry. Please check country-specific regulations before your departure.


Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that is present in some regions in Africa. Risk of malaria can increase during periods of heavy rain, during the rainy seasons, and in densely populated areas of Southern & East Africa. To prevent malaria, we recommend speaking to your doctor about taking preventative medication (prophylaxis), combined with regular use of insect repellent spray/cream. Please check updated travel health advisories specific to malaria before your departure.

International Flights  

Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.

Group Leader  

1-2 CEOs (Chief Experience Officers) based on group size throughout, including a local CEO in Victoria Falls, local guides/rangers

Max Pax  

20

Tipping  

Local tipping is included on this Family trip which covers local guides, drivers and gratuity for included meals. At the end of your trip if you felt your two Chief Experience Officers did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline; per CEO $7-10 USD (per day) per person, can be used.

For non-included meals in restaurant, a guideline is 10-15% of cost of bill.

Important Notes  

1. FAMILY INSURANCE
Options for family travel insurance are available. Please enquire with your Family Trip Specialist for more information.

2. TRAVEL DAYS
This is not a physically demanding trip; however, travelling can be difficult, with long drives and poor road conditions at times. Despite this, most clients feel that the diversity of the African landscape, countries, culture and wildlife are all well worth the experience. We use a comfortable and safe air-conditioned touring vehicle for the long drives.

3. YELLOW FEVER
It may be required to show a Yellow Fever certificate if you are traveling to South Africa from a Yellow Fever endemic country.

4. DRONES
The use of drones in national parks in Southern Africa is prohibited.

5. Please note that on all Family Adventures one adult can only accompany up to two minors. If you have over two minors planning on travelling then a second adult will be required to attend.

Highlights  

Hop aboard your vehicle for an epic safari in Kruger National Park, visit rescued chimpanzees at a sanctuary run by the Jane Goodall Institute, visit Boulders Beach to spot African penguins waddling about, marvel at the sheer size and beauty of UNESCO World Heritage site Victoria Falls.

Meals  

Eating is a big part of traveling and we encourage you to experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Its important to remember, that food may be different from what you are used to at home and that some things may not be available in other countries.

Some meals are included in the trip price, while others are not, to allow flexibility and choice to you and your family. For non-included meals our CEOs will still make arrangements for the group to eat together, which allows you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and approximate budget (per person) for meals not included.

Throughout this trip, breakfast is included daily (ranging from continental to buffet depending on the trip). Drinking water is available throughout (don't forget your refillable water bottle as you will have access to either filtered water from hotels or as made available by the CEO). Healthy, local snacks will also be available.

Note that any special meal requirements or dietary restrictions need to be specified at time of booking.

About our Transportation  

The style of transportation on this Family trip is a comfortable way to travel through the region, allowing the group to travel through the cities and parks with ease, with more opportunities to stop and either wander around or view the sites.

We use a combination of scheduled local flights, comfortable air-conditioned buses and mini buses (depending on the day and activity.)
All vehicles are fitted with seat belts, and for your own safety it is mandatory to wear the seat belt at all times when in a vehicle.

For the wildlife safari drives in the Kruger National Park we use open safari vehicles.

On safari drives and certain transit legs, the group may be split into two smaller vehicles.

Solo Travellers  

We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Odd number adult travellers in your family will be paired in twin accommodation with another adult traveller of the same sex for the duration of the trip.

What to Take  

You will be on the move a lot, so our advice is to pack as lightly as possible. Your baggage should be clearly labelled and restricted to one soft compact suitcase, sports bag, or backpack. A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person. Porters may not always be available, so be prepared to carry your own bags.

Please be advised that if you plan to bring a drone with you, the use of drones in national parks in Southern Africa is prohibited.

Spending Money  

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Dossier Disclaimer  

The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.

Itinerary Notes  

Prices are based on double occupancy; all other room configurations are on request and cannot be guaranteed. We will accommodate triples/quads whenever possible. Please call for further details.

Family adventures are designed for groups traveling with children between the ages of 7 and 17. Your group must include a child in order to book, and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Please note that when traveling to South Africa with a minor child under 18, it may be necessary to provide additional documentation, up to and including birth certificates and consent forms.

Group Size Notes  

20

What's Included  

Your Foodie Moment: Traditional South Africa Braai (Barbecue), Johannesburg. Arrival transfer. Excursion to Cape Point including the penguins at Boulders Beach. Kruger National Park wildlife safari drives in open vehicle. Tour of Victoria Falls. Internal flights. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

Meals Included  

10 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners

Accommodation  

Hotel (5 nts), safari lodge (3 nts), guest house (2 nts)

Local Flights  

If required all local flights are included in the cost of your tours unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to the flight departure.

