Safari experts & storytellers. Since 1991
Family Big 5 luxury safari, malaria-free
From ZAR 549,000 per person sharing (9 days)
Trust us to find you the rarest animals, the most spectacular wildlife events, the remotest landscapes and deeply meaningful cultural encounters!
A family-friendly journey to two of South Africa’s most beautiful malaria-free Big 5 wilderness reserves — from the sweeping plains of Kwandwe in the Eastern Cape to the red sandstone mountains of Marataba in the Waterberg.
Stay in luxurious, authentic farmhouse-style lodges and spend your days exploring, learning and marvelling at how quickly nature rebounds when given time and space. Enjoy plenty of child-friendly activities that foster a sense of connection to nature and a sense of travelling with purpose and leaving a legacy.
A safari investment in your child's future
Highlights
Family-friendly safari: Enjoy flexible safari schedules, child-friendly guides, and fun, educational activities designed for young explorers.
Beautiful lodges designed for families, combining private villas and vehicles with contemporary comfort and panoramic wilderness views.
Find the Big Five and much more while exploring two contrasting wildernesses — the rewilded plains of Kwandwe and the rugged cliffs of Marataba.
Scenic helicopter and aeroplane transfers ensure a seamless holiday.
Travel with purpose: each stay directly supports conservation and community initiatives safeguarding these landscapes for the future.
Malaria-free safari: Travel with peace of mind in pristine, malaria-free reserves — ideal for families and multi-generational travel.
Locations
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: A private reserve with a proud record of rehabilitation from farmland to restored wildlands, Kwandwe straddles the Great Fish River and covers 300km² (30,000 hectares). This region of the Eastern Cape is topographically dramatic and picturesque and boasts high levels of biodiversity. Kwandwe hosts the Big Five (black & white rhino, elephant, lion, buffalo and leopard), cheetah, brown hyena, hippopotamus, kudu, springbok, eland, red hartebeest, giraffe, black wildebeest and gemsbok. Nocturnal species such as aardwolf, aardvark, caracal, bat-eared fox and porcupine are regularly seen.
Marataba is a private reserve sharing an unfenced boundary with Marakele National Park. This wonderfully varied landscape supports a wide range of wildlife, including the Big Five and a globally significant population of white and black rhinos. The area's backdrop is the magnificent Waterberg Massif, the 3-billion-year-old mountain range that looms over the vast plains that stretch all the way into the Kalahari system of Botswana. Over the millennia, the Matlabas River has carved dramatic gorges through the terrain, in which painted rock faces still hold the secrets of an ancient way of life.
Lodges
4 nights at Ecca Lodge (Kwandwe Private Game Reserve). Vibrant, contemporary and family-friendly, Ecca Lodge blends stone, glass and bold design with panoramic views over the stunning Great Fish River Valley. Each luxury suite features an expansive deck and private plunge pool, creating a relaxed and welcoming base for family safaris and fireside evenings.
4 nights at Marataba Safari Lodge (Marataba, Marakele National Park). Tucked beneath red sandstone hills, Marataba Safari Lodge offers luxury family tents that combine contemporary comfort with a sense of wilderness. Each tent features a private deck overlooking the plains, with game drives, guided walks and riverside picnics bringing the landscape to life.
Timing
The best time to experience this epic family safari is during South Africa’s warmer, drier months, from September to May, when wildlife is active, and conditions are comfortable for children.
Spring (September to October) and autumn (March to April) offer particularly pleasant temperatures and clear skies, making them ideal for both game drives and relaxation.
Mid-winter (June to August) can be cold in the Eastern Cape, with chilly mornings and evenings, making it better suited to adult travellers than young families.
Price per person sharing
8 nights (9 days) | ||
Low season | May to Sep & Nov 2026 | from ZAR 549,000 |
High season | Jan to Apr & Oct 2026 | from ZAR 645,000 |
Includes: All flights - Johannesburg to Gqeberha return, return helicopter transfers between Gqeberha and Kwandwe, return charter flights Johannesburg to Marataba, luxury accommodation including all meals and local beverages, scheduled safari activities including game drives, bush walks, various outdoor dining experiences, Kids’ adventure safari club, park and conservation levies, guest conservation contributions, and 24/7 logistical support.
Excludes: International flights, entry visas and airport taxes, tips and gratuities, personal expenses and optional activities not specified, and mandatory travel and medical insurance.
Thank you!
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
“Wild kids!”
Our destination expert, Nadia Lautenbach, says, “As a mother of two boys, this is the kind of safari I’d take them on—flying between Kwandwe and Marataba keeps everything easy, fun, and full of those wild moments kids get completely swept up in.”
“Amazing biodiversity”
Stefan Winterboer, AG luxury safari expert: “Sitting in the Waterberg Biosphere, Marataba’s dramatic landscapes and biodiversity are exceptional. At Kwandwe, expect an exclusive, polished Big 5 experience, and to top it off, it allows for easy access to Garden Route highlights”
“Conservation in action”
Our expert travel assistant, Amanda Gallizio, says, “Consider adding on Kwandwe’s rhino conservation experience - it’s one of those rare, heart-thumping experiences where you’re not just watching conservation happen, you’re part of it.”
Safari planning
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Family Big 5 safari, malaria-free
Tell us about your dream trip - our travel experts will craft a no-obligation itinerary just for you. We have crafted over 5,000 safaris since 1991. Your personal details are protected; we only use this information to contact you.
Why choose us to craft your safari?
Handcrafted experiential safaris since 1991.
Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
Trust & Safety
Guest payments go into a third-party TRUST ACCOUNT - protecting them in the unlikely event of a financial setback on our part. Also, we are members of SATSA who attest to our integrity, legal compliance and financial stability.
Make a difference
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
YOUR safari choice does make a difference - thank you!