South Africa & Botswana Family Breakaway Multisport Tour New!
- Bike among elephants in Botswana, zebras in the Cederbergs, and penguins on the Cape
- Chances to spot the Big Five
- Hike the dramatic and rarely visited Great Escarpment
- Private charter flights smoothly connect diverse African landscapes
- Relax and rejuvenate at some of Africa's top lodges
An Active Safari from Untamed Wilderness to Unrivaled Luxury
There is no other Africa trip like this. And you know it when you first hear the nearby screech of a baboon and get close enough to look a giraffe in the eye - on foot, from the seat of a bicycle, as well as from open-topped 4x4s. This southern Africa adventure promises more than you can imagine and everything you expect: the premiere lodges, untamed landscapes and once-in-a-lifetime cycling and hiking through wild game reserves with the continent's best rangers - all connected by our private charter flights that seamlessly link dramatically distinct regions.
Days
1-2 Exclusive insight into traditional and contemporary culture from our local friends, including one who served on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela 
Hike along Table Mountain's base to world-renowned Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Bike from Cape Point to Chapman's Peak, possibly spotting ostrich, baboons, rare Cape Mountain zebras and elands.
Days
3-4 Relax, rejuvenate, walk and mountain bike at Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Retreat, where ancient Bushman rock art and Red Hartebeest embellish the scenery In the mood to go canoeing, relax at the spa or taste local vintages? It's up to you.
Day
5 Private charter flights smoothly connect diverse African landscapes In remote Mashatu, learn to track classic African animals on a guided mountain bike ride teeming with wildlife, including giraffes and the big cats.
Days
6-8 Bike in Botswana among elephants on their ancient paths Open-topped Land Rovers make for great game viewing Hike the dramatic but rarely visited Great Escarpment, offering wild views of the bush Browse handicrafts in a charming Afrikaner pioneer town that's home to a thriving artist community.
Days
9-11 Spot the Big Five and other fascinating creatures like dung beetles and lilac-breasted rollers at Londolozi during exhilarating bush excursions on foot and in "Landies" Join our friend Lotus in his traditional Shangaan village.
Guests Reviews About This Trip
Wildlife viewing opportunities are excellent on this trip. The reserves we visit have managed their ecosystems so well that wildlife can be seen everywhere all year-round. Animals in these reserves rarely feel threatened, so we're able to get very close. Seeing a leopard, for instance, in a national park is extremely rare. Seeing one or more at Mashatu or Londolozi is quite common. We look forward to helping your family spot leopards - and the rest of the Big Five - in South Africa this December!- Regional Manager, South Africa
Premiere Inns
The Cellars-Hohenort
Constantia, South Africa (2 nights) A historic manor house in the Cape Winelands with stunning views of Table Mountain. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, spa, tennis)
Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Retreat
Cederberg Mountains, South Africa (2 nights) This wilderness retreat, set in the Cederberg Mountains on an 18,000-acre reserve with ancient rock art sites and a gorgeous landscape, is home to a wide variety of antelope and birds. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, spa)
Mashatu Main Camp
Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana (2 nights) A spectacularly remote luxury camp built around a waterhole where one of southern Africa's largest elephant herds congregates. (pool)
Summerfields Rose Retreat & Spa
Hazyview, South Africa (2 nights) These luxurious tented lodge suites are nestled in a secluded valley along the Sabie River, where hippos sometimes bathe at dusk. (pool, spa)
Londolozi Private Game Reserve
Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa (2 nights) An elegant game lodge on the Sand River offering deluxe chalets with private dipping pools and balconies for observing elephants and hippos in the wild bush. A Relais & Châteaux member. Condé Nast Traveler Gold List. (pool)
Private Trips Options & Pricing
This Trip Is Rated Level 1-3
Routes 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.
| Daily Route Options | |||||||||||
| Day | Activity | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | |||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | ||
| 1 | Walking | 1.0* | 0 | 6.3 | 500 | ||||||
| Walking | 2.1* | 0 | |||||||||
| Walking | 3.0 | 300 | |||||||||
| 2 | Biking | 17* | 700 | 25* | 700 | 38* | 700 | ||||
| Walking | 1.1 | 0 | 46.0 | 1500 | |||||||
| 3 | Biking | 9 | 0 | ||||||||
| Other | Evening game drive (2 hours) | ||||||||||
| 4 | Walking | 3.0 | 100 | ||||||||
| Walking | 4.3 | 300 | |||||||||
| Other | Evening walk and game drive (2 hours) | ||||||||||
| 5 | Walking | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||
| Other | Evening game drive (2 hours) | ||||||||||
| 6 | Walking | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||
| Other | Morning biking and game drive (3.5 hours) | ||||||||||
| Other | Evening game drive (2 hours) | ||||||||||
| 7 | Walking | 3.5 | 400 | ||||||||
| Other | Morning biking and game drive (3.5 hours) | ||||||||||
| 8 | Walking | 3.5 | 400 | ||||||||
| Walking | 4.3 | 0 | |||||||||
| 9 | Walking | 3.5 | 400 | ||||||||
| Other | Evening game drive (2 hours) | ||||||||||
| 10 | Walking | 3.0 | 0 | ||||||||
| Other | Morning and evening game drives (2 hours each) | ||||||||||
| 11 | Other | Morning walk and game drive (1 - 2 hours) | |||||||||
On this trip, we'll be using titanium mountain bikes that are just right for the non-technical dirt road riding as well as the paved riding. (approximately 50% dirt and 50% paved).
* Includes a shuttle
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For 35 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the South Africa tour experts. See our award-winning Africa multisport tours, Africa biking tours and Africa walking and hiking tours.
