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South Africa & Botswana Active Family Safari - Older Teens & 20s

South Africa & Botswana Active Family Safari - Older Teens & 20s

Walk/Hike

Safari

Bike

Biking, the Big Five & Luxury Game Lodges

From $8,499 - $11,099 pp dbl. occ. | 11 days / 10 nights

(+$2,600 to $3,670 for sgl. occ.)

Internal air: $2,800

Special Kids Prices

There's no other Africa trip like this. And you'll know it when you're eye-to-eye with a giraffe—from the seat of your bike, on foot or in an open-top 4x4. It's more than you can imagine and everything you expect: premiere lodges, untamed landscapes and once-in-a-lifetime cycling and hiking—all seamlessly connected by our private charter flights.

Highlights

Explore sophisticated and strikingly beautiful Cape Town, a captivating place to start your vacation
Bike among magnificent wildlife, including elephants in Botswana, antelope in the Cederbergs and penguins on the Cape
Hike along iconic Table Mountain to world-renowned Kirstenbosch garden, then discover Constantia's winelands
Safari in open-topped Land Rovers with our expert local guides and spot the legendary Big Five

South Africa & Botswana

Start Cape Town / End Johannesburg

Itinerary

Days 1-2 Gain insight into traditional and contemporary culture from our local friends | Follow the trail along Table Mountain's base to extraordinary Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden | Bike from Cape Point to Chapman's Peak, looking for ostrich, baboons, rare Cape Mountain zebras and elands.

Days 3-4 Rejuvenate, walk and mountain bike at Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Retreat, where ancient Bushman rock art and red hartebeest embellish the scenery | Taste local vintages or go canoeing.

Day 5 In remote Mashatu, learn to track classic African animals on a guided mountain bike ride teeming with wildlife, including giraffes, the big cats and hundreds of bird species | Tonight, dinner is served under the African sky around a blazing fire.
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Days 6-8 In remote Mashatu, learn to track classic African animals on a guided mountain bike ride teeming with wildlife, including giraffes, the big cats and hundreds of bird species | Tonight, dinner is served under the African sky around a blazing fire.

Days 9-11 In remote Mashatu, learn to track classic African animals on a guided mountain bike ride teeming with wildlife, including giraffes, the big cats and hundreds of bird species | Tonight, dinner is served under the African sky around a blazing fire.

Next: Dates & Prices

The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.

If you must cancel your reservation, your cancellation fee will be determined according to the policy outlined below. Exceptions to our cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather, terrorism, civil unrest or personal emergencies. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving a trip early. Private room or tent, bike rental and internal air charges are considered part of the total trip cost and are subject to cancellation fees. Percentage charges are calculated on total trip cost.

Cancellation Fees (Per Person)
Days Prior to Trip Start	Scheduled Trips	Private Trips	Custom Trips
126+ days	$200**	$600	30%
95-125	$200**	30%	50%
61-95 days	30%	50%	75%
31-60 days	60%	75%	100%
0-30 days	100%	100%	100%

** Rather than paying the cancellation fees, you may choose to keep your trip deposit ($600) in a holding account to use on a future Backroads trip with no expiration date.

Bike Cancellation Policies: If you are renting a Specialized Roubaix, Ruby, eBike or Co-Motion Tandem, a full cancellation fee will apply in the event you cancel your trip reservation inside 30 days.

Transfers: You may transfer from one trip to another up to 95 days before trip departure without penalty—except Private or Custom Trips.

Release of Liability: Guests are required to provide a signed Release of Liability, Assumption of All Risks, and Arbitration Agreement and a completed Personal Information forms prior to trip departure; you will receive these materials shortly after reserving your trip. You may also complete your forms online. We are unable to allow guests to participate in any aspect of a Backroads trip without a signed release form.

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

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Private Trip
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F Family Dates - Older Teens & 20s

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.

