Journeys · South Africa
Links & Big Five
True coastal links golf at St Francis, the gentle canals of the 'little Venice' village, and Shamwari's celebrated malaria-free reserve — perfect for travelling families.
Highlights
- St Francis Links — Nicklaus's wild coastal masterpiece
- The thatched, canal-laced village of St Francis Bay
- Shamwari Private Game Reserve — malaria-free Big Five
- Born Free big-cat sanctuary visit
Best months
Oct · Nov · Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar
A links wind off the Indian Ocean ruining your card — and a lion sighting two days later mending your mood entirely.
What's on the card — and where you'll sleep
The golf on this journey
- St Francis Links
- The Fynbos course at St Francis (optional)
- Royal Port Alfred Golf Club (optional)
Where you'll stay
- The Sands at St Francis — St Francis Bay, 4 nights
- Shamwari Private Game Reserve — Riverdene Family Lodge — Shamwari Private Game Reserve, 4 nights
Every property is hand-picked from our register of fifty-two — none paid for, none reciprocated. See the options for this region →
Where you go, and why
St Francis Bay
The Eastern Cape's white-walled, thatch-roofed village laces its gardens with canals — book a sunset cruise down them — and hides one of the country's great courses: St Francis Links, Jack Nicklaus's wild, windswept, sandy creation that plays as close to true links golf as Africa gets. A second round at neighbouring Fynbos course or a surf lesson at Bruce's Beauties fills day three.
STAY The Sands at St Francis
Shamwari Private Game Reserve
An easy ninety-minute drive inland lies Shamwari, the Eastern Cape's most celebrated reserve: 25,000 malaria-free hectares of Big Five wilderness with a serious conservation backbone. Game drives morning and evening, the Born Free big-cat sanctuary, and a junior-ranger programme that makes this our most requested family routing — kids welcome, tablets unnecessary, memories permanent.
STAY Shamwari Private Game Reserve — Riverdene Family Lodge
Every journey is a starting shape, not a fixed product — add nights, swap lodges, bring the Gallery. Guide price per person sharing, excluding international flights; confirmed precisely in writing before you commit.
Asked before you booked
How much does Links & Big Five cost?
Guide price is from US$7,100 per person sharing, excluding international flights. For an exact figure, use the Price a Private Version tool — adjust the nights, rounds and experiences and our quoting engine returns your private price, checked by a specialist, usually within one working day.
How many rounds of golf are on this journey?
3 rounds are built in — St Francis Links, The Fynbos course at St Francis (optional), Royal Port Alfred Golf Club (optional). Every round can be kept, swapped or dropped when you price your private version.
Can my non-golfing partner come?
Absolutely — this is the heart of how we design. While the golfers play, the Gallery programme runs parallel experiences (game drives, spas, wine, walks, markets), and everyone reunites for lunch or sundowners. Non-golfers never sit out a day.
When is the best time to take this journey?
Best months are Oct · Nov · Dec · Jan · Feb · Mar. We will be honest about the trade-offs of any month you are considering — every season has its version of this trip.
Where will we stay?
Exact, named properties at every stop — on this journey: The Sands at St Francis, Shamwari Private Game Reserve — Riverdene Family Lodge. Every property is hand-picked from our register; none paid for, none reciprocated.
Do I need a visa for South Africa?
Most UK, US, EU, Canadian and Australian passport holders get a free visitor visa on arrival for stays up to 90 days. We confirm the current rules for your nationality when you book.
Is there malaria on this trip?
Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route are completely malaria-free. The Kruger lowveld carries a low seasonal risk — we will advise on simple precautions — and if you prefer zero risk, we can route your safari to malaria-free reserves like Madikwe, Shamwari or Gondwana instead.
What is the weather like for golf?
The Cape plays best from October to April — long, dry summer days. The Kruger and the highveld are at their best for safari in the dry winter months, May to September. Most of our South African journeys work year-round; we will time yours to what matters most to you.
Tell us how you want to feel when you come home.
We'll build the wild, and the golf, around that — and nothing else.
Design your safari Speak to us