South Africa is such a special place to my husband, Jeff and me – we knew we wanted to share it with our kids when they were at an age to enjoy it. It was a dream to see the country through their eyes and I will cherish the memories made on this trip, always. Yes, it is a long flight(s) and there was some definite jetlag to contend with, but it was worth it. The kids had the time of their lives, so I wanted to share a few of my tips for traveling with little ones and recap some of this incredible trip for you all.
This trip wouldn’t have been possible without Here’s My Card Travel! Clare and Kerry truly have such a deep understanding of the area, and they tailored our itinerary perfectly to make sure the kids could have the best experience possible. One of the key things they planned for us was spending the first 3 days in the Cape Winelands so that we could all adjust to the new time zone leisurely and comfortably.
We did everything from safaris to spending time at the beach. Keeping the kids entertained and on a regular schedule was the key to this trip being so successful. Having a mixture of adventure and relaxation was the perfect way to do that. It was amazing being on safari with the kids and hearing them talk about all the animals they saw at the end of the day, but getting to play on the Cape Town beaches was just as sweet.
This was taken at the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town! I spent the afternoon prior shooting my new Cape Town series from the sky and although I couldn’t take the kids I did want them to get similar views. It was so fun taking them on this excursion after capturing this image the day before — they were so taken with the landscape on the way up that I couldn’t help but get lost in it all over again. The South Africa coast is one of the most stunning places I’ve gotten to shoot.
We made sure to include activities we know the kids would enjoy based on their interests. Max has always loved penguins, so we stopped by Boulders Beach to see the colony. The excitement on his face seeing the penguins for the first time was something I’ll never forget. Dove loves visiting museums, so prioritized seeing a few during our time in Cape Town.
I’m always grateful that my work takes me to remarkable places like Cape Town, and I’m even more thankful that I can share these experiences with my family. This was one of our favorite family vacations yet. Getting to see South Africa through my kids eyes was incredible. We made so many great memories together that will last a lifetime!
I hope this inspires your next family trip! Be sure to explore my full Cape Town travel guide here and my new Cape Town series here.
xx Gray