Family Self-Drive South Africa: Cape to Kruger - 15 Days

"Our family had the very best time on this holiday - it had something for everyone and we just loved how independent we could be!"

Cape Town and Kruger are two of South Africa’s must-see holiday destinations! Enjoy these two icons which offer so much for all members of the family. Start in the ‘Mother City’ on Africa’s south-western tip, and spend your days discovering the sights and sounds of this cosmopolitan city including the iconic Table Mountain. Then pick up your rental vehicle and explore further - Cape Point and the penguins of Boulders Beach, the stunning Cape Coast and whales (in season) of Hermanus as well as the wineries of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. From Cape Town fly directly to Mpumalanga’s Panorama Route for breathtaking vistas, scenic waterfalls and adventure activities. Finally it's time to explore the amazing Kruger National Park and encounter its vast array of wildlife. This is a Travel Africa favourite and we are sure your family will have an incredible time doing your own self-drive games drives or being guided during a lodge stay.

Choose between two accommodation grades - Standard or Upgrade. Alternatively mix and match accommodation from each grade to create your perfect holiday. Interactive itineraries for each accommodation grade can be viewed below.

A perfect holiday the whole family will enjoy.

Cape Town - Table Mountain - Cape Point - Hermanus - Cape Winelands - Blyde River Canyon / Panorama Route - Wildlife and birdlife of Kruger National Park.

Standard accommodation: clean and comfortable hotel / national parks / lodge accommodation. 5 nights self-catering accommodation in Kruger National Park is more basic and rustic, however this enables you to stay in some some of the national parks truly magical spots.

Upgrade accommodation: higher quality hotel / lodge accommodation with a broader spectrum of facilities. 3 nights self-catering accommodation in Kruger National Park is more basic and rustic, however this enables you to stay in some some of the national parks truly magical spots and then a safari lodge stay to round the holiday off!

Car hire - Group R vehicle (Toyota Rav 4 (small SUV) or similar) for two periods:(Cape Town to Cape Town = 5 days & Kruger Mpumalanga to Kruger Mpumalanga = 7 days). For details of the different vehicle types available please see - Self Drive Safaris.
Premium level vehicle insurance (Zero Excess) - including collision damage waiver, personal accident insurance, theft protection, third party liability, unlimited kilometres, additional driver and wi-fi router plus 1 GB data per day
Accommodation as indicated below - all rooms indicated are family rooms sleeping 2 adults and 2 children.
Meals as indicated below.
One Day Cape Town Hop On, Hop Off Bus Ticket.
6 hours Stellenbosch Winelands Family Bicycle Tour.
3 hour Kruger National Park Sunset Game Drive.
2 hour Kruger National Park Night Drive.
Relevant Travel Africa Information sheets.

With Travel Africa you are safe in the knowledge that you are working with people who are experts in self-drive travel. We have driven the types of vehicles you are looking to hire and driven them in the places, and on the road conditions, that you will experience. We have enjoyed all kinds of self-drive trips in southern Africa for over 25 years – from quick flits along the Garden Route to 8 month adventure trips with fully equipped 4x4s and roof top tents throughout southern Africa.

We give you peace of mind by working closely with you to custom-make and book your itinerary – ensuring you have the most appropriate type of vehicle and accommodation for your trip. We also provide you with detailed trip dossiers, which include routes, directions, tips and hints on driving in southern Africa, ensuring you have all the information you need to enjoy every minute of your trip and feel comfortable and secure with your holiday plan!

Our in-depth knowledge of destinations, conditions, vehicles and equipment, based on extensive personal experience, gives you the peace of mind you need for your self-drive safari.

Family safari South Africa, Cape to Kruger

Interactive standard itinerary

Interactive upgrade itinerary

Detailed itinerary

Arrive at Cape Town International Airport and take a private vehicle transfer to your hotel. Three full days to explore the charm and history of one of the most beautiful and cosmopolitan cities of the world. Take the cable car or walk up Table Mountain, visit the colourful Malay quarter or meander through the wonderful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Browse through the vibrant Greenmarket Square or visit the former political prison of Nelson Mandela – Robben Island. When you want to range further, take one of the finest coastal drives in Africa to the Cape of Good Hope. Here you might see whales breeching just off the bay or quirky African penguins on Boulder’s beach. The fashionable Waterfront and City Bowl areas are ideal for visitors who enjoy city life with plenty of restaurants, shops and cafes within walking distance of your hotel.

Included during your stay are a One Day Cape Town City Hop On, Hop Off Bus Ticket and a Stellenbosch Winelands Family Bicycle Tour which we recommend doing on Day 4 in the city.

On Day 3 pick up your hire vehicle and take a drive down the Atlantic Coast, via Chapman's Peak Drive, to Cape Point and then return to the city via False Bay, Simon's Town and the African penguin colony at Boulder's Beach. Read about this in our blog.

There are many day tour options available to fill your days - see our Cape Town Activities page for ideas.

Stay at:
Standard - African Elite: De Waterkant Apartments (2 Bedroom Luxury Apartment) or similar
Upgrade - African Elite: Waterfront Apartments (2 Bedroom Luxury Apartment) or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 120kms, good roads.

