Months later, our kids still talk about the penguins and the suspension bridge. Well planned family itinerary with enough variety to keep both adults and children engaged throughout.

Best family trip in years, penguins at Boulders Beach stole the show for our children.

Destinations themselves were wonderful but the drive time between Knysna and Cape Town was brutal with restless children in the backseat. Checkin at our Johannesburg stop was also painfully slow, nearly an hour standing at the desk after a long travel day.

Good variety of wildlife, nature and history packed into seven nights for a family. Long stretches of driving with kids in the back between Cape Town stops got a bit tiring by the end though.

Loved it all, but the long drives between the Cape Town stops left the kids restless by the end.

Having elders along didn't slow things down at all, everyone found something to love on this trip. Cape of Good Hope's dramatic cliffs and wind had the kids running around excitedly. Tsitsikamma bridges over the gorge were a highlight for my husband especially. Soweto added a meaningful, quieter day amid all the adventure, my mother in law said it was her favourite part.