Author: The BakerMama

Our family’s once-in-a-lifetime trip to South Africa took a lot of planning and preparation. Here’s what we packed, including our safari gear, and how we prepared to go abroad.

What to Pack for a Trip to South Africa

We could pack a maximum of 44 pounds each so we were pretty limited on how much we could bring. We each took a rolling carry-on and a backpack and it worked out great.

One standard that is very common at safari lodges is that they will do your laundry same-day, complimentary or for a very small fee. This was a game-changer when it came to packing. Therefore, I packed us each two full game drive outfits that we could rotate each day while the other set was being washed. We also had a washer and dryer at our VRBO in Cape Town and at our friends’ house in Johannesburg so we had access to laundry facilities the entire trip.

Clothing:

For game drives, I wanted us to fit “safari style”, but also be comfortable. See below for a detailed list of what our family of six wore on safari with several links. You can also browse my Africa Safari Amazon List and my Africa Safari LTK Collection for links to everything we packed.

When we weren’t wearing game drive gear, we wore casual travel clothes and brought a few nice outfits each for Cape Town dinners and exploring. Comfort was key!

We packed several layers since we were outside most of the trip and we were visiting South Africa during the winter (we were there June 19-July 6). It was chilly in the mornings and at a night (down in the low 40s), so a sweater or light jacket was perfect. But when the sun came out, it would warm up to between 65-75 degrees F.

Other items we packed:

• Camera – Brandon brought a nice camera to take pictures and videos with while on the game drives and I would use my phone to mostly video and take some pictures. We were usually on a different side or layer to the truck so it was nice to get different angles of the animals as we observed them. We are so glad that we have the high quality images that Brandon took so we can print and frame several of them.
• Binoculars– We packed our own binoculars which were handy to have, but the trucks have binoculars in them that you can share and use to see animals far away. We got the kids these kid-friendly binoculars which were nice for them to each to have their own. And we took some nicer binoculars for myself and Brandon to use.
• Sunglasses – I was fully invested into the safari theme and wore leopard framed sunglasses. Brandon took his prescription sunglasses and the kids don’t like wearing sunglasses so they relied on their hats to block the sun.
• Sunscreen – that South African sun is powerful in the bush with very little shade at times so wearing sunscreen on your face and any exposed skin is highly recommended. We took travel size sunscreen sticks for our faces and travel size sunscreen lotion for our skin.
• Swimsuits – there was a pool at every lodge and house we stayed in so having swimsuits was great! It was pretty epic swimming in the middle of the bush with baboons, elephants and other animals roaming nearby.
• Flashlights – we only used our rechargeable flashlights a few times, but we were so glad we had them. We used them a few times on the game drives in the dark morning or after the sun went down at night to see animals that weren’t bothered by the lights. And we also used them one night when there was a scheduled power outage in Zambia.
• Power Adapters – we definitely needed these South Africa Power Adapters at each place we stayed to convert the plug-ins so that we could charge our electronics, cameras, etc.
• Over-the-Counter Medications – although we didn’t use most of these, we took Tylenol (children’s chewables as well), Dramamine Less Drowsy, Pepto-Bismol, Tums, Benadryl, Melatonin, Nuun (for travel hydration)

What to Wear on a Game Drive (AKA Safari)

Leading up to our trip, it was hard to find an easy guide with links for what to pack and wear on a safari, especially for kids. We were advised to not wear bright colors so I decided to go as neutral as possible when packing everyone with tans, khakis and browns with some white and green as well. I wanted us to fit the “safari style”, but also be comfortable and I tried to coordinate the outfits for each person so that they could be mixed and matched throughout the trip.

Packing layers to wear on the game drives was key. For the morning drives, we would all start out with a light jacket or hoodie on and then take it off as the sun came out. For the evening drives, we would start out in short sleeves and tank tops and then put on our light jackets and hoodies after the sun went down as it would start to get chilly.

