Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Take 20,000 hectares of farmland. Restore it and restock it with wildlife. Overlap it with six biomes. Place it in an area that is malaria free and within a two-hour drive of a major airport, sun drenched coastline, and fun family attractions. Add the intrigue of a frontier land and wars between Dutch farmers, English settlers and Xhosa people. The result? A small gem. Kwandwe or place of the blue crane in Xhosa is an ideal safari destination for families that want more from their holiday that birding and wildlife viewing.
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History & Culture
Maps
Online maps are a great family travel planning resource and great way to get the kids involved in a family vacation. Use online maps of South Africa to pinpoint your family travel destination, identify points of interest and plan your itinerary. Map mountain ranges, national parks and game reserves. And use online maps to learn about the history, geography and politics of the land.
Books
Books are a great way to introduce younger children to a new adventure and get teens and tweens ready for a family trip. Find recommended reading lists for family travel to South Africa and, in addition to learning about the country and the people, discover wildlife and nature.
Music & Sound
Music is a great way to introduce children to a vacation destination and embark on a journey through sound. Listen to an elephant trumpet and a lion snarl and roar. Listen to bird sounds and bird songs. Learn to identify birdcalls. How many bird species can you identify by their sounds, songs and calls? Brush up before you depart and test your skills on a birdwatching trip. Which member of your family can identify the most?
Southern African Wildlife Sounds
The British Library Bird Sounds, Songs & Calls The British Library PBS Southern African Birding News
Local newspapers provide insight to local culture in a way books can't. Read South African newspapers online and brush up on South African current events. Get South African news and, in addition to discovering what South Africans are reading, find out what's happening.
Kids' Stuff
Online resources make learning lots of fun. Get fun facts about South Africa. Learn about conservation and wildlife. Play wildlife games online. Test your knowledge before you depart and again when you return. Print the information you find fascinating and take it with you on your family trip. Explain your findings to your family members and use the things you learn to make your travel scrapbook really cool.
Organizations
Associations and non-profit organizations can be a valuable resource as well as means to get involved. Learn more about the ongoing conservation efforts at the Madikwe Game Reserve. Find out more about a few of the organizations involved in wildlife conservation and the environment in South Africa.
Conservation & the Environment
Endangered Wildlife Trust Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa BirdLife South Africa |
Recommended Reads for Family Travel to South Africa