We are a couple in our early 30's that are planning a trip to south africa with our two kids (2.5 and 4). We will also have a nanny with us who has become more like a family member. SO far out trip is:-

day 1 Arrive in Jo'burg and head straight to sun city (the Palace)
day 2 Sun city
day 3 Sun city
day 4 drive to Madikwe game erserve and stay at jaci's lodge
day 5 jaci's lodge
day 6 fly to cape town (sheraton hotel)
day 7 CP
day 8 CP
day 9 CP
day 10 CP
day 11 CP
day 12 Hermanus (western cape hotel)
day 13 Garden route- still looking for ccomodation for day 13-16)
day 14 Garden route
day 15 Garden route
day 16 Garden route
day 17 Port Elizabeth
day 18 PE
day 19 PE
day 20 PE
day 21 fly to jo,burg and take flight back home.


Instead of spending time in madikwe my 2 another options are:1- is to stay in sun city and go to pilanesberg park for the day.
or
2 Not go on a game reserve after sun city and intstead wait go to the shamwari game reserve after port elizabeth.

That looks like a long time on the Garden route and in PE. Do you have specific plans for those days. I'm sure with the kids a few days on the beach at Plett may have entered your thinking.

Have to agree with Napamatt in that you have allocated at least 2 days to much in PE and possibly even one day to much on the Garden Route. I am saying this with reservation as I dont know when you intend holidaying in SA or for that matter whether you have specific intentions to want to go to PE for 4 days. As a matter of fact I dont know why you want to visit PE at all and in this regard maybe you should enlighten us first before we all comment.

Btw if you have no formal reason to go to PE I would even contemplate missing out on the city completely and spending time at another game lodge near Madikwe.

Looking forward to hearing a little bit more about the reasoning behind you planning whereafter I am sure many on this board will comment accordingly.

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa

We spend a few days at Jaci's last year with my sister and her young daughter. They took great care of the kids - baby-sitting and they even have kiddie game drives (with mom)and the kids ended up seeing more than we did! The kids enjoyed the swing bridges and pools and such.

I have some pics here of my sister and little Chloe on safari!
http://www.go-safari.com/Madikwe/jacisaf.htm

I don't know what the other places offer for kids but Jaci's was great!

Everyone thank you so much for taking the time to help. Your suggestions are really appreciated.
I have never been to south africa so I guess I do need help with how to divide my time. I love scenic drives (monterey is a favorite) so I thought my husband and I would love that. I also thought I would keep the kids happy with whale watching, an ostrich show in oudtshoorn, cango caves, the cheetah breeding station and the millwood gold mines.
I choose to spend the last four days in PE to chill out in the beach or just relax with the kids in bayworld. I also thought we could go to the addo elephant park. Perhaps I could take days from the garden route and PE and added elsewhere.
We basically want a relaxing family vication with breathtaking scenery, activites for kids, luxury accomodations, shopping and entertainment.

You may definitely want to consider Plettenberg Bay for a relaxing beach time.

mariampeachy,

Once again I have to agree with Napamatt in terms of having a relaxing time in Plett HOWEVER this will be totally dependant on when you are vsisting us.

You should also look into staying at Eight Bells near George. http://www.eightbells.co.za/ Your kids will love the place and wont want to leave.

I have already mentioned that you still have not told us when you will be travelling aa this important when it comes to whale watching as well as many other factors because if you are going to be able to see whales you are definitely not going to be able to visit beaches due to the weather.

Hope this helps.

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa

OK, I will ask the question others may be thinking about but not asking: Are you sure your 3 days in Sun City wouldn't be more enjoyably spent elsewhere? Kruger or Sabi Sands? I think I might rather spend 3 days underwater in one of those cages looking for great white sharks than in Sun City. But that's just me, I know, different strokes etc. but I had to ask. If you're sure then go for it. As my mom always said, it would be a really boring world if we all liked the same exact things.

Especially, if you are taking a nanny along with you on your trip.......you should strongly consider the Sabi Sands as part of your trip........

Otherwise you just hv a couple of nights at Madikwe.......you could easily cut out a few days between sun city and PE and use them in the Sabi sands.

I will be going to south africa from august 21 to sept 11.

Since I do want a relaxing holiday I will spend a day in plettenburg bay and see what it has to offers.

I do not think I want to add more days to the sabi sands game reserves because I do not know if my children will enjoy it as much as my husband and myself.

We have chosen to spend time in Sun city because we think after a long flight we would like to take a few days and relax in a resort before we properly sightsee.

Cold time of the year in the Cape, thats the equivalent of late February and early March

I actually do not mind the cold weather since I am living in the middle east and all we have here is sunny weather.
If I skip PE where do you rechon I should add the extra days?

mariampeachy,

One again Napamatt is right on the button.

Be aware that in the Western Cape it is <b>cold and rainy </b> in August-September and your desire for seeing scenery, visiting beaches etc in the region is going to be heavily curtailed because of this. Forget about swimming on beaches as it is not going to happen. Recognising your goals for this holiday I have to unfortunately comment that I think your timing to visit the Western Cape, if not South Africa as you seem to want to avoid too many game parks in the north, is wrong.

The only part of your wishlist which will definitely work will be seeing the whales in Hermanus otherwise I would curtail my stay in the Cape Town and Garden Route area by quite a number of days. I would definitely cut out PE entirely too. I would spend most of my time in the northern parts of our country in places like Durban maybe.

Traveling in the Western Cape with children in the August rain is going to be a very trying experience. With that said I would quite surprisingly maybe even suggest an extra day at Sun City (I agree wholeheartledly with Lisa's thoughts about Sun City). With
the weather being what it is in the southern parts of South Africa and always being good in Sun City I hate to say this but staying an extra day at the complex will probably work out well as your children will probably like the experience.

One last comment. To hear me saying &quot;dont come to Cape Town&quot; on this board takes a lot of doing as many Fodorites will tell you. What I am trying to tell you in this mail is that you have allocated way to much time to Cape Town, Garden Route and PE in your itinerary for the Aug-Sept period especially considering your needs. If I told you differently I would be passing on the wrong information to you.

I know the above info is a bit harsh and must come as bit of a blow however I hope that it all helps you in planning your journey correctly.

Very proudly part of the wonderful nation of South Africa