• Boys: The boys wore a comfortable t-shirt with a button up short-sleeve cargo shirt and then lightweight cargo pants or cargo shorts with thick socks and hiking shoes, a bucket safari hat, and brought along a hooded sweatshirt.
• Girls: Brookie either wore a cute khaki cargo dress with khaki leggings or lightweight cargo joggers with a cozy shirt or tank top and a pullover or button-up sweater along with thick socks and hiking boots and a straw hat.
• Women: I wore lightweight cargo jogger pants, tank tops, button-down shirts or a pull-over hoodie, with a lightweight jacket, thick socks, hiking boots and a straw hat. I also took the most comfortable pair of white sneakers to wear around the lodges, on travel days and when out exploring.
• Men: Brandon wore tracker pants or kinetic shorts, a long sleeve button down shirt or a short sleeve button down shirt, a soft-shell vest, thick socks, waterproof Nike Duck Boots and a wide brim hat.
• Hats: We all wore safari hats to block the sun and fit the “safari style”: boys’ safari hats, Brookie’s safari hat, my straw hat, Brandon’s wide brim hat.

You can also browse my Africa Safari Amazon List and my Africa Safari LTK Collection for links to everything we packed.

The only thing clothing-wise that we bought while in the bush were these cozy beanies. We found that it was nice to have a beanie in the mornings and late in the evenings, especially when the game driver was driving fast to get to an animal sighting and the cold wind was blowing at our heads.

Medicines and Mosquitos

While we actually didn’t encounter any mosquitos or bugs or get any bug bites while on the trip, there is a risk of getting malaria from mosquito bites while in some South African regions so we went to a Passport Health USA Clinic here in Dallas about 3 weeks before we left for the trip. We went over any health risks and got travel medicine for Malaria as well as Travelers’ Diarrhea.

We started the Malaria meds (one pill a day) two days before we went into the bush and continued taking them for 7 days after we left the bush. Fortunately, we never had to use the Traveler’s Diarrhea meds as everyone stayed very healthy throughout the trip.

For bug protection in the bush, we wiped down with these Deet Mosquito Repellent Wipes each morning before getting dressed. None of us got any mosquito bites while on the trip which was a pleasant surprise! We did take this awesome After Bite Cream just in case we got bites that were itching.

I hope this answers all of your questions and gives you a glimpse into a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in South Africa. To see more behind the scenes from our trip, check out my Instagram Story Highlights (Africa 1, Africa 2, Africa 3) for lots of fun videos, pictures and location links I shared while we were there.

xoxo,

The post South Africa: How to Prepare and Pack appeared first on The BakerMama.

The trip of a lifetime takes a ton of planning before the fun gets underway. I’m so excited to share all about our family adventure in South Africa including itineraries, accommodations, excursions, and of course, food!

The Experience of a Lifetime

Traveling with our family to South Africa has always been on our bucket list and we are so grateful we could make it happen. Being able to travel across the world as a family and to experience other countries is something we do not take for granted.

The kids did amazing the entire trip! They were so enthusiastic and immersed themselves into every adventure that we did. And they were so very thankful to us all throughout the trip for all that we did and saw. Experiencing a trip like this with the excitement and appreciation that our kids had was what made it even more incredible for Brandon and me.

Weeks after being home, they are still talking about the highlights of the trip and reminiscing on all the magical moments we got to experience while in Africa. Hopefully, we all get to go back at some point in our lives, but if we don’t, we can all agree it was the trip of a lifetime!

Planning a Family Trip to South Africa

We started planning this trip almost two years in advance. In April 2017, Brandon and I went to South Africa for a work trip and to visit our friends who live in Johannesburg. We didn’t go on a true safari or into the bush while we were there, so we were eager to go back and take the kids with us to really experience it all.

Ask a Travel Expert

So that we wouldn’t miss a thing, we used the services of a safari travel expert to help plan the lodging, safaris, adventures and regional travel portions of the trip. We relied on Cardo Kleberg from Geographic Group and he did such an amazing job helping us plan the perfect trip for us.

