TAKE YOUR FAMILY ON AN INVIGORATING SAFARI IN BOTSWANA AND SOUTH AFRICA

3 nights at the Vineyard Hotel in an apartment on a bed and breakfast basis.

Secluded Cape-Town Accommodation nestled on an eco-award-winning riverside estate, overlooking the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, and conveniently located on the edge of the city.Over the past two centuries, The Vineyard has proudly evolved into one of the most environmentally- friendly, progressive hotels in Cape Town.

The seven-acre property, home to a diverse range of fauna and flora, is as innovative and ground breaking as it was when the original house was built in February 1800. You are able to see the remnants of the first English style house to be built in the area, gracefully merging with the contemporary interior styling and luxury features expected from a modern hotel.

Our signature restaurant provides an elegant and tranquil atmosphere in which to enjoy a generous breakfast; light, easy à la carte lunch dishes or classic, contemporary dinner fare from seasonal menus. Choose a top vintage from our award-winning wine list to match our gourmet flavors.

Supervised children’s activities, include treasure hunts in search of the Vineyard tortoises and other outdoor activities. Babysitting serviced can be arrange via the travel desk.

Cape Town offers a huge variety of family friendly activities and outings – The Scratch Patch, The Bike Park, Dinosaur Exhibition at Kirstenbosch, Ceramic Painting at the Clay Café, Ziplining at Constantia Neck, the Milkwood Maize at Imhoff Farm, the Two Oceans Aquarium, The Duck Parade at Vergenoegd Wine Estate, World of Birds and the Cape Town Science Centre to name a few.

3 Nights at Duba Explorers Camp in a family tent on a full board basis. The intimate camp consists of six expedition-style tents of light airy canvas on slightly raised decking, each with views of the surrounding floodplain. Each tent has a small desk and private veranda plus en-suite facilities consisting of flush loo, double basins and indoor shower. Fans and careful open-air design maintain comfortable climate for rest and relaxation. The main area is under sweeping marquee canvas, on raised decking and consists of an open-concept dining and lounge area which opens to the outdoors on all sides. In the evenings, the fire pit is always a popular spot to enjoy an Amarula and recount the day’s events.

Duba Explorer’s Toyota Land Cruisers are aptly named ‘Swamp Vehicles’ due to their extra-high suspension and absolutely huge tyres uniquely designed to traverse the floodplains. Duba Explorers Camp is a combination activity-based camp, allowing guests to explore the Okavango Delta’s permanent channels by boat when water levels allow, as well as open game drive vehicle safaris. This is truly an invigorating, yet peaceful experience, allowing for wildlife and birding viewing from the boat. Guided game walks with licensed, armed guides are available, and these can be combined with boat cruise or game drive.

3 Nights at Selinda Explorers Camp in a family tent on a full board basis: Selinda Explorers Camp is a classic camp that transports guests back to the time of authentic safaris, but with a modern twist and hospitality. The camp’s focal point is the Bedouin-style main area consisting of a lounge and separate dining room. The four guest tents provide comfort and style but with a magnificently raw spirit. Subtly placed under the shade of the riverine forest, the camp is designed in the style of the early explorers both in philosophy and practice. This authentic tented camp draws on traditions of the classic East African safari with beautifully detailed campaign style furniture made from recycled hard woods, and soft furnishings from Zanzibar and the East. The custom- designed tents consist of two rooms plus veranda, as well as a private open air ‘bustani bathroom’ with hot water showers and flush loo. All tents are at ground level, including the main lounge and dining area. This is an unassuming camp, light on its footprint but heavy on its experiential luxury.

The atmosphere of the lodge is one of bush elegance with relaxed bohemian style, complemented by attentive staff, private professional service and fabulous food. With a maximum of only 8 guests Selinda Explorers Camp focuses primarily on the traditional safaris of walking and canoeing when the Selinda Spillway is flooding. All guides are firearm trained and will be armed on walks and canoes.

Game drives are offered, both day and night, but are a supplement to other activities as opposed to the emphasis. If the cool shade of the canvas and trees simply isn’t enough to quell the midday heat, then grab the guide and go for a swim in the refreshing waters of the Spillway.

