South Africa with a 7 month old

[serenfach1]

When I was pregnant we were invited to a good friend's wedding in South Africa so we booked flights to spend 3 weeks there during Easter 2020. LO will be 7 months when we fly out. There are pre and post wedding plans in Stellenbosch for around 5 days in week 2. Either side of that we're working out what to do. We really want to go on safari before we fly home out of Johannesburg as we know there are great reserves up that way. We think we'll book a place with a nursery but tbh the idea of leaving him makes me anxious and sad. I'd rather DH went out on one day and me the other so LO isn't left alone. We also thought we'd do a road trip along the Garden Route in the first 9 days but I think that'll to be too much toing and froing for us to handle with a baby. I think it'll be more relaxing if we find a base in Cape Town for 9 days and do day trips from there. Freaking out slightly at the enormity of it all and slightly regretting booking it but it's such a once in a lifetime opportunity we just had to go for it. Just think I need some reassurance that we're not crazy for doing this and would welcome any tips and advice from those in the know!
Here's my proposed itinerary
1/4 arrive in Johannesburg, fly straight to Cape Town and hire car
2/4 to 11/4 Cape Town base with day trips out
12/4 to 17/4 drive to Stellenbosch for wedding
17/4 back to Cape Town, return car, fly back to JNB, hire car and drive to safari resort
17/4 to 20/4 safari
21/4 drive back to JNB, return car, fly home

I don't have any suggestions as I've never been there but I defiantly wouldn't consider leaving the baby with anyone there especially since South Africa is quite dangerous compared to some African countries

especially since South Africa is quite dangerous compared to some african countries

we travel to SA alot, and have done for years ( i'm south african). i've even gone by myself with a two yr and a 3 month old... !

i think you're right to be weary of doing a lot of driving/ flying around.
wonder whether you should flip your schedule and plan a
(2-3day?)safari when you arrive. South Africa's most famous safari park, Kruger National, is in the vicinity of Johannesburg.

Then travel to Cape Town/ western cape, via the Garden Route (you can fly to George airport from Johannesburg.) George is an hour max drive away from Knysna/ the wild coast, which is a beautiful area with plenty to do and see, but not so much that you'd feel rushed about.

You could plan everything so that you arrive in Stellenbosh for the wedding and activities.
Then head to Cape Town after the holiday - btw stellenbosch is only a 45min drive from cape town central- and end your holiday there. Then fly back to Jhb etc.

HTH.

i meant head to cape town after the wedding... not holiday!

I’ve done SA and safaris there several times, in laws still live there. I wouldn’t take a 7 month old on safari, in fact my SA dh would think it was madness! Game drives are long and slow and baby isn’t going to sleep the whole day. Also game parks are often in malarial areas.
I would forget all about safari and do Cape Town and Stellenbosch.

We went to SA when ds was 5 months. Had the best holiday ever.
We hired a car and did our own thing. Best bit was being based on a farm in Stellenbosch. I'd stick to smaller game reserves that you can self drive. And there is loads to do without big game drives. we took the baby carrier and did loads of walking along the coast.

Not sure if OP is coming back but I think Thegrumpallo's suggestions are good. I'd also consider safari somewhere like the Pilanesberg which is closer to joburg. You could stay in Sun City and just do a few morning drive safaris in which case you could either take the baby and plan shorter drives - 2 - 3 hours, or as you suggest, take turns. Sun City is fabulously family friend so the rest of the time you'd have plenty to do.

You could also look at Safari in the Eastern Cape while doing the garden route. I don't know the safari places there but there are plenty around and a bit of research would get you some options. Allowing yo to break up the drive down to/up from Cape Town.

This comment: I don't have any suggestions as I've never been there but I defiantly wouldn't consider leaving the baby with anyone there especially since South Africa is quite dangerous compared to some African countries is completely ridiculous. If you haven't been there, comments like this are unhelpful and a bit vague. having said that, I'd be hesitant about leaving my 7 month old in any kind of nursery environment on an ad hoc basis, in any country so I do agree doing this is not a great idea.

Thanks so much everyone! I didn't realise people had replied and I gave up checking back. Can you turn alerts on?
I'll check out Sun City. It sounds perfect for our needs!

The comment about not leaving kids has reminded me of when ds1 got a bit grumpy in a lovely restaurant in Stellenbosch and one of the waitresses took him off for 15 mins to let us eat in peace. She was lovely!