Tailor-made Vacation · South Africa
Family-Friendly South Africa Safari: Big Five & Beyond
Tailor-made, always
Every trip built from scratch around your dates, pace and preferences.
Your own specialist
One named person and a 24-hour number while you travel.
Hundreds of five-star reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot across ten years of LGBTQ+ luxury travel.
At a glance
Embark on an unforgettable luxury family safari in stunning South Africa. This carefully crafted 10-day itinerary takes you and your loved ones through the heart of South Africa's most renowned game reserves, offering an unparalleled opportunity to connect with nature and each other in the most luxurious settings.
Your adventure begins at the prestigious Chitwa Chitwa in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Here, the Charlsy Suite, designed specifically for families, becomes your haven of luxury amidst the wild. With two inter-leading en-suite rooms joined by a living area, a lake view deck, and a private swimming pool, it's the perfect base for your early morning and evening safaris.
Read more
Experienced rangers will take you on two safari drives per day, designed especially for families to ensure that every member, from the youngest to the oldest, is fully engaged and enriched by the experience.
The journey then leads you to Thornybush Game Lodge, a sanctuary for multigenerational families. You'll be staying at Kamara House, a private family villa that comes complete with your own private guide, tracker, and open-air safari vehicle, so you'll experience the wild like never before. The lodge also boasts a private plunge pool and an outside deck for intimate wildlife viewing.
The lodge offers tailor-made safaris each morning and evening, coupled with activities like guided bush walks, for a luxury safari vacation that's both thrilling and educational. On-site babysitters ensure that parents can enjoy some leisure time, knowing their children are in capable hands.
This luxury safari family vacation in South Africa promises an exciting journey where luxury meets adventure, creating lasting memories for your family. As the trip is fully customizable, you can add a stay in Cape Town to your itinerary, or even include a stop on the nearby island of Mauritius - just ask our luxury travel experts.
From the serene surroundings of Sabi Sands to the classic National Park of Kruger, every moment of this safari is tailored to offer the ultimate in family luxury travel, ensuring a South African vacation that will be talked about for generations.

Day by day
This is a sample plan, not a fixed departure. Days can be added, removed or reordered, and almost every client changes something. Prices are an entry-level guide; your quote will be exact.
Days 1-5: Chitwa Chitwa at Sabi Sands Game Reserve
Your adventure begins at Chitwa Chitwa in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, a haven of tranquility in the South African wilderness. The reserve warmly welcomes children of all ages, making it an ideal destination for family safari vacations – but it’s worth noting that only children aged 6 and up can go on safari drives. Stay in the exquisite Charlsy Suite, specifically designed for families, featuring two inter-leading en-suite rooms connected by a cozy living area. The suite offers a breathtaking lake view deck and a private swimming pool, ensuring privacy and relaxation for your family.
At Chitwa Chitwa, each day will start with an invigorating early morning safari, and end with a magical evening safari, both offering a chance to witness the African Big Five in their natural habitat. The safaris are perfect for children over six and are led by rangers who are skilled in engaging young explorers. Between safaris, you can uncover the secrets of the African bush on leisurely bush walks as a family.
Days 5-10 Thornybush Game Lodge
Continue your family safari in South Africa at Thornybush Game Lodge, renowned for catering to multigenerational families. Here, children aged 6 and up are welcome on safari drives, the same as at Chitwa Chitwa. Your accommodation, the Kamara House, is a private two-bedroom family safari villa offering a private plunge pool as well as your own personal guide, tracker, and open-air safari vehicle. For larger families, two adjacent suites are also available.
Each day you’ll enjoy both a morning and evening safari, which are both customized to suit your children’s interests and attention spans. Children at Thornybush can also engage in guided bush walks just for kids, focusing on insects and plants, and learning bush skills. Little ones will delight in baking classes, where they can make biscuits to share with the adults at tea time. Babysitters and childminders are also available on-site, allowing parents to enjoy some relaxation time, knowing their children are in safe hands.
Our Experts
There's no better way to appreciate the natural world than by taking part in a South African safari. You'll have the chance to see the Big Five whilst never compromising when it comes to luxury.
The cosmopolitan hub of Cape Town is often overlooked as a fantastic travel destination. It has a palpably vibrant character and a flourishing food scene. I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to experience something completely different.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
Similar trips
Gay Group Trip: Cape Town to Botswana Safari
Group TripExperience the headline-act version of Southern Africa on this tailor-made nine-day LGBTQ+ safari itinerary, moving from Cape Town through Victoria Falls into Botswana's Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta. Three countries, four distinctly different stops and a hotel collection that anchors the trip at the right level for a couple ready to spend on the right places.
9 days group departure from $9,900 per person View trip
Discover KwaZulu-Natal: Bush, Beach & Culture
Tailor-made VacationWelcome to South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal - a region where golden beaches, wildlife-filled wetlands, and mountain kingdoms come together in one remarkable province. This curated 11-day itinerary invites you to slow down, reconnect, and experience the rich natural and cultural heritage that makes this part of the world truly unforgettable.
11 days tailor-made from $10,465 per person View trip
Exclusive South Africa Safari: Kruger Big Five & Tswalu Kalahari Adventure
Tailor-made VacationDiscover two of South Africa’s most extraordinary gay-friendly safari destinations on this highly exclusive journey, combining the legendary wildlife of Greater Kruger with the raw, untamed beauty of the Kalahari. Your curated 10-day adventure begins in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. Here, the Big Five roam free and intimate lodges bring the bush to your doorstep.
10 days tailor-made from $25,160 per person View tripYour personal travel specialist, from the first conversation to the flight home.
Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specializing in tailor-made vacations and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury vacations, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalized experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with traveling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveler, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalized service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ vacations?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalized itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travelers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of traveling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first inquiry to homecoming. No call center, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.