South Africa with Kids: A Family Safari Adventure

July 22, 2025

South Africa with Kids: A Family Safari Adventure

Johannesburg → Port Elizabeth → Shamwari → Mhondoro → Home

Tinsley (6), Indie (8 months), and a crew of 7 adventurers chasing wildlife, sunsets, and memories.

Let me start by saying this: If you’ve ever dreamed about taking your kids on safari, do it. It’s not easy. It’s not convenient. But it’s unforgettable. And more than worth it.

We just returned from 10 days in South Africa and I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything we saw, experienced, and learned. It was wild (literally), and it was beautiful. Here’s a peek inside our trip, what we packed, where we stayed, and what we’d do differently next time — so you can plan your own family safari with confidence.

The Crew + Itinerary

Who came:
Me (Dakri), my husband Broc, our two girls — Tinsley (6) and Indie (8 months), my parents (the best grandparents in the world), and our friend Laura (a travel MVP 🙌).

Original Itinerary:

April 22: Fly into Johannesburg
April 23: Fly to Port Elizabeth, drive to Shamwari (3 nights)
April 26: Fly back to Joburg, overnight
April 27: Drive to Mhondoro in Welgevonden Game Reserve (3 nights)
April 30: Return to Johannesburg, fly home May 2

What we actually did:

We skipped the Joburg overnight and stayed an extra night at Shamwari (bliss), then powered through a big travel day to get to Mhondoro. No regrets — more time in nature, less time at airport hotels. Being in the big city/ packing and unpacking wasn’t ideal for us.

Where We Stayed

Shamwari Private Game Reserve – Riverdene Lodge

If you’re looking for a family-friendly safari lodge — this is it. Riverdene was everything we hoped for and more.

On-site childcare (Indie loved it — and so did the staff!) Let me be real, I’m the last person to leave my child at a place I just arrived at, but the staff here was amazing. All smiles all the way around.
Playground, zipline, and playmates for Tinsley
Fully fenced lodge area = peace of mind with littles
Game drives for age 4+ with safety top of mind
Our guide, Raymond, made Tinsley feel so included — with animal magnets, binoculars, and endless knowledge about the wildlife.

We saw an incredible variety of animals — lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras — and the whole staff treated us like family. Shamwari is located in a malaria-free area and is known for its biodiversity. It’s truly a unicorn of game reserves.

If you’re traveling with kids and want luxury, safety, and adventure — go here.

Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa – Welgevonden Game Reserve

This place felt like a luxury dream — and the villa life with grandparents + kids was perfection.

Private villa with chef, butler, housekeeping
Private pool, gym, and in-villa spa treatments
Unreal food (we’re pretty sure we all gained 5 lbs 😂)
Animal watching from the deck + underground watering hole
Open-air sunset drinks, golden hour pool hangs, and epic views

BTW, the guides don’t carry rifles, and babies are allowed on game drives. That combo made us a little nervous during a few close encounters — something to keep in mind when choosing your reserve.

What We Packed (and Loved)

We packed smart — and relied heavily on these travel MVPs:

🔗 Adult Travel Must-Haves
🔗 Beauty Must-Haves
🔗 Big Kid Travel Must-Haves
🔗 Baby Travel Must-Haves

Standouts:

Doona stroller – foldable, packable, saved our backs. And honestly, this is just an every day essential for our family. We’ve used it for multiple kids and tons of trips.
TACH Luggage – absolute game-changer for 4 checked bags + 2 adults.
VRURC portable charger – charged all the things, multiple times.
Jettle – baby bottle hero for heating water anywhere.
Packing cubes – kept the chaos manageable.

What We’d Tell Other Families

We learned a lot — here’s what we’d share if you’re planning something similar:

Ask about safari safety: Do the guides carry rifles? What ages are allowed on game drives? What are the lodge’s safety policies for children?
Childcare = sanity: Shamwari’s childcare made all the difference. Look for lodges that support both adventure and downtime.
Travel support matters: Working with 🔗 Safari Frank was the best decision. They customized our itinerary for kids, kept us in malaria-free zones, and coordinated every detail.
Flight deals are possible: 🔗 Flight King (ask for Dennis!) got us sweet discounts on United Polaris and even checked us in. Game-changer.
Consider travel time: Many game reserves are far from airports. Look into lodges with private airstrips — but check weight limits for luggage.
Jet lag is real: Indie had no concept of time zones. It took 3 days for her to adjust. Be gentle with yourselves.
Bring backup help: We brought grandparents + a friend. Total lifesavers. You’ll want extra hands when wrangling babies and binoculars.

Favorite Memories

🍹 Sunset drinks by the land cruiser at Mhondoro — relaxed and glowing.
🦁 A male lion walking right past our vehicle at Shamwari — goosebumps.
👯‍♀️ Golden hour pool time with the girls in matching swimsuits.
🐘 Tinsley watching a herd of elephants, completely in awe.
💛 Every moment we were off-grid and together.

Final Thoughts

Traveling to South Africa with two kids, grandparents, and a whole lot of gear wasn’t easy — but it was worth it. We slowed down, looked up, stayed curious, and soaked in a trip that we’ll talk about forever.

If you’re thinking about taking your family on safari, let this be your sign.

You’ll never forget the way your child’s face lights up at the sight of a lion.
And neither will they.

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Let me know if you have questions about our trip or need help planning yours! You can always DM us on Instagram @rootedwithrize or comment below!

🌍 With love and wild hearts,
Dakri