Embark on an unforgettable philanthropic adventure through magnificent South Africa.
Travel with purpose in South Africa
Phinda Private Game Reserve, Cape Winelands, Hermanus
Ideal for multi-generational families
Travel that leaves our world a better place
Wild Impact community visits & social projects
Curated for adventure seekers and nature lovers
Marvel at abundant wildlife & Big Five safari experiences
Explore historical, cultural, and natural landmarks
Your journey at a glance
Together with your family, explore South Africa on this extraordinary 11-day philanthropic journey.
Your journey begins in &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, where you will have the captivating opportunity of tracking iconic wildlife, and the opportunity to engage with the locals on community excursions. This fascinating landscape is inhabited by an abundance of wildlife, including not only the Big Five but many rarer and less easily spotted species, including the elusive cheetah and scarce black rhino. Interact with the wonderfully diverse communities of KwaZulu-Natal that fringe the reserve and admire the significant value that they bring to caring for the land. Gain first-hand knowledge of various projects, aimed at improving education, healthcare and access to water. At an additional rate, participate in a rhino experience and play an active role in rhino conservation.
The next leg of your journey takes you to the Cape Winelands, which boasts more than its fair share of magnificent natural beauty, cultural marvels, and historical sites. Here, you can interact with the locals on an authentic day tour, angled at any particular philanthropic interests.
Your journey culminates on the whale coast, passing through the gorgeous town of Hermanus, flanked by majestic mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. This charming town offers unparalleled views of breaching whales and tranquil adventures including hiking. Meet future conservation leaders positively contributing to the region’s unique biodiversity at the Green Futures College on Grootbos Private Nature Reserve. Delve into the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary, and splurge on a whale watching trip (seasonal), where conservationists will have a chance to showcase their marine conservation initiatives along South Africa’s magnificent coastline.
3 nights Phinda Private Game Reserve | 4 nights Cape Winelands | 3 nights Whale Coast
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A taste of what to expect…
Day 1 | Arrival
Phinda Private Game Reserve
&Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge
- Upon arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, you will be met by a Menzies Aviation representative and assisted through customs and immigration. You will then be assisted with check in procedures for your onward flight to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, followed by a shuttle flight to Phinda Airfield.
- A private family safari is planned for the duration of your stay at Phinda Private Game Reserve at Phinda Mountain Lodge. Designed for families with children who are wanting to experience the wonders of the African bush together, each safari is planned with the guide considering the children’s ages, their interests, the family’s preferences, and fun seasonal activities available.
- Phinda Private Game Reserve is home to a magnificent variety of wildlife, including the entire Big Five, but is best known for its large population of the elegant cheetah and the endangered black rhino. The rare sand forest is home to the shy suni and the rare red duiker, two tiny antelope that are seldom encountered elsewhere.
- Spend your days exploring your beautiful, lush surroundings and delight in your superb welcome to the bush with a riveting game drive.
Day 2
- After a mouth-watering breakfast you will embark on a Wild Impact* community visit (*formerly known as Africa Foundation) and Zulu Village visit. Please note this visit is not available on school or public holidays, and only possible on weekdays.
Community visit
- A community visit offers insight into the everyday lives of community members as well as the difficulties they may face. You will also gain first-hand experience of the remarkable work done by Wild Impact.
- The Khulani Special School was created by two concerned community members to meet the needs of children with disabilities living within the communities of Mduku, Mnqobokazi and Nibela, who previously had to travel over 150 km (93 mi) to the nearest formal special needs school.
- The Mduku Clinic was built by Africa Foundation in 1995, before which the closest hospital was 70 kilometres away and the only access to a nurse was a mobile clinic that visited the community once a fortnight. Now up to 42 000 patients visit the clinic annually and the facility provides emergency care, treatment of chronic diseases and a wing dedicated to the healthcare of women and children.
- Nkomo Full Service Primary School was formed in 1997 by stalwart teacher Nomusa Zikhali, who used to teach 60 children under the shade of trees. Now, Nkomo is a full-service primary school with more than 20 classrooms and over 1 000 pupils.
- Should you wish to make a contribution to any of these incredible initiatives it will go a long way in making a meaningful difference in the lives of the many people living in the rural communities surrounding &Beyond’s lodges. The Wild Impact Programme Officers can guide you on which projects are most in need of funding.
