I speak on behalf of the whole group, who agrees that this trip was simply incredible:

I will never get over how awesome our first family trip to Africa (South Africa & Zimbabwe) has been. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but even pictures don’t do the beauty of these countries justice.

We were blessed to visit Cape Town, Kruger National Park, Victoria Falls, and Stellenbosch. I am grateful for each moment, and being able to experience them with 3 generations of my family, including my 4 year old son.

Part 1 – Cape Town, South Africa

From Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula to Robben Island (the prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 of the 27 years of his imprisonment) and the V&A Waterfront – Cape Town is majestic, and so full of history, culture, and resilience. This was a great city to start off our trip, and we ate WELL, including a 14 course dinner at Gold restaurant (each course highlighting a dish from a different Africa country). The interactive drum show was icing on the cake.

Part 2 – Kruger National Park, South Africa 🦒🐘🦁

The safari part of our journey was fascinating and fun. We saw so many animals in their natural habitat, including the Big 5! (leopard, lion, buffalo, elephant, rhino). The team at Xanatseni Private Camp were amazing, and their hospitality made us feel at home right away. They spoiled us…meals were delicious and they went above and beyond to make sure our experience was wonderful. Unforgettable.

Part 3 – Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe 🏞️

Victoria Falls was breathtaking. You could feel the spray from the power of the falls even before getting close to the falls. A gorgeous natural wonder of the world, and the videos speak for themselves.

We were later welcomed into a local village not far from the Falls, to experience their culture, and explore the connection to our own. The words of reflection from the village head were powerful, insightful, and inspiring. These types of interactions will stick with me, long after our trip. That afternoon, we were also treated to a home hosted lunch, in another community not far from the village. I tried foods I normally would never go for, and…it was a great meal. We are forever grateful for the hospitality shown to us by our Zimbabwe brothers and sisters.

And another dinner and Boma drum show later that night at our lodge. A fun way to wrap up our time in Zimbabwe.

Part 4 – Stellenbosch, South Africa 🍇⛰️☀️

Before heading back home, we got to spend a little time in Stellenbosch, which is part of the Cape Winelands, with acres and acres of charming vineyards. Picturesque views, delicious pizza and pasta, decadent chocolate and ice cream (again, we ate WELL) and endless shopping. A great bookend for our South Africa trip.

If you have ever considered visiting Africa, I encourage you: make it happen! Natalie Russell of the Travel Advisor was spectacular in making this dream of ours a reality. She was very in tune with our group’s interests and is extremely knowledgeable about the areas we visited. She took a lot of the stress that comes with trip planning away from us, which is exactly what you hope for in a travel agent. Natalie was patient and thorough in her communication, and she ensured that all of the logistics were taken care of, well ahead of our journey. There wasn’t a single part of our trip that wasn’t planned smoothly. Natalie’s ability to design a perfect holiday, tailor made to our group was impeccable. This trip far exceeded all expectations and gave us memories that will last a lifetime.

– Kandace , North Carolina, USA

(Travelled September 2023)