We had been in need of a family holiday for a while, and so took the chance for a Malaria Free Safari in the Eastern Cape of South Africa along with a few days on the spectacular garden route.

When I say we, I mean, my wife Jane and myself and our three small children, Michael (6), Thomas (4) and Beth (18 months).  What we experienced was an outstanding family holiday filled with excitement, fun and great memories.

Here is a short diary of our travels

Day 1 Sedgefield

We enjoyed a slow drive to Sedgefield about 440Km outside of Cape Town. With a number of stops for farm stalls and lunch we arrived in time for a quick trip to the beach and then off for supper. 

Day 2 Grahamstown

We got off to an early start as we wanted to get to Grahamstowns by lunch.  We did make the occasional stop along the route, including time spent watching the world’s highest commercial bunji jump at the Bloukrans.  Despites Michaels determined request, I chose not to participate.

Grahamstown is famous for two things, the world renowned National Arts festival held each July and Rhodes University.  Jane had spent her university years at Rhodes and we enjoyed an afternoon wandering round the town, playing in the Botanical gardens,  strolling through the beautiful campus, and generally reminiscing and taking in the vibe of the student town.

Day 3 , 4  Marks Camp , Lalibela Game Reserve

What a treat, located in the Eastern Cape between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown, Lalibela Private Game Reserve offers Malaria Free Big Five experiences.

Michael and Thomas were in awe, and could not get enough of the experience.  We saw Lion with cubs, Elephant, Rhino, Cheetah, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Zebra, Kudu… the list goes on.  The guides were excellent and catered fantastically well for the children.

We had baby sitting on hand allowing us time to enjoy dinner with the other guests, special children’s meals, a play room and children’s game drives.  The staff ensured every detail was taken care of and even Beth was as settled and happy as could be.

Our accommodation was excellent, two large rooms, both en suite, a sitting room and a deck overlooking the bush and watering hole. 

Thanks to Michael and Thomas’s encouragement we came back with hundreds of photos as well as a few other bits and bobs for “show and tell” at school.

Day 5 St Francis Bay

After another outstanding game drive, which saw an Elephant walk within spitting distance, much to Beth’s amusement, it was with heavy hearts and a few tears from some disappointed children that we packed and got ready to move on.

A quick drive to St Francis Bay and an opportunity to play on the beach, watch the surfers and see the Penguin colony and we were now on our way to enjoying the Garden Route.

Day 6,7,6 Hunters Hotel, Plettenburg Bay

Five star luxury, was an outstanding way to end our holiday.  Hunter’s is a real treat; a stunning setting, elegant and luxurious thatch roofed cottages with fireplaces and private verandas overlooking the gardens.

The experience is made through the attention to detail and service.  Our children were in their element and no detail was forgotten in making this a wonderful family friendly hotel.   Thomas and Beth quickly made friends at Cubs corner; the children’s play area, whilst Michael made the most of the splash pool.

The restaurant options at hunters are world class and the main restaurant offers outstanding fine dining, whilst Jane and I loved our evening at Zinzi which offers an African fusion menu in a stylish setting.  I would recommend it as a must.

Our days in the area were filled with so much to do and so much to choose from.  There are an excellent selection of beaches, forest walks and drives and the area is home to Elephant, Cheetah and Monkey sanctuaries. 

We chose to explore the Storms River Mouth, Knysna, the Wilderness and the beaches at Plettenberg Bay.  We could easily have spent another few days in the area exploring, but unfortunately it was time to head back to Cape Town.

Our journey home was spent planning our next African adventure.

Now back at work in Cape Town I’m even further inspired by the awesome beauty and the world of adventures and experiences on our doorstep here in Africa.