Our safari planner helped us find lodges that would accommodate us all together (most safari lodges/camps only have room for 2-4 people per lodge and we wanted to all be together). Because cuisine is very important to us when we travel, he found lodges for us that were known for great food. He also helped us find accommodations and adventures that were kid-friendly and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Cardo booked all of our regional flights within South Africa and to Zimbabwe with a transport on to Zambia along with road transportation to and from the safari lodges.

It was so helpful to have an expert plan this portion of the trip as there are so many details and logistics to consider. We were so thankful for his guidance and expertise!

Travel Overview

• Dallas (DFW) to Doha, Qatar, then to Johannesburg on Qatar Airways. In total, this was 23 hours of flight time on the way there. We had a 9-hour layover in Doha so we went out into the city to explore and eat two dinners.
• Flight from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit and then van from airport to Tintswalo Safari Lodge in the Manyeleti Game Reserve of Kruger National Park
• 3-hour Road Trip from Tintswalo Game Reserve to Lion Sands Game Reserve in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve of Kruger National Park with stops at:
  • Blyde River Canyon – 3^rd largest canyon in the world. It was so big and stunning!
  • Bourke’s Luck Potholes – very cool! A quick visit but one of nature’s natural wonders that’s unbelievable to comprehend how it was created and has evolved over time.
• Flight from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to Zimbabwe International Airport and then a van transfer across the Zimbabwe border into Zambia to check into Tongabezi Lodge
• Flight from Livingstone Airport to Cape Town where we rented a large passenger van to get around the Cape Town area with our friends.
• Flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg
• Johannesburg to Doha (2-hour layover) then to Dallas/Fort Worth on Qatar Airways. This was 25 hours of flight time on the way home because of the headwinds.

Accommodations Overview

The staff at all three lodges were amazing! They went above and beyond to help make our experience as enjoyable as possible. We really enjoyed getting to know everyone and appreciated the expertise they brought to our experience.

• Johannesburg – stayed with our dear friends from business school for one night on the front end of the trip and another night on the back end of the trip.
• 1^st Safari Lodge – stayed at Tintswalo Manor House which is part of Tintswalo Safari Lodge in the Manyeleti Game Reserve of Kruger National Park for 3 nights
• 2^nd Safari Lodge – Lion Sands Game Reserve in Hi’nkwenu Residence in Kruger National Park for 2 nights
• Zambia – Tongabezi Lodge – Tangala House near Livingstone for 3 nights
• Cape Town – rented a VRBO in the Camps Bay area which is a suburb of Cape Town for 4 nights
• Johannesburg – stayed with our friends again before flying back to Dallas

Doha, Qatar

• On our way to South Africa, we had a 9-hour layover in Doha. Brandon and I wanted to show the kids around Doha so we ventured out into the city for some late-night dinners and exploring.
• Even though it was super-hot (114 degrees F at 8PM), we made the best of it! We enjoyed some Yemani soft bread and Chicken Mandy (spiced chicken stew with seasoned yellow rice) from Bandar Aden Restaurant which were delicious!
• Then we walked around the Souq Waqif area and found a Turkish ice cream stand. What a fun experience! The man serving the ice cream puts on a show and plays tricks on you as he’s scooping the ice cream with this super long ice cream scoop. It was so fun and entertaining! The ice cream is amazing too, and was just what we needed to cool off.
• We walked all around, did a little shopping. Brookie even rode a camel! Then we enjoyed our second dinner (a Georgian feast!) in Doha at Al Terrace Georgian Restaurant before heading back to the airport to shower all the sweat off and catch our flight to Johannesburg.

Tintswalo Safari Lodge and Lion Sands Game Reserve in Kruger National Park, South Africa

We did game drives from both  Tintswalo Manor House which is part of Tintswalo Safari Lodge in the Manyeleti Game Reserve of Kruger National Park and Lion Sands Game Reserve which is part of the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, the oldest private nature reserve in South Africa, and is also in Kruger National Park.

