Small group family holidays in South Africa

South Africa’s National Parks and wild spaces are legendary for their beauty, with millions of tourists heading here every year for safaris, whale watching and driving along the dramatic Garden Route. But you’ll get more out of your family holiday if you take time to learn about its diverse culture and history, too. One of the best ways of achieving this is taking an organised small group tour. You’ll get to all the places that other tourists don’t reach, whether that means spending time in a traditional Zulu village, visiting a nature reserve off the beaten track, or hiking in the rocky wilderness of the Cederberg. With our experienced small group operators you’ll be spared from sorting out the logistics and can be sure that you’re travelling responsibly, too. Plus, small group holidays are often slightly less expensive than tailor made, perfect if you’re a big family after a big adventure.

Our small group holidays in South Africa are made up of around 12 to 16 people, or three to five families, travelling either in a purpose built overland truck, or in a combination of private minibuses and 4x4s. Some trips are aimed specifically at families with teenagers, so that older kids can hang out with their peers and try out more adventurous activities.

Tours last at least two weeks, and you’ll travel with a minimum of two expertly trained crew – a driver and a guide, for example, with local guides as extra in certain locations. As there are children involved, long drives are kept at a minimum, there are plenty of rest stops and you don’t tend to travel every day, though you should expect some early starts. Teen-friendly trips may include slightly longer drive times.

Small group means massive advantages. You can stay in locally owned, small accommodation, and visit communities without overwhelming them, allowing you a deeper connection with local people. What’s more, your kids will have ready made friends to share their adventures with and you’ll have like-minded fellow parents to relax with after each exciting day.

Guides on our small group tours are used to entertaining and engaging children and work hard to ensure that everyone gets as much as possible out of the holiday. They’re keen to share their love of South Africa and are also incredibly patient, making sure that all travellers understand what they’re seeing and doing. While they will strive to make sure that the group has a good time as a whole, they’ll also give everyone lots of private family time, too.