Zulu Village Visit
- Located just outside Phinda Private Game Reserve, on this village visit you will have the opportunity to interact with the friendly people of KwaZulu-Natal. A Bantu tribal group, the Zulu are the largest ethnic group in South Africa. A local &Beyond guide will escort you through the community and share interesting insights and narratives about Zulu culture and its fascinating customs, beliefs, and traditions.
- You will be invited into a traditional Zulu homestead and given the rare opportunity to witness the daily routines and lifestyle of an authentic, rural Zulu family where eons of tradition intersect with modern life. Learn about the family structures, patriarchal duties, and matriarchal responsibilities of the tribe, find out how local homes are constructed and why cattle are so valuable and highly revered. Spend time with the respected local sangoma, a witch doctor and traditional healer, who will explain the significance of the ancestors in Zulu life, as well as the tribe’s spiritual beliefs and the importance of their sacred lands.
- The adventure ends with a quick stop at the Mbhedula Craft Market, where the beautiful handiwork and art of 43 Zulu crafters is showcased. It’s a great place to find that perfect souvenir of your time with the Zulu people.
Day 3
- After breakfast, it’s time to hit the beach!
- The vast sandy beaches of the Maputaland coastline provide a beautiful setting for this half-day beach outing. There is ample time for guests to soak up the sun, splash in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, relax with a good book, play beach games such as bat and ball, take leisurely walks along the shoreline, or snorkel alongside Jesser Point (a protected marine reserve) with its diverse and colourful marine life.
Day 4
Franschhoek
Babylonstoren
- After on last breakfast at the lodge, you will be transferred to the airport for your shuttle flight from Phinda Private Game Reserve to Nelspruit Airport, followed by a connection flight to Cape Town.
- Upon arrival at Cape Town International Airport, you will make your own way to the arrivals hall, where you will be welcomed by a member from the &Beyond team, who will drive you through the picturesque Cape Winelands to tranquil Franschhoek, where you will spend the next four nights at Babylonstoren.
- Set against a stunning backdrop and surrounded by the Simonsberg, Drakenstein and Paarl Mountains, Babylonstoren resembles a quaint village of days gone by. You can look forward to exploring one of the most beautiful and famous winelands districts in the world. A discovery of top-class wines, locally produced cheeses, olives and much more awaits you.
- The picturesque town of Franschhoek is situated in a lush valley tightly hemmed in by spectacular mountains. Impressive vineyards and homesteads blanket the exquisite landscape with many still bearing their original French names. Renowned as the gourmet capital of South Africa, Franschhoek is famous not only for its magnificent wineries and beautiful scenery but also for the excellent restaurants that line its quaint streets.
- Your stay at Babylonstoren includes a water buffalo tour to Rietvlei, full access to the garden at all times, guided garden tours and farm walk, cycling and canoeing or rowing on the farm dam, fishing and fly-fishing, mountain drive (for a 2-night stay and longer), daily stretch and breathing sessions at Babylonstoren Balance, bread baking with bakers, cellar tour and wine tasting, olive oil and balsamic vinegar tour, a special treasure hunt for young guests and essential oil tour.
Day 5
- Today combines wine tasting for the adults with a range of activities designed to keep the children happy on this family tour of the picturesque Cape Winelands*.
- Kick off the day at the Spice Route Winery, where you can indulge your taste buds with wine and beer tasting while younger guests sample the local chocolate and biltong. A glass-blowing shop provides fascinating artistic displays, while the wide lawns offer the ideal place for children to play.
- The next stop is Le Bonheur Crocodile Farm, where you will be taken on a tour of the crocodile ponds, which house more than a thousand of the reptiles. Young guests will be delighted with the opportunity to touch a baby crocodile and, in summer months, will also be able to witness the daily feeding.
- The day ends at Pigcasso, expect to be overwhelmed with solitude – this is a sanctuary, after all. Meet everyone’s ‘second favourite’, resident cow ‘Balloo’ – and view the available artworks at the onsite OINK Gallery.
*Please note that the wine estates visited on this tour may be amended according to guests’ preferences.
Day 6
- After your scrumptious breakfast, your guide will pick you up for your half-day Uthando Tour*. Uthando is a Non-Profit Company focused on community upliftment and supporting many diverse types of projects.
- The Uthando Tour covers an extensive discussion on South African history, the legacy of Apartheid, political, social, economic, cultural and local issues. As Uthando is a Non-Profit Company focused on community upliftment, the core of our trips is taking people to visit interesting community development projects.
