Malaria free Family Holiday to South Africa
At Aardvark we love planning family safaris so when Mark and Lucy Cooper from Hampshire, UK asked us to dream up a fabulous malaria free safari for first-timers we jumped at the chance. They wanted to contrast the wild adventure of safari with the cosmopolitan buzz of Cape Town with the intention of keeping the kids Ben and Hugo (aged seven and nine respectively) entertained while including plenty of R and R for the parents.
Ant’s Nest Riding
The Itinerary
Naturally, we wanted to wow the Coopers with a broad mix of well-paced activities and luxury accommodation in malaria-free areas. After much research and discussion with the Coopers—not to mention the odd heated debate amongst the team at Aardvark HQ—we plumped for the following:
Five nights at Cape Town’s The Stables Guest House
Constantia Stables
Voted one of the top five best B&B’s in South Africa by the Sunday Independent, this boutique guesthouse located in a leafy Constantia suburb is perfect for families. Lily Cottage, set in shaded private gardens, has direct access to the pool and is a wonderful spot for the Cooper family to enjoy hosts Lola and Rick’s famous delicious breakfasts. Close to the top Cape Town attractions the guest house is also within easy reach of Winelands—a must for frazzled parents!
Four nights at Ant’s Nest
Ants Nest children’s safari guiding
This privately run game lodge, booked on an exclusive single group basis, is perfect for families not least because the vast range of activities on offer can be totally tailored to suit even the fussiest traveler’s interests.
Four nights at Jaci’s Safari Camp
Jaci’s Safari Lodge Nare Suite
Jaci’s Safari Lodge Wild Dog
With eight beautiful and comfortably furnished safari tents, Jaci’s Safari Camp welcomes families with open arms. Set in the heart of malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, it has amazing kid-friendly guides who will help you and your little ones to spot the prized Big 5 and elusive species such as cheetah and rare wild dog.
First Impressions?
There’s no escaping the fact that Cape Town is jaw-droppingly stunning. Flying in with Table Mountain to one side and the sea on the other gave this family quite the arrival.
Sundowners at Ant’s
Later as they began the safari leg of their trip, the Coopers arrived at Ant’s Nest in the middle of a dramatic tropical downpour only to find themselves sipping drinks on the verandah in the sun an hour later. Then, somewhat comically, their vehicle got stuck on their game drive, which meant they had to be rescued on their first ever evening in the bush! According to Mark and Lucy, one memory that will stick with them forever is the priceless look on Ben and Hugo’s faces as they approached Jaci’s Safari Camp over a rope bridge and realized that a safari tent is a very different beast to the ones they’ve pitched with Dad in the garden!
Surfing and Supping
Cape Dutch Architecture, Babylonstoren
The boys were utterly enchanted by Cape Town. They spent hours surfing at the beach at Fish Hoek, swam with penguins, and enjoyed a wonderful boat trip during which they barbecued crayfish they’d caught themselves. Happily, the grown-ups were delighted too, in particular with the picturesque Constantia wine estates with their graceful Cape Dutch architecture. Cape Point Nature Reserve was a hit with everyone with its beaches and baboons—the latter of which caused a great deal of excitement. Cape Point itself is spectacular, and Stellenbosch and Franschhoek were the perfect day trips. On a more practical note, Mark and Lucy agreed that having a car gave them a real sense of independence that added to the experience.
The Freedom of a Family Safari
At Ant’s Nest Ben and Hugo were in heaven, running free, walking, swimming, horseback riding, heading out on game drives and generally mucking about. The real bonus of having the lodge to themselves was the ability to be totally flexible about what they did and when. If the boys didn’t want to ride early they were taken on their own game drive instead. Actually, the family agreed that it would be a long time until they found such a complete family destination again.
Ant’s Nest Kid’s Walk
Jaci’s provided the out and out perfect introduction to safari proper. The guides were great—highly experienced with hosting family groups and aware that kids get bored sitting for hours in the game vehicle—and ensured plenty of variety to keep everyone engaged. Ben, the youngest, complained that he’d ‘seen that elephant yesterday so why was he seeing it today’, completely unaware that there were hundreds of elephants roaming around!
Wow Factor
It’s pretty hard to beat horseback riding alongside giraffe and antelope on New Year’s Eve, but if anything came close it was the look of awe on the boys’ faces when they saw their first lion. Also, Ben and Hugo loved riding on the back of Ant Baber’s (owner of Ant’s Nest) motorbike, ‘driving’ the game vehicle, and galloping their ponies up and down the grassy airstrip. For the adults, the evening sundowners were memorable in themselves.
Game Drive, South Africa
On their return, happy clients Mark and Lucy Cooper said,
‘We had a tremendous three weeks and all want to go back for more. The huge diversity of activities, from swimming with penguins to wine tasting, walking in the bush and riding made us feel that we’d been away for much longer. In terms of a family holiday, there really was something for all of us and we shall remember it for some time to come.’
The Aardvark Safaris’ team has lived and worked in Africa, and can help get you find the best places for your family party on a safari holiday. All you need to do is email us or call us and we’ll do the rest, giving tips and advice, together with a full detailed itinerary.
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