Private Trip Pricing

10 or more Guests: from $8,499 pp dbl occ

9 Guests: from $10,749 pp dbl occ

8 Guests: from $13,699 pp dbl occ
2-7 Guests: Give us a call or reach out here!

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date

2+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 2 or more guests
8+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 8 or more guests
16+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 16 or more guests
Reserved

F Family Tours - Older Teens & 20s

2020 July

8+ 7/9–7/19

2021 January

8+ 1/1–1/11

2021 June

8+ 6/11–6/21

2021 July

8+ 7/8–7/18

View Scheduled Dates

Tell us what your dream trip would be and we'll make it happen! Whether you're looking for a honeymoon trip for 2, a 30-person family reunion or a 100-person corporate trip, we can do it all. A dedicated Custom Trip Consultant will work closely with you to bring your dreams to reality. Call us at 800-462-2848 to speak with your Custom Trip Consultant or click on the button below.

REQUEST YOUR CUSTOM TRIP NOW

Previous: Overview

Dates

F Family Tours - Older Teens & 20s

2020
Jun
Jul
Dec

2021
Jan
Jun
Jul

View Scheduled Dates
Go Private
Go Custom

Prices

From $8,499 - $11,099 pp dbl. occ.
11 days / 10 nights

(+$2,600 to $3,670 for sgl. occ.)

Internal air: $2,800

Special Kids Prices

Traveling with Kids

Reviews

Read the Reviews
Write a Review

Premiere Hotels

Cellars-Hohenort

Constantia (2 nights)

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Retreat

Cederberg Mountains (2 nights)

Mashatu Main Camp

Mashatu Game Reserve (2 nights)

Summerfields Rose Retreat & Spa

Hazyview (2 nights)

Londolozi

Sabi Sands Game Reserve (2 nights)

See Lodging Details

Activity Level

This trip is rated Levels 1-3

See Daily Route Options

What's Included

Services and equipment are included.

See how we include more

Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in South Africa and Botswana

Find out What sets us apart

More On This Trip

South Africa & Botswana Safari Multi-Adventure Tour

View more photos

Watch videos

Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip

Reviews by Power Reviews ®

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Next: Lodging

Premiere Hotels

Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the View Scheduled Dates or Private Dates tabs.

Cellars-Hohenort

Constantia (2 nights)

Constantia: A historic manor house in the Cape winelands with stunning views of Table Mountain. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool, spa)

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

Sabi Sands Game Reserve (2 nights)

An elegant game lodge on the Sand River offering chalets with balconies for observing elephants and hippos in the wild. Travel + Leisure World's Best. A Relais & Châteaux member. (pool)

Previous: Reviews

Next: Activity Level

This Trip Is Rated Levels 1-3

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 (drag to see full )

Day	Activity	EASYGOING				ACTIVE				AVID
Daily Route Options
		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*	100			6	900
	Walking/Hiking	2*	600
	Walking/Hiking	3	700
2	Biking			19*	1000	25*	1400	38*	2500
2	Other	Cape of Good Hope Walk (1 Hour)
3	Biking	9	100
4	Walking/Hiking	3	100	4	500	7	600
	Walking/Hiking	4	200
	Other	Evening Walk & Game Drive (2 Hours)
5	Other	Game Drive to Mashatu Camp (1 Hour)
	Other	Mashatu Game Walk (45 Minutes)
	Other	Evening Game Drive (2 Hours)
6	Other	Morning Biking & Game Drive (3½ Hours)
6	Other	Evening Game Drive (2 Hours)
7	Walking/Hiking	3	300
7	Other	Morning Biking & Game Drive (3½ Hours)
8	Walking/Hiking	3	300	4	400
9	Other	Summerfields Rose & Orchard Walking Tour (1 Hour)
	Other	Shangaan Community Tour (1½ Hours)
	Other	Evening Game Drive (2 Hours)
10	Other	Morning Game Drive (2 Hours)
	Other	Game Walk (1½ Hours)
	Other	Evening Game Drive (2 Hours)
11	Other	Morning Walk & Game Drive (1–2 Hours)

Note: 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). The walking terrain includes rugged bush trails, with the focus on game viewing. The biking routes on this trip follow narrow rocky paths and dirt and paved roads. All the walks and bike rides in game reserves are optional with game drives as an alternative activity.

* Includes shuttle.

Learn more about how we determine our activity level and fully support a range of abilities and interests.

Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies and other external factors.