- We work with, support, and visit many different types of projects, for example day care / early learning centres, urban agricultural and environmental programmes, youth development / after school programmes where children are taught dance, music, sports etc., an old age project, animal care projects and many more.
- Visits depend on what projects are available on the day and tours are normally arranged the day before depending on availability of the projects. You will have the opportunity to visit three different community projects, where you can interact with the locals and find out about the inspiring work they are doing. The projects will showcase their work and lives to you.
- Explore day care, early learning centres, urban agricultural and environmental programmes, youth development or after school programmes where children are taught dance, music, sports etc., an old age project, animal care projects and many more.
*Only available on weekdays
Day 7
- After breakfast today you will explore the scenic city of Cape Town on a family adventure that begins with a ride on the revolving cable car up to the top of iconic Table Mountain. Marvel at spectacular views over the city and the entire Cape Peninsula as you stroll along its flat top or, if the weather is not favourable, explore the smaller peak known as Signal Hill.
- From here, travel to Company Gardens, set up in the 17th century as a fresh produce garden used to supply ships stopping in the harbour and now home to the SA Museum, Cultural History Museum, Houses of Parliament, National Gallery and St George’s Cathedral. Next, witness one of Cape Town’s oldest traditions as you head up to Signal Hill for the firing of the noonday gun. Taking place every day except Sundays, this involves the firing of the world’s oldest cannons charged by gunpowder that are still in daily use. Originally intended to provide a time signal for ships anchored in the bay, this maritime tradition continues to this day.
- Next, you will visit the traditional Malay Quarter, situated in the predominantly Muslim Bo-Kaap. Admire the area’s brightly coloured houses, which date back as far as the 17th century and get a glimpse into one of the Cape’s many vibrant cultures. The day’s adventure ends at the V&A Waterfront, with an opportunity to explore the Two Oceans Aquarium, which houses one of the best marine collections in the world. The Aquarium showcases the variety of marine species that live in both the Indian and the Atlantic Oceans, with a number of exhibits designed especially to provide up-close, interactive experiences for children. Once you have explored to your heart’s content, enjoy lunch at one of the many popular restaurants at the Waterfront.
Day 8
Whale Coast
Grootbos Private Nature Reserve Garden Lodge
- After breakfast, a member from the &Beyond team will collect you from Babylonstoren and transfer you Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, where you will be staying at the Garden Lodge, one of the Grootbos Villas for the next three nights.
- Your stay includes a wide variety of exciting experiences for the whole family including:
- Horseback riding through the reserve
- Botanical fynbos hikes at the reserve
- Milkwood forest walks
- 4×4 flower safaris
- Coastal drives with seasonal land-based whale watching (July – December)
- Beach picnics
- Ancient Klipgat Cave and Walker Bay nature reserve beach excursions
- Birdwatching
- Self-guided walks
- Children’s activities like treasure hunts, pony rides and arts & crafts
Day 9
- Today, you can visit the Grootbos Green Futures Horticulture and Life Skills College.
- Established in 2003, the Green Futures Horticulture and Life Skills College provides educational training to 8 – 12 unemployed young adults each year. The aim is to give the student candidates the skills and confidence necessary to market themselves and become employable, while at the same time contributing to the conservation and promotion of our region’s unique biodiversity.
- The fully accredited (AGRISeta) course combines essential life skills like personal finance, business skills, computers, driving and health education with knowledge of environmental and conservation issues, and skills of horticulture and landscaping.
- On completion of their course, the students are awarded a nationally (SETA) accredited certificate in horticulture and are assisted in work placement. Successful students can also apply for a second year of tuition in (FGASA) field guiding level 1.
- Since its inception, over 158 young people have graduated, and more than 90% of graduates have found employment on completion of the course.
Day 10
- Today, set off for an exhilarating ocean experience, season dependent:
Eco Marine Trip: Morning activity (January to May)
This 1-to-2-hour journey takes the whole family to Dyer Island and the adjacent coast where dolphin are frequently seen. At Dyer Island, look for interesting sea birds such as African penguins, terns, cormorants, petrels, and oystercatchers. A narrow channel known as Shark Alley separates Dyer Island and Geyser Rock, home to a colony of 60,000 cape fur seals. This is a world-renowned location for marine life viewing and cage diving with great white sharks.