Before our first Game Drive, we were quickly corrected that they are called Game Drives NOT Safaris! If you say you’re going out on a safari, the locals will chuckle and know you’re a newbie!

You’re out in “the bush” when you’re referring to the area you’re driving around in and looking for animals on the game drive in the national park.

Each game drive truck had a driver and then a tracker that would sit on a seat connected to the front of the truck. The driver would navigate and follow the trackers lead as we drove around looking for animals. They made us feel so comfortable, educated, excited, entertained and most importantly, safe!

Wondering what to wear on a safari to South Africa? Check out my guide, Africa: How to Prepare and Pack. You can also browse my Africa Safari Amazon List and my Africa Safari LTK Collection for links to everything we packed.

Victoria Falls, Zambia

During our time in Zambia, we stayed in Tongabezi Lodge – Tangala House near Livingstone and enjoyed some of the most exhilarating experiences:

• Victoria Falls (the largest water fall in the world!): Pictures don’t do these falls justice. They are huge and powerful and the most wonderous sight! We walked along the path in front of it, we rode a helicopter above and below it, we were on a boat at the top of it, and we even walked out and set in the roaring water at the very top edge of it.
• Victoria Falls Helicopter Ride: We took a 22-minute helicopter ride to see Victoria Falls from overhead and go down into the mighty gorges beneath the falls. What an awesome experience! Seeing the falls from overhead confirmed just how massive they are and how much water is powering down them. And then we literally swooped right down into the gorges and flew right over the roaring water curving side to side between the walls.
• Victoria Falls Angels Pool: We didn’t quite grasp the magnitude of this experience when we first signed up to do it. We thought we’d just being sitting in a protected pool at the top of the falls. Little did we know we’d be walking out to the very edge of the falls to sit and lay looking out right over the edge. We were living on the edge with this experience for sure! The boys went first and were so brave and loved every moment of it. Brookie wasn’t quite big enough to go all the way to the edge, but they let her get pretty close. It was finally my turn and as nervous as I was, I told myself to soak it all in because it was truly a once in a lifetime experience. The views were so incredible that I almost cried. Being right there at the edge with two rainbows right in front of me looking out over the edge to where all the water was going and down the falls to see all that water powerfully falling over, was just magical. We were all on an exhilaration high after this adventure!
• Zambezi River Excursions: We had a private boat at our lodge that they would take us out on whenever we wanted. We loved going out on the river to see the crocodiles and hippos and watch the stunning sunsets. Our lodge also surprised us with a picnic lunch in the middle of the Zambezi River on a tiny island. We thought we were going on a boat ride to the main lodge for lunch, but they suddenly stopped at this tiny island in the middle of the river where our chef and team had prepared the most delicious lunch with a table looking out on the river. We set and ate and sipped and enjoyed the views for hours. It was lovely!

Another highlight was going on a family bike ride on the rocky roads around the lodge area and into a local village.

We loved visiting Simoonga Village. We toured around and met some local community members and connected with them while the kids all played together. It was a very special afternoon for all of us!

Last time Brandon and I were in Zambia, we spent some time at the Tongabezi Trust School which is an incredible school program supporting underprivileged children in Southern Zambia. We have kept up with the school and I actually got to meet the mother of one of the students I bonded with back in 2017 when we were in the village to get an update on her and how well she is doing now that she has graduated from the school. 

One evening, our lodge surprised us with a performance by a local tribe where we got to learn about their culture through dance, music and ceremonial traditions.

Cape Town, South Africa

Our friends from Johannesburg met us in Cape Town for 5 days. It was such a special week getting to catch up with each other, let our kids all bond, and experience all that the beautiful Cape Town region has to offer. We rented an amazing VRBO in the Camps Bay area which is a suburb of Cape Town. It overlooked the ocean and made for some stunning sunset viewings.