About Accommodation  

Rooming is based on double occupancy (2 passengers / 2 beds per room); all other room configurations are on request and cannot be guaranteed. We will try to accommodate triples/quad requests whenever possible and it's important to note that rooming configuration can change from city to city and 2 single beds are the standard configuration in a room.

Start and end hotels on this tour offer comfortable accommodations with en-suite bathrooms, standard facilities, and wifi. Additional amenities vary from location to location. Please see the hotel listings on the Full Itinerary if you would like to learn more about the offerings of your accommodations.

Please remember that hotel/lodge standards can be different from what you are used to in your home country, which is part of the appeal of adventure travel.

Winter nights (June to September) can be cold, and most lodges and hotels do not have insulation or central heating. If you require additional blankets or a hot water bottle, these can be requested through your CEO or at the reception.

Money Exchange  

The currency in South Africa is the South African Rand (ZAR).

Rand can be obtained locally by changing foreign currency or by using ATMs (where available) which will disperse local currency. Your CEO will inform you where you can change money throughout the tour and approximately how much money you will need.

Zimbabwe uses the US Dollar and South African Rand.

For Zimbabwe, we strongly advise that you bring ZAR or USD from your home country or exchange money before the start of the tour, to avoid delays on tour, as it can be difficult to obtain cash at ATMs.

Please note that due to past problems with forgery, $US notes that are older than year 2006 are not accepted in Africa.
Large note ($US 50, $US 100 etc) can be difficult to change in some places, but will gain you the best exchange rate.

If you plan to buy your visas at borders, you will need to bring $USD cash to pay for these visas. Please note you cannot use the local currency or any other currency to buy these visas- they must be purchased in USD.

Please do not bring Travellers' cheques to Africa. They are difficult if not impossible to exchange in many places.

Visa/Plus system cards are the most widely accepted debit cards. it is harder to find machines Mastercard/Cirrus cards. We highly recommend that if you hold a Mastercard, you obtain a Visa card prior to departure and travel with both. This is also useful should something unforeseen happen to one of your cards during your travels.
While there are many ATMs in the major centres, there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will actually work in Africa. Check with your bank.

Credit cards can be used in major cities and towns ONLY but please do not rely on them as a method of payment because they are generally not widely accepted. You should be aware that to purchase products or services on a credit card a fee of 5%-10% usually applies. The majority of our optional activities can also be paid by credit card. Your CEO will advise on these.

Please note that in many areas there may be occasional power-outages, where there will be no electricity for hours at a time. In addition, ATMs outside of larger centers often run out of cash or can be out of order unexpectedly. These factors could affect your ability to access money from ATMs. As such, please do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money.
A combination of foreign currency and debit/credit cards for cash advances is best. Always take more rather than less, as you don't want to spoil the trip by constantly feeling short of funds.

As currency exchange rates can fluctuate often we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com.

Emergency Fund  

Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!

Transport  

Air-conditioned touring vehicle, open safari vehicle, walking, plane

Joining Hotel  

For details of your joining hotel please refer to your tour voucher, G Account, the G Adventures App or contact your travel agent.

Arrival Complications  

We don't expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you are unable to commence your trip as scheduled, please refer to the emergency contact details provided in this dossier and contact us as soon as possible. If you have a pre-booked transfer, and you have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point hotel, following the Joining Instructions. Please apply to your travel agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs.

Group Leader Description  

All G Adventures family trips are accompanied by up to two of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense; you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.

Joining Instructions  

The nearest international airport to your joining hotel is the Cape Town International Airport.

An arrival transfer is included when you arrive on Day 1, or if you arrive up to three days prior provided that you have booked your pre-accommodation through G Adventures in our joining hotel. Due to customer experience and quality considerations, all services related to the tour must be continuous.

Our driver will be waiting for you with a G Adventures sign with your name on it, and they will be waiting for you outside the luggage hall. There most likely will be many signs, so please check carefully for your name.

Please note that day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned on this day. Upon arrival to the city on day 1, please make your way to the joining hotel via your included transfer. Details on where to meet your transfer can be found in your voucher notes or on the G Adventures app.

If you have booked pre-tour accommodations through G Adventures, please note that you must contact us to confirm the included arrival transfer. Check-in time at your start hotel will be in the afternoon.

Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note or bulletin board in the reception with a note from your CEO. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on day 1. Your CEO will contact you at the hotel on Day 1 and make sure you are settled comfortably. If you arrive late, they will leave you a message detailing what time and where you should meet the next morning. Your CEO will organize a short meeting soon after arrival, during which you will meet other tour participants and receive information about general and specific aspects of the trip.

My Own Room  

Please note that if you have booked the "My Own Room" option for this tour, you will receive your own single room for all night stops