DAY 1 ARRIVAL:
Arrive at camp, greeted by Young Explorers guides who will welcome the children and excite them for embarking on the Young Explorers programme. Each child will receive their Young Explorers pack, filled with fun tasks and projects.

AFTER LUNCH:
Whilst the parents are settling into camp and unpacking the children can get acquainted with the guide over a game of Morabaraba, a great icebreaker for meeting the camp’s staff. The guide will also offer an educational walk around the camp, getting to know the trees, plants and birds and starting to look for animal and bird tracks and signs.

LATE AFTERNOON:
Introductory game drive or walk with parents to discover tracks and signs of wildlife, starting to work on the species checklist, how to use binos, and share knowledge to answer the quiz questions. Make an animal footprint to take home from plaster of paris; this can be turned into a piece of art with a bit of colourful paint. Whilst the parents are having sundowners, burn off a bit of travel energy with a game of ellie dung soccer!

EVENING:
Begin to discover the southern skies, finding the Southern Cross. Don’t forget a torch; we will be looking for some night time creepy crawlies too. Hear some African bush legends around the fire with hot cocoa and marshmallows.

DAY 2

MORNING: Off into the bush first thing at daybreak, either by foot, boat or 4×4. Whilst out today, we start gathering items from the bush for a later art project.

AFTER LUNCH:
Make a poster with a conservation message using the items collected in the morning. Later, we will send the art to our new pen pals in the local villages. Begin the Survival Skills course, and learn from the guide how to make a fire from sticks and how to make a traditional bow and arrow and fish trap.

LATE AFTERNOON:
Board canoe, motor boat or HES Zib (at Zarafa) for a lesson in Bayei fishing. The local people in this region were primarily subsistence fisherman, and now’s a chance to learn how to among the wildlife and incredible birds. Be gourmet and try some tasty Papyrus root. Or get fancy with a Water lily necklace. If it’s in season, then have a go at trying to catch a fish.

EVENING:
It’s movie night. Watch one of the Joubert’s National Geographic documentaries in our bush theatre, complete with popcorn. Watch and learn and see if you can find some more answers to your Big Cat Quiz.

DAY 3

MORNING: Set out on morning activity. While on drive, learn from the guide what vegetation edible and some traditional use methods. Test your newly acquired tracking skills and track “your” animal.

AFTER BRUNCH:
Time to write a letter to a new pen pal and share stories from home and this safari, sharing conservation messages. Alternative activity is a tour of the back of house of camp, see how the camp actually runs behind the scenes, have a look at the bio-gas and solar systems – what other ‘green’ technology is possible?

LATE AFTERNOON:
Game Drive Bingo – Test our bush-eyes against everyone’s in the vehicle, who can be the first to spot all the wildlife on the bingo card and shout it out!?

EVENING
Tonight (weather dependent) we will have a bush dinner. Learnt to cook over an open fire. Here, the guide will present each Young Explorer with his/her certificate for completing the Africa’s Young Explorers programme and become a Conservation Ambassador.

THE RATES INCLUDE

THE VINEYARD HOTEL: Accommodation in an Apartment, Full English Breakfast, complimentary WiFi and private return transfers from and to Cape Town International Airport.

DUBA EXPLORERS CAMP AND SELINDA EXPLORERS CAMP: Fully inclusive of accommodation, Conservation levy, scheduled wildlife activities, meals, laundry (except at Selinda Explorers Camp), alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding champagne), return airstrip road transfers, flights between the camps within Botswana and based on the itinerary starting and ending in Maun.

Please note that Duba Explorers Camp does not have a family room, therefore kids under 15 years will have to share with an adult. We have 1 family tent at Selinda Explorers Camp, if it’s not available at the time of making a booking, we will book 2 tents and each child will share with an adult.

Inquisitive Africa reserves the right to review published rates in the event of currency exchange rate fluctuations or increases in costs or taxes, which are beyond our control.

EXTENDING YOUR STAY WITH US: Inquisitive Africa has a variety of authentic experiences in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, Kenya and Dian or Mombasa, Uganda, Rwanda, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and South Africa. We would be happy to facilitate and plan any extended stay you might require in East and Southern Africa.