We started each morning with a light breakfast at the house and then ventured out to a different bakery to get some treats and coffee. Such a sweet way to start each day! Here are the bakeries we enjoyed: 

• Okja Café  – all of the pastries here are vegan and the must-try pastries were the almond croissant and cinnamon roll. I couldn’t believe they were vegan!
• Chardonney Deli – the must-try pastry was the scone with fresh whipped cream and jam. So yummy!!
• Jason Bakery – the must-try pastries were the bacon and cheese croissant, chocolate almond croissant and blueberry muffin. Very tasty!

After our morning bakery stop, we would explore around Cape Town. Here are some of the fun places we went:

• V&A Waterfront – On the water with lots of shopping, dining, boats, entertainment and play areas for the kids.
• Boulders Penguin Beach – A nice walk on the boardwalk to view the penguins up close in their natural habitat and then we walked down to one of the beaches nearby where the kids braved the cold water and swam and jumped off some big rocks into the ocean.
• Babylonstoren: This winery was magical! More than a traditional winery for sure. It had the most beautiful farm and gardens that you could walk through and interact with. It also had museums about wine, farming and gardening, along with quaint shops filled with local specialties, produce, pastries, ice cream, and novelties. It was pouring rain when we first got there, but it finally let up and we truly enjoyed our day there. We were able to dine at Babel within Babylonstoren which was such a memorable meal. Everything was local and so fresh and flavorful. The chef and farmer would stop by our table to check on us as we enjoyed as many of the featured dishes as we could. We’re eager to go back to this winery and stay at one of the on-site cottages!
• Table Mountain: We actually stayed on part of Table Mountain. We had planned to hike it or take the cableway up it one day, but it was overcast each day we were there so it wouldn’t have been worth it.
• Cape of Good Hope: The weather was too overcast for us to go here this time, but Brandon and I visited here in 2017 and really enjoyed the views and hiking to the peak to see where the two oceans meet.

Once of the fun highlights of our exploring in Cape Town was when the boys discovered my cookbooks at Exclusive Books V&A Waterfront! We couldn’t believe it! I didn’t even know my cookbooks were sold in South Africa, but apparently, they are available in several locations. So cool! I signed the copies they had on hand so whomever buys them will have a signed copy. It made everyone so happy, especially me! 

Dining:

• Den Anker Belgian Restaurant, V&A Waterfront – we had a lovely lunch on the pier right next to the window overlooking the water and even saw some seals in the water right outside. We had a leisurely lunch of mussels, pommes frites, cheese croquettes, salads and champagne for us adults. The kids menu was perfect and they each got a sugar cookie they could color on with edible markers to entertain them a bit while we parents took our time.
• PIER Restaurant – we adults ventured out one night without the kids for a fun and delicious evening on the town. Our meal at PIER Restaurant was a culinary adventure. Each course was served so beautifully and tasted amazing! It was like being at the theater the way they presented each course and how each dish had a story. Highlights of our dining experience were the “under the sea” appetizer course with a variety of gorgeous seafood small bites, the bread course which was a fresh baked loaf of bread with a variety of butters and spreads to dip it in, the “margarita” palate cleanser which took us up to the kitchen counter area for tequila shots and frozen lime chasers, and the cheese cart which stopped by our table and built an awesome cheese course for us to enjoy before dessert. A fabulous meal and dining experience we will remember forever. Our hearts and bellies were certainly full!
• MORO Gelato in Stellenbosch – we stopped by this adorable gelato shop on our way from Babylonstoren back to Cape Town and it was so good! So creamy and rich in flavor. Loved the nostalgic feel of this gelato shop. They were so confident in their flavors that they didn’t even give samples which we Americans are not used to.
• Time Out Market – we ate lunch here our last day in Cape Town and it was so good! It’s an elevated food hall with lots of great local restaurant and chef concepts all in one place.

I hope this answers all of your questions and gives you a glimpse into a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in South Africa. To see more behind the scenes from our trip, check out my Instagram Story Highlights (Africa 1, Africa 2, Africa 3) for lots of fun videos, pictures and location links I shared while we were there.

xoxo,

The post All About Our Trip to South Africa appeared first on The BakerMama.