Previous: Lodging

Next: What's Included

Meals

All breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 dinners

Available Bike Options

The key to a stellar day’s ride is a bike that’s perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Read on for your available bike options for this trip.

Backroads Titanium Bikes (Included in your trip price)

Our custom-built titanium bikes are specially designed for you—and we offer different models for varied terrain so your bike is ideally suited to the region. Our custom-made bikes are included in your trip price.

Mountain Bike (Included)

Also Included

Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
Snacks and beverages between meals
Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
Park and other entry fees
Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
Select coach transfers
Baggage transfers and porterage

Previous: Activity Level

Next: Straight Talk

Next: Why Backroads

Get the Straight Talk about This Trip

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Flights

On this trip we occasionally travel by air to reach the exclusive hotels and activities this destination has to offer. We'll be flying by charter with Avalon Aviation and Federal Air aboard turboprop planes that seat 10 passengers.

Previous: What's Included

Next: Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in South Africa and Botswana

We Stand Behind Our Trips

Most companies' trips in South Africa and Botswana are run by local operators. At Backroads we manage our own trips; we would never subcontract your precious vacation to a third party. So as you enjoy the support of your seasoned Trip Leaders, along with our expert local guides and drivers, you have the confidence of knowing we're with you every step of the way.

Only the Best Hotels

On this trip featuring Premiere Hotels, you can count on the best lodgings South Africa and Botswana has to offer. In fact, the hotels we've chosen in this region have higher retail room rates than those offered by any other active travel company—even when their trips cost more.

We Invented the Multi-Adventure Trip

After more than 30 years of creating Backroads Multi-Adventures, our trip designers know how to blend the perfect balance of biking and hiking with other activities to showcase the best of a region. And then they arrange the seamless transitions that would be so hard to orchestrate on your own—adding dimensions to your trip that are exciting, inspiring and just plain fun.

Everyone at Their Own Pace

We design and support our South Africa and Botswana trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.

The Best Leaders in South Africa and Botswana

Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in South Africa and Botswana, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.

Experts with Secrets to Share

In choosing the ideal experts to enrich your travel experience, we look for people with a wealth of local knowledge, but also the ability to convey their insights in English. Too often travelers find themselves smiling politely, not quite understanding what they're being told. Our experts share intriguing facts, anecdotes and inside stories that stay with you forever.

Quality You Can Measure

Since 1979, Backroads Founder and President Tom Hale has shown that staying #1 means constantly evaluating our performance using the best possible source of information: our guests. As we systematically analyze your feedback on our trip consultants, leaders, hotels, meals and on-trip activities, we never stop working to make a great company even better.

Kids Who Aren't Kids Anymore

Only Backroads offers active trips in South Africa and Botswana designed for families with older teens and 20s. These trips are aimed at you and the amazingly grownup members of your clan—whether they're almost high school grads, already in college or further along. Find out more in this blog post.

Our Cultural Roots Run Deep

Thanks to our extensive connections in South Africa and Botswana, Backroads takes you off the beaten track and deep into the region's culture in ways that traditional travel can never hope to do. We know the people and their customs, the legacy of art and architecture, the complex history and politics – and if we're not sure, our amazing local experts can fill in the blanks.

Previous: Straight Talk

Previous: What's Included

Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip

Backroads Photo Gallery

Biking - South Africa & Botswana Family Multi-Adventure Tour

Bird - South Africa & Botswana Family Multi-Adventure Tour

Hiking - South Africa & Botswana Family Multi-Adventure Tour

Cave painting - South Africa & Botswana Family Multi-Adventure Tour

Elephant - South Africa & Botswana Family Multi-Adventure Tour

Cycling - South Africa & Botswana Family Multi-Adventure Tour

Watering hole - South Africa & Botswana Family Multi-Adventure Tour

Safari - South Africa & Botswana Family Multi-Adventure Tour

Monkey - South Africa & Botswana Family Multi-Adventure Tour

Bikers - South Africa & Botswana Family Multi-Adventure Tour

Zebras - South Africa & Botswana Family Multi-Adventure Tour

Exotic Bird - South Africa & Botswana Safari

Guest Photo Gallery

Straight Talk

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

South Africa & Botswana Active Family Safari - Older Teens & 20s