The Ramey Family of five from Ardmore, PA, recently embarked on a memorable journey to Southern Africa.  The family group spanned three generations from ages 18 to 80! Their adventure began in Cape Town, South Africa, where their college-aged son was preparing to start a semester abroad. Despite a day’s delay and the last minute need to rebook some tours due to a United flight cancellation, the family soon settled into Blackheath Lodge, a charming boutique hotel in the Sea Point neighborhood of Cape Town. They described their three-night stay as cozy and welcoming, with excellent service and delicious food.

During their time in Cape Town, the family enjoyed several guided tours, including a half-day city tour with a visit to Table Mountain and the city’s historical neighborhoods, a half-day wine tour in the beautiful Stellenbosch region, and a full-day tour of the Cape Peninsula region. They were particularly impressed with one of their guides, who was not only warm and knowledgeable but also flexible with their tour changes and some rain.  She even kindly offered to assist their son during his stay.

From Cape Town, the family flew north to Kruger National Park for a three-night stay at Lukimbi, a private game reserve. The family raved about their safari experience, highlighting the outstanding customer service and the comfort provided by the rangers and guides. They especially enjoyed a special outdoor dinner on their last night at the reserve.

After their time in Kruger, their son returned to Cape Town, while the rest of the family continued their trip by traveling north to Victoria Falls for a three-night stay. They found their accommodations at Insika Lodge on the Zimbabwe side of the falls to be beautiful, though they noted some shortcomings in service and limited food options. Here they explored the falls (the world’s largest sheet of falling water!), took a sunset cruise, and enjoyed a bike tour to explore the area.

The trip concluded in Botswana with a second safari experience along the waters of the Okavango Delta. Their stay at the tented Saguni Safari Lodge offered busy days, excellent service, and a uniquely different safari experience. The family was thrilled to have followed our recommendation to do two safaris, as they encountered a wider variety of animals and had particularly close encounters at Saguni.

Overall, this once-in-a-lifetime trip was a diverse and enriching experience for the entire family, filled with unforgettable moments and connections across Southern Africa.