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vacation to South Africa
Whitney Heckathorne Plumpton, 3rd January 2023We could not have had a better family trip to South Africa! We are so excited to return, as are our kids.
Accommodation Visited
MalaMala Camp
“Mala Mala was absolutely sensational. Having a private vehicle with our five and seven year old was unbelievable. Our tour guide, Victoria, was brilliant with our kids and was so incredibly knowledgeable and patient. We couldn't have been luckier. The accommodations and menus were so luxe while being family-friendly. Worth every penny and we could have stayed much longer. I would highly recommend Mala Mala for young kids and families.”
One & Only Cape Town
“We have been fortunate to stay in lots of nice hotels in major cities; One & Only Cape Town was brilliant for our family! I was a little bit worried that the double queen room would not be quite large enough for four people and our luggage but the room was ample-sized and the bathroom was large as well. The breakfast every morning was sensational - I had never seen such a huge buffet or selection. My girls absolutely loved the pool and they ADORED the kids club. I just recommended the One & Only hotel to my cousin who is traveling for these reasons. We also had a babysitter for two nights through the hotel and she was wonderful and nurturing. My girls really liked her. Completely recommend this hotel for families looking for a luxe experience!”
Boschendal
“We were so spoiled at Mala Mala and the One & Only Cape Town that I fear we set our sights too high for Boschendal. We were wowed by the property and our accommodations but the customer service was less than stellar. Our room wasn't ready when we arrived, so we asked if they could store our luggage. They said yes, and when we came back to check in, it had been left in a lump by the door where anyone walking by could take it. Thankfully my husband had the wherewithal to take our passports with us. We had signed our kids up for the kid's program which started when we arrived before our room was ready. We didn't have our bearings at all and the woman checking us in vaguely waved us in the direction of where it was. So frustrating, as we didn't know our way around the property at all. When my husband and I went to lunch, the nicer restaurant said that all of their indoor dining was booked, so we would have to sit outdoors (there was no one inside the whole time). We had a lovely lunch but it was hot outside. When we were taken to our accommodations an hour after the check-in time, we found our unit did not have a phone for us to call the driver to take us to and from the winery, so I had to WhatsApp one of their drivers hoping he would be on call. We told everyone we encountered about the phone problem and no one seemed to be able to help us. That's dangerous in an emergency! All in all, it was a beautiful property, and the park there is well-suited for kids, but it just really lacked the gracious entertaining we loved at the other two properties.”
Staff Review
“Natasha was the most brilliant, perfectly-suited travel agent for planning our trip. We had LOTS (LOTSSSS!!!!!) of child-specific questions and requests and she answered the call of duty on all of them! She was prompt and easy to work with. I enjoyed planning with her for the year prior to our trip. THANK YOU, Natasha, for all of your dedication! We will absolutely use Mahlatini again - in fact, I've been eyeing a Kenyan/Seychelles family trip already! Massive thanks to everyone at Mahlatini for your wonderful planning!”