Leave Cape Town and drive the short distance along the coast to Hermanus scenically situated between the mountains and sea. Hermanus has gained world-wide recognition as the world's best land based whale watching destination - indeed between June and November you should see whales from the cliffs overlooking Walker Bay. Hermanus has something for everyone, such as the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, with over 40 kilometres of walking trails, pristine stretches of beach in the Kleinriver Lagoon and the Old Harbour complex offering visitors an insight into Hermanus' past as a fishing village. For adventure junkies why not head further around Walker Bay to the small town of Gansbaai, world renowned as a place to experience shark-cage diving.

Stay at:
Standard - Whale Rock Luxury Lodge (Luxury Family Suite) or similar
Upgrade - Village & Life: Harbour House Hotel (Family Suite) or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 100kms, good roads.

Time for a little Mum & Dad time as you head inland over the Hottentot-Holland Mountains to Franschhoek in the heart of the Cape Winelands. The winelands are an area of exquisite beauty with rocky mountains overlooking green vineyards; elegant Cape Dutch wine estates and some of the most charming towns and villages in South Africa. Appreciate the wine and the superb architecture, excellent restaurants, shops and galleries, scenic drives or walks in the surrounding mountains.

Stay at:
Standard - Mont D'or Guest House or similar
Upgrade - Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa or similar (Note: children's breakfast is not included in the package price and is to be paid locally)

Travel distance to Cape Town Airport: Approximately 80kms, good roads.

Leave the Winelands and drive to Cape Town International Airport to catch your 2 hour flight (not included, additional charges apply) to Kruger Mpumalanga.

Travel distance from Kruger Mpumalanga to Hazyview: Approximately 60kms, good roads.

At the heart of the Panorama Route is the Blyde River Canyon which is situated in an area of sculpted peaks and deep ravines, tumbling streams and green valleys. The drive alongside the Blyde River Canyon, a majestic red sandstone gorge with sheer cliffs plunging into waters below, is magnificent. The region provides a marked contrast to the sub-tropical bushveld, with scenic mountain passes, relaxing walks, horse-riding, mountain biking and golf all on offer. For the family you will find gentle walking trails connect a series of delicate waterfalls or nearby is Pilgrim’s Rest, a restored mining village that was the epicentre of the 19th century gold rush. You have 2 full days to explore and enjoy this stunningly scenic area located just outside Kruger.

Stay at:
Standard - Rissington Inn (Hillside Suite) or similar
Upgrade - Perry's Bidge Hollow Boutique Hotel (Family Deluxe Room) or similar

Travel distance: Approximately 100kms good roads (speed limits apply on national parks roads).

One of the finest nature reserves in Africa, the Kruger is a vast wilderness of thorn trees, prolific game and sub-tropical heat. It is home not only to The Big Seven – elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, cheetah and wild dog, but also to an abundance of smaller, equally fascinating animals and birdlife. The size of Wales or Israel this amazing wildlife paradise contains a vast array of habitats that attract different animals and birdlife in different seasons. Your time in Kruger is spent on early morning and afternoon game drives, choosing your route based on what has been seen in the area. Alternatively park yourself at one of the many waterholes and see what comes along … huge herds of elephant or buffalo needing an afternoon drink or mud bath, or if you are lucky a pride of lions needing water after devouring a kill!

Your time will be split between a number of different rest camps / safari camps located in different areas of the park. This will give you the opportunity to explore different habitats and environments in search of the various animal and bird species that can be found in them. Central Kruger is characterised by open plains and grasslands where herds of zebra, wildebeest, impala and buffalo roam enjoying the fresh grasses and shrubs - watched over by the attendant predators such as lion and cheetah. Small rivers criss-cross this region providing camouflage for leopards and also pockets of water for herds of elephant to drink and play in! The south of the park is crossed by two major perennial rivers - the Sabie and the Sand - which provide a lifeblood for the animals. These rivers attract a huge amount of wildlife including pods of hippo, lazing on the river bank, herds of elephant, it is fun to watch them have a mud bath and play in the river, buffalo, which always seem to have lion prides following them and leopards, which love to use the riverine trees and bushes as the perfect ambush spots! Moving to the south-west of the park you start to find hills and koppies, perfect country to find rhino grazing and smaller antelope species such as duiker and klipspringer.

During your stay in the Kruger Rest Camps you have two guided safari activities included with national parks rangers - a 3 hour sunset game drive and a 2 hour night drive.

Stay at:
Standard
1 night: Satara Rest Camp, Central Kruger, Self-Catering Bungalow (Room Only) or similar
2 nights: Lower Sabie Rest Camp, Southern Kruger, Self-Catering Bungalow (Room Only) or similar
2 nights: Nkambeni Safari Camp, South-West Kruger (in a small private concession on the edge of the park), Luxury Tented Suite including breakfast and dinner
(distance between each camp is approximately 100kms, national parks roads)

Upgrade
1 night: Satara Rest Camp, Central Kruger, Self-Catering Bungalow (Room Only) or similar
2 nights: Lower Sabie Rest Camp, Southern Kruger, Self-Catering Bungalow (Room Only) or similar
2 nights: Umkumbe Safari Lodge, Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, Superior Room including all meals and game activities - for lodge details plus ideas for other Kruger safari lodges Travel Africa can tempt you with please see Deluxe Kruger (Luxury Safari Lodges).
(distance between each camp is approximately 100kms, national parks roads)

Contact us now

What else can Travel Africa help you with?

Travel Africa specialises in all types of travel in Southern Africa.
Please enjoy looking through our website. Here are some other itineraries you might be interested in.