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Route Rating Level 1 to Level 3

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Casual Inns
  • $5,198 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+$950 for sgl. occ.)
  • Internal Flights: $635

Reserve early for the best available price. More Info

9 DAYS, 8 NIGHTS
ROLLOVER DATES BELOW FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
2009 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
ROLLOVER DATES ABOVE FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
TRIP NOTES

Age Requirement: Due to hotel restrictions, the minimum age for this trip is 12 years old.
All meals included except 1 lunch and 1 dinner.

Recommended Kids Ages

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Cancellation Policy

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Meet / Depart

Cape Town, South Africa/Johannesburg, South Africa

Special Interest

Culture & History, Exotic Adventure, Geological Wonders, Mountain Bike, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife, Safari, Spa, Swim

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Contact Us

Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
E-mail us

801 Cedar St.
Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

Or contact your travel agent

South Africa Multisport Vacations

South Africa Family Multisport

Bike, Walk, and Safari From Cape Town to Kruger National Park

Join Backroads on this unforgettable family adventure to actively experience South Africa's wonders! Stroll along Cape Town's Table Mountain and gaze upon the coastline Sir Francis Drake heralded as the “fairest cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth.” Bike to the tip of the Cape Peninsula, past rare mountain zebras and unique flora. Ease into the gracious lifestyle of the Cape Winelands and walk amid brightly colored proteas and rich birdlife. In the Drakensburg Mountains, hike on the Great Escarpment and be awed by breathtaking scenery. Then experience classic Africa on thrilling safaris, on foot and in open-top Land Rovers, in a private portion of Kruger National Park, one of the world's most magnificent wildlife sanctuaries.

You are viewing the Family Casual Inns version of this trip.
View the Family Premiere Inns Itineraries.

View the Classic Premiere Inns , Classic Casual Inns Itineraries.

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Days 1-2 cape town

Meet in Cape Town Hike along Table Mountain, the city's cloud-draped landmark Explore the world-renowned Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Walk on the Cape of Good Hope, then bike to Cape Point, with chances to spot ostriches, cape mountain zebras, baboons and rare African penguins Build sandcastles on one of the world's most scenic beaches.

Days 3-4 franschhoek

Visit a vibrant local township for an intimate introduction to a part of Cape Town that few tourists see While baboons bark in the surrounding hills, hike in Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve, famous for its huge variety of proteas Stroll through beautiful Franschhoek (French Glen), renowned for its long tradition of viticulture Get a formal introduction to South African wines while savoring a sultry vintage or two Bike a section of the famous Winelands Route Watch African dancers and drummers perform while you dine on local specialties Come face-to-face with a cheetah at a rehabilitation center for the big cats.

Days 5-6 graskop

Fly from the hills, farms, valleys and vineyards into the vast savanna of “classic” Africa Have the chance to feed and touch elephants rescued from the wild Walk to the edge of the Great Escarpment, a tremendous plateau brimming with indigenous forests, pine plantations, streams and waterfalls Hike into the Blyde River Canyon, the largest canyon in southern Africa, whose sheer red walls plunge over half a mile into water  Shop for crafts in the small town of Graskop.

Days 7-9 kruger national park

Travel to Ngala, a private reserve within Kruger National Park, for unforgettable excursions into the bush  On foot and in open-topped Land Rovers, catch views of the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos and rhinos  Join a Shangaan tracker for a nature walk focused on spotting animal tracks and some of the smaller marvels like dung beetles  Kids can spend more time with the ranger to become an assistant ranger!  Delight in a thrilling nighttime game drive Visit a nearby staff village and local meet school children Fly to Johannesburg.

Route Rating What's this? Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Each offers options for more or less activity, so you can decide exactly how much you want to do day by day.

Lodging What's this? Our lodgings are divided into three different categories.

Premiere Inns:These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.

Casual Inns:These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the areawith such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.

Deluxe Camping:We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.

Detailed Itinerary No itinerary available at the momentSorry no detailed itineraries available yet, please call 800-GO-ACTIVE for more information

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Trip praise

The regal leopards at Londolozi. Herds of trumpeting elephants in Botswana. Breathtaking scenery of Cape Town and the Drakensburg Mountains. I've been fortunate to see South Africa's great diversity and beauty as a student on anthropological expeditions, and our new family multisport trip gives you the opportunity to show this incredible world to your children. Special activities just for the kids include tracking animals and searching for ancient rock paintings. Evenings, you'll relax amid the luxurious comforts of our lodges and feast on the delicious fresh cuisine of the region. A true family adventure!
Christian Chumbley - Regional Manager Asia, South Africa & the East Coast

For more than 29 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the South Africa tour experts. For multisport tours in Africa, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Africa multisport tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Africa walking and hiking tours click here.

South Africa Family Multisport

INFORMAL OASES : Casual Inns*

The Alphen Hotel

Cape Town (2 nights): This casually elegant and historic hotel, a national monument, is located in a beautiful setting of ancient oaks and gardens.

Franschhoek Inn

Franschhoek (2 nights): Enjoy a swimming pool and comfortable accommodations just a stone's throw from town. 

Graskop Hotel

Graskop (2 nights): Guest rooms are quaint and full of character at this casual bed-and-breakfast, which also offers a swimming pool and gardens.

Ngala Private Game Reserve*

Kruger National Park (2 nights): This lavish safari lodge—the first private lodge and game reserve to be incorporated into Kruger National Park—features authentically decorated chalets, a large swimming pool, open-air dining and a spectacular location overlooking a busy waterhole.

  * With 2 Premiere Inn nights at Ngala Lodge  

* With 2 Premiere Inn nights

South Africa Family Multisport South Africa Family Multisport

The Alphen Hotel

You are viewing the Family Casual Inns version of this trip.
View the Family Premiere Inns Itineraries.

View the Classic Premiere Inns , Classic Casual Inns Itineraries.

South Africa Family Multisport

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Levels 1 to 2  4 Route Options Available
  • Hike 2, 2.1, 4.2, 5 miles
  • 0 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 1 to 4  4 Route Options Available
  • Walking 45 minutes
  • Biking 18, 38, 46 miles
  • 500 - 2500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Level 1  3 Route Options Available
  • Biking 10, 16, 19 miles
  • 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Level 1  4 Route Options Available
  • Biking 9, 14, 19 miles
  • 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
  • Hiking 4.7 miles
  • 1500 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Travel day
Day 6
  • Level 1  3 Route Options Available
  • Hiking 3.3, 4.1 miles
  • 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
  • Walking 4.5 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain 
Day 7
  • Community walk 1.5 hours
  • Afternoon/evening game drive
Day 8
  • Morning drive
  • Game walk 1 hour 
  • Afternoon/evening game drive
Day 9
  • Morning game drive
  • Game walk 1 hour

On this Family Trip, our routes follow gentle terrain with no significant gain or loss in elevation. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.

South Africa Family Multisport South Africa Family Multisport

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
1 2-3
hours		 10-20
miles		 2-5
miles
2 2-4
hours		 21-30
miles		 5-7
miles
3 3-5
hours		 31-40
miles		 7-9
miles
4 4-6
hours		 41-55
miles		 9-11
miles
5 5-7+
hours		 56-75+
miles		 11-13+
miles