Whale Watching Trip: Morning activity (June – December)
The ultimate whale coast experience, these giants of the sea won’t be the only things you’ll see on this exceptional 2-hour hour adventure. Your boat will launch in the quaint harbour of Kleinbaai, in Gansbaai, which will make its way toward the Pearly Beach area — which is home to the southern right whale. Afterwards, you will venture towards renowned Dyer Island for excellent penguin and seabird viewing, and then to Geyser Rock to view the curious antics of cape fur seals. Between these two islands is the notorious shark alley where you may be fortunate enough to view the spectacular great white shark.
African Seabird and Penguin Sanctuary: Afternoon activity
The African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary (APSS)* is a Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) project based in Gansbaai. A state of the art facility, designed and built by passionate experts, that strives to provide local marine avian species with a local rehabilitative centre where injured, diseased or distressed birds can be treated and rehabilitated. Although the facility was purpose built for rehabilitation of marine birds, it also caters for creating awareness around the perils marine birds face out in the wild. An Auditorium equipped with a big screen TV, which is linked up to the Rehabilitation area and the Bird Hospital, enables guests who visit the facility to see what is being done behind the scenes. This prevents added stress on the birds in rehabilitation by minimizing the amount of people allowed in the critical areas. The Auditorium has one way glass overlooking the Conditioning Pen – where visitors can watch birds in final preparation for release without any disturbance or interference. The greatest care is taken with cleanliness and special flooring Is used in the rehabilitation area to avoid a condition called bumblefoot that penguins are susceptible to. A curio shop selling penguin curios is on site. Coffee and cake is available. All purchases in this regard help support the sanctuary.
*Entrance is free. The sanctuary depends heavily on donations and a sponsorship brick can be purchased to contribute to the centre with tiered levels of support.
Day 11 | Departure
- After breakfast, you will be collected from Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and driven to Cape Town International Airport (an approximate 3-hour drive), where a Menzies Aviation representative will assist you through customs and immigration and onto your international departure flight.
- It is officially time to bid South Africa a final farewell.
Rates
Per person sharing for 10 nights and 11 days
What's included
- Accommodation as specified in the itinerary
- Meals, drinks, and laundry as specified in the itinerary
- Scheduled private charter flights as specified in the itinerary
- Private transfers as specified in the itinerary
- Private and scheduled sightseeing and excursions as specified in the itinerary
- Scheduled private safari game viewing experiences as specified in the itinerary
- National parks, concession, and landing fees, where applicable
- Munywana Conservancy Fee, arrival by car and air - per person conservation fee
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance
- Domestic / International departure tax, fuel and safety levies from airports and airstrips, unless otherwise stipulated
- Oceans Without Borders donation
- Global Concierge Service
- Personal Travel Wallet
- Children's Safari Pack
- Administration fees
What's not included
- Travel Insurance - should you be interested we can introduce you to our recommended partners
Conditions
- The prices are based on two adults and two children under the age of 12 years sharing in a family unit
- The operator may re-route the itinerary or change the accommodation to similar hotels / lodges when and where required
- Wild Impact Community Trip: not on school or public holidays, and only possible on weekdays
- Uthando Private Tour: only possible on weekdays
- The following activities are seasonal:
- Eco Marine Trip (morning activity) January to May and Whale Watching Trip (morning activity) June to December
- The Table Mountain Cable Way will be closed for its annual maintenance from around 15 July to around 1 September (exact dates have not been finalised for 2025)
- Fares for internal / regional flights as quoted are subject to change and will be re-quoted at the time of booking request
- Important luggage restriction on Federal Airlines: 20 kg (44 lbs) in soft bags with one flat side; max dimensions: 40 cm (16 in) x 30 cm (12 in) x 60 cm (24 in)
- A single traveller supplement will be quoted on request
- The estimated rates for 2026 are provided, with the understanding that inclusions and room categories may change. Final costs are also subject to adjustments and will require a quote upon request.
- Validity periods are as specified above; should a booking fall over two rate periods the rate will change and we reserve the right to re-quote
- The rates quoted are subject to change without warning if there are any increases in bed levies, park fees, fuel, ROE, sales tax or VAT, third-party services or any other circumstances beyond our control
- Rates exclude gratuities and all items of a personal nature
- Rates are subject to currency fluctuations
- &Beyond Trading Terms apply
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