South Africa & Botswana Family Breakaway Multisport Tour
- 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 see baboons cross your path 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.
Itinerary
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 antelope embellish the scenery In the mood to taste local vintages, indulge at the spa or go canoeing? 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 
Tonight dinner is served under the African sky around a blazing fire.
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.
Premiere Inns
The Cellars-Hohenort
Constantia (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 (2 nights) This wilderness retreat features a gorgeous landscape, and is home to a wide variety of antelope and birds. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, spa)
Mashatu Main Camp
Mashatu Game Reserve (2 nights) A spectacularly remote luxury camp built around a water hole where one of southern Africa's largest elephant herds congregates. (pool)
Summerfields Rose Retreat & Spa
Hazyview (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 (2 nights) An elegant game lodge on the Sand River offering chalets with balconies for observing elephants and hippos in the wild. A Relais & Châteaux member. Condé Nast Traveler Gold List; Travel + Leisure World's Best. (pool)
Guest 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 - on our South Africa & Botswana Multisport trip!- Regional Manager, South Africa
Trip Dates & Prices
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
2015 Family Breakaway DATES
December 2015
- 12/16 - 12/26 ( $8098 per person, double occ., +$1980 for single occ. , +$2900 for internal airfare
2016 Family Breakaway DATES
May 2016
- 5/31 - 6/10 ( $8398 per person, double occ., +$1980 for single occ. , +$2900 for internal airfare
December 2016
- 12/18 - 12/28 ( $8198 per person, double occ., +$1980 for single occ. , +$2900 for internal airfare
Don't see your ideal travel date? Call us at 800-462-2848 for Private Trip date availability.
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/Hiking | 1* | 0 | 6 | 500 | ||||||
| Walking/Hiking | 2* | 0 | |||||||||
| Walking/Hiking | 3 | 300 | |||||||||
| 2 | Biking | 17* | 700 | 25* | 700 | 38* | 700 | 46 | 1500 | ||
| Walking/Hiking | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| 3 | Biking | 9 | 0 | ||||||||
| Other | Evening Game Drive (2 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 4 | Walking/Hiking | 3 | 100 | ||||||||
| Walking/Hiking | 4 | 300 | |||||||||
| Other | Evening Walk and Game Drive (2 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 5 | Other | Afternoon Game Walk (1 Hour) | |||||||||
| Other | Evening Game Drive (2 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 6 | Other | Morning Biking and Game Drive (3.5 Hours) | |||||||||
| Other | Afternoon Bush Walk (1 Hour) | ||||||||||
| Other | Evening Game Drive (2 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 7 | Walking/Hiking | 4 | 400 | ||||||||
| Other | Morning Biking and Game Drive (3.5 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 8 | Walking/Hiking | 4 | 0 | ||||||||
| Walking/Hiking | 4 | 400 | |||||||||
| 9 | Walking/Hiking | 4 | 400 | ||||||||
| Other | Evening Game Drive (2 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 10 | Walking/Hiking | 3 | 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
Private Trips Options & Pricing
Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities.
You can pick from a large selection of dates for your group of 8 or more. Call us for date availability.
If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or if your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you.
Pricing for Private Trips (prices may vary based on departure date)
2015
| 8 - 9 guests from $9,498 pp dbl. occ. | 12 or more guests from $7,698 pp dbl. occ. |
| 10 - 11 guests from $8,498 pp dbl. occ. |
All Private Singles-Solos trips require a minimum of 16 guests.
For groups of 2 to 7 guests, please call for Custom Trip pricing.
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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.
