Little Madikwe Hills
The setting is one of open grassy plains and rivers with riverine forest, other woodland and hill country. Within the reserve, massive granite inselbergs give Madikwe its unique scenic character while to the south are the spectacular ranges of the Dwarfsberg Mountains.
Today, it is home to 66 species of mammals, and roughly 33 bird species, all of which are to be seen in an area comprised of vast open grasslands, woodlands, and rocky mountains.
Madikwe is not just a Big Five park: it boasts the Super Seven! This mammal combination is the Big Five, plus African wild dog and cheetah. The birding opportunities are similarly exciting; significant birds you can encounter include ostrich, vulture, and the large kori bustard.
For larger groups we will also reserve for you suites nine and ten, accommodating a party of up to eight. Each bedroom is comfortably swathed in white and emerald linens and features floor-to-ceiling windows to immerse you in the wilds of South Africa.
A sizable pool is embedded in Little Madikwe’s viewing deck and you can choose to join your personal chef in the villa’s interactive kitchen, picking up culinary tips to take back home.
The Madikwe Game Reserve is malaria free and semi-arid. Your guide will show you isolated waterholes where herds of elephant and buffalo gather to wallow and cool down.
After the sun has set, you can spend some time exploring the reserve at night with a spotlight, looking for nocturnal creatures, such as leopard, aardwolf, and porcupine.
Your guide will explain fascinating aspects of bushcraft, showing you how flora and fauna coexist to maintain the fragile balance of the ecosystem.
On arrival, they'll receive their own 'lucky packet' that contains all of the items they'll need for a magical safari experience. Staff members will help children become their favourite animal, complete with fancy dress, face painting, and exciting facts.
Treasure hunts, movie nights, dung investigation and clay modelling will keep them wildly entertained for the whole of their time on safari.
We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.
The only country able to offer malaria-free safaris, South Africa is a wonderful choice for many looking for a luxury safari experience. Enjoy the abundance of wildlife on offer in some of the most exclusive private reserves, before exploring cosmopolitan Cape Town, where the glamour of the city meets the rugged outdoors.
See the splendour of South Africa as a family on this exclusive safari. Spend your days exploring captivating Cape Town, enjoying the delights of the Winelands and on safari, seeking out the abundant wildlife that roams the wilderness. No matter your age, this iconic safari will leave you with memories for a lifetime.
With opportunities to see the Big Five of both land and sea, along with incredible scenery, enormous national parks, world-class vineyards, a fascinating history and vibrant, friendly people, South Africa frequently tops the lists of the world’s best holiday destinations. Even so, less than 1% of the world's travellers make it here, so it’s a place where you’ll find yourself with a few select, like-minded and discerning adventurers who have discovered this gem of a country. It’s a place you could return to for the whole of your life and never tire of it.
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite experiences to inspire your imagination.
If you’re looking for a country that’s got everything, choose South Africa. Renowned for the spectacular views of the Garden Route, vibrant Cape Town, malaria free safaris, fascinating history and outstanding wildlife, the whole family will fall under the alluring spell of this diverse country.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the first person to call South Africa “the rainbow nation”. It’s a reflection on the fascinating diversity of this country, not only in the identities of its people but in the landscapes, wildlife, cultures, and activities it offers. South Africa is a country which, because of its variety, can be all things to all people, truly a rainbow of varied opportunities and experiences.
in South Africa
Without a shadow of a doubt, South Africa is one of the very best places to watch wildlife in the world. The Kruger National Park — a protected area the size of Wales — is certainly the most famous and popular safari destination, but with Journeysmiths you’ll escape the crowds to explore vast, wildlife-filled private reserves, in the company of the best guides.
Cape Town is one of the world’s great cities with a unique setting beneath Table Mountain.
To experience a little bit of everything that South Africa has to offer, you can hardly do better than to drive along the coastal road of the Garden Route between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. It’s an extraordinary journey, and there’s wildlife on both land and shore, endless beaches, historic battlefields, and the vineyards are never far away. One day you might be whale spotting at Hermanus — renowned as one of the best whale watching locations in the world — and the next you could be learning about the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, handling antique weapons and scrambling over the British and Zulu positions.
Formerly the Zulu Kingdom, the province of KwaZulu Natal runs along South Africa’s dramatic Indian Ocean coastline. The Drakensberg Mountains create a natural border between Lesotho and the Eastern Cape, and offer some excellent hiking routes.
For families of all ages there is so much to see and do in South Africa, making it an excellent and diverse travel destination. We’ve chosen 20 of the best experiences to immerse you in the culture, wildlife and beautiful places of this remarkable country.
South Africa is an excellent choice for family travel with children of all ages. Its wildlife is abundant, with a great diversity of species, including the Big Five: rhino, leopard, lion, elephant and buffalo. There are vast malaria-free reserves and it’s easy to get from safari regions to Cape Town and the beach.
Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary
Working in partnership with globally recognised conservation organisation; Care for Wild, the world’s largest rhino orphanage, we have curated a truly unique and exclusive experience giving a privileged few behind-the-scenes access to this otherwise incredibly private sanctuary.