GETTING THERE
Delta flies direct to Cape Town via New York City's JFK International Airport (the flight time is about 19 hours). You can also break up the trip by stopping over in London for a few days.
Getting Around
Cape Town sprawls over more than 900 square miles, but you'll want to stick to the compact downtown (the City Bowl), the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, and the Riviera-like beaches of Clifton or Camp's Bay. Take taxis between neighborhoods, then explore on foot. If you want to see a lot in a little time or venture outside Cape Town, hire a (surprisingly affordable) guide like Hazel Viljoen, the best friend a family can have in South Africa. Renting a car is inexpensive, but keep in mind that the country follows the British model of driving on the left. Hazel Viljoen: $280 a day, including meals and refreshments; Kidfriendlysa.
WHERE TO STAY
Cape Grace Hotel
This 121-room hotel is all about ease: It has a prime location right on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a thoughtful staff, a rooftop pool, and many amenities for children (a welcome pack, storytelling hours, decent kids' menus). Rooms are comfortable, big, and elegant, if a tad corporate. From about $500 a night for a double room that can accommodate a cot or a crib; Cape Town.
KwandweThe reserve is reached via a one-hour flight from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth and a two-hour drive through farmlands; arrange to be picked up through the lodge. Accommodations range from suites in the Ecca Lodge, each of which—with a bedroom and a sitting room with pull-out sofas—can handle two adults and at least two kids. Or you can be the masters of your own four-bedroom lodge at Melton Manor. From about $500 a night for an Ecca Lodge suite to about $4,400 a night for Melton Manor (which includes private game drives, laundry service, babysitters, three meals a day, copious snacks, and all drinks).
WHERE TO EAT
South African cuisine is as varied as its culture, with dishes from the Dutch (boerewors sausage) and the indigenous Africans (corn porridge, sheep's head). The seafood is amazing—if you see geelbek (salmon) on a menu, order it!
Africa CaféKids will love the colorful and recycled decor at this pan-African restaurant. The predinner hand-washing ritual with lemon water feels like a mini spa treatment, and even picky eaters will find something they like during the communal feast. Cape Town.
Olympia Café and BakeryLocal families love the Olympia, just outside Cape Town, for its laid-back atmosphere and its fresh fare, like salmon with mashed potatoes. Kalk's Bay, (0) 21-788-6396.
Kalky's Fish and ChipsRight at the wharf where the boats come in, Kalky's fries up the daily catch and serves it in paper. Kalk's Bay, (0) 21-788-1726.
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