South Africa: Family Conservation Safari

South Africa

Join hands-on conservation projects

This safari touches ground in two of South Africa’s most conservation-minded conservancies, giving families special opportunities to get involved with hands-on projects that support the local ecosystem and habitat.

Suggested Length: 9 days/8 nights
Starts from: $10,000 per person

"Our trip to South Africa, Malawi and Zambia was simply amazing. We really experienced what Africa is all about. For our girls, who are still relatively young, an experience like this can and likely is life changing. Overall the trip was everything we could have dreamed and doing this together as a family made it that much more special."

Sophie Beraznik and family
Malawi

Highlights

Track cheetahs, monitor elephants, and contribute to environmental preservation at Marataba Camp.
Search for the Big Five during guided nature walks and game drives in the Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
Foster a love for nature and wildlife at Kwandwe, where your family can enjoy nature scavenger hunts and fishing trips.
Support the Ubunye Foundation by engaging in community projects such as gardening and arts and crafts activities.
Connect with your family at Ecca Lodge while you build kites, play games, and enjoy refreshing swims in the lodge pool.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1

ARRIVE JOHANNESBURG

Upon arrival in Johannesburg, you will be met at the airport and whisked off to your accommodation for the evening.

AtholPlace Villa is a four-bedroom Relais & Chateaux exclusive-use city villa in Johannesburg. A ‘home-from-home’ accommodating up to eight guests, the first-floor houses three spacious, deluxe bedrooms and one cozier bedroom, all with en-suite bathrooms. On the ground level, guests enjoy elegant living and dining spaces that extend to the beautifully landscaped private garden, sparkling pool and cheerful boma beyond.

Overnight AtholPlace Villa

Day 2 - 4

MARATABA CONSERVATION CAMPS

Marataba, a 52,000-acre privately managed section of the Marakele National Park, is uniquely situated where lush bushveld gives way to the Kalahari sands. The Park has an impressive backdrop of the Waterberg Massif, considered one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world.

Staying in Marataba Conservation Camps is all about balancing conservation and adventure with a generous dose of fun – and plenty of relaxation too. Each booking has a dedicated conservation guide and is designed around your interests.

From tracking cheetah and monitoring the growth rate of elephants, identifying rhinos and collecting camera trap data to laidback boat trips on the Matlabas, Marataba Conservation Camps promise a unique experience, focused on conserving this eco-habitat for future generations.

Overnight Marataba Camp

Day 5 - 7

KWANDWE

Located in South Africa’s beautiful Eastern Cape Province, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is a renowned conservation and community success story. The reserve comprises 22 000 hectares of African wilderness inhabited by a diverse array of wildlife including hippo, springbok, giraffe, cheetah as well as the famed Big Five. The reserve provides the perfect habitat for protected species such as the black rhino, martial eagle, and blue crane. Visitors can look forward to a wide selection of incredible activities including: scenic picnics, guided nature walks with experienced wildlife trackers, sundowners while floating on one of the reserve dams, as well as big game walking safaris and even rhino darting.

Kwandwe specializes in family safaris and getting family members of all ages engaged with bush activities. Adventurous activities on the reserve include scavenger hunts with thought-provoking clues to seek out hidden items, Minnow’s fishing trips, and treasure hunts using major landscape features in order to find the treasure!

Families can also participate in Kwandwe’s voluntourism activities through the Ubunye Foundation, which works with communities living in and surrounding the reserve. Young guests can assist with gardening projects at the local Mgcamabele Community and participate in arts and craft activities, including the ‘Knit a Bit’ program.

Overnight Family Suite at Ecca Lodge