https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 02:21:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2051518 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 22:06:30 +0000 lady grey 2051518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: @hilsy85: I'm glad to hear from DH we would be in Cape Town! sounds like this is the safest area to go, especially with a young child.</p> <p>@mrbee: I wish!! If we go we'll probably try to stay at least one week or even two weeks. I don't have anyone to leave my son with that long. Grandparents all still work. You did give me an idea though- maybe I could bring my sister along with us to help out.</p> <p>@Reese: 1- 2 weeks! Glad to hear you would go for it, that helps boost my confidence! DH and I used to travel a lot but now I live and breath by LOs nap/sleep schedule, for my sanity!</p> <p>@HTownMom: good call on the meds! I have both in the bathroom medicine cabinet now! There isn't anyone I could leave LO with for that long but might think about finding someone to come with us, my sister or a friend maybe.</p> <p>@BKCaribBaby: oh cool, I might have to hit you up for some tips then, since we will be going to Cape Town! Glad you mentioned it will be their Fall. I hate hot weather so that sounds awesome to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2051516 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 22:00:19 +0000 lady grey 2051516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I comfirmed with DH that it is Cape Town! From all your responses, sounds like that's the best place to go!</p> <p>@gracecat: yes we might get another chance to go later in the year or next year, but not guaranteed. sucks your LOs sleep is messed up, I guess you'll never know what caused it. I really like getting to sleep through the night so potentially ruining my son's sleep is very scary to me!</p> <p>@lamariniere: I would def go, no problem if we didn't have to worry about jet lag! thanks for sharing your thoughts and your friend experience. It didn't even occur to me to worry about missing out on a safari, I guess I should be concerned about that. Seems like a big attraction... We will definitely be staying in a hotel!</p> <p>@Kezzeranne: glad to hear that Cape Town is gorgeous and there is wine country near by. I honestly know nothing about Cape Town and SA isn't really on my list of places I dream of going. But seems like too cool of an experience to miss. </p> <p>@Ree723: it does seem like a great opportunity, right? I think I will kick myself if I don't go, but I will also be so worried about the sleep thing. I hope to get out on safari, maybe DH and I could take turns going. There will be a few other co-worker families there too so maybe we can take turns babysitting for each other. I don't think I would trust a random hotel babysitter or the like.</p> <p>@SleepyMonkey: thanks for the tips on the garden route and Knysna. I know nothing about that area! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2051483 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 21:21:20 +0000 BKCaribBaby 2051483@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I lived in Cape Town for four month several years ago, and it's a great place to visit. There are lots of things to see and do and many of them are kid friendly (botanical gardens, national parks, beaches, museums, several great malls, Robben Island, Table Mountain, wineries within a 2 hour drive, etc). It will be their fall in a few months, so it will be a little cool, but not cold. I didn't spend as much time in Jo'burg, but I'm not as sure about spending time there. Jo'burg also a lot more spread out and definitely not as pretty, but there are things to see. Good luck with your decision. Durban is not as popular but is also interesting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2051246 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 18:32:33 +0000 sarac 2051246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A few months in another country with my kid? Of course! This isn't some war torn country, even. I wouldn't even hesitate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2050694 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 12:42:59 +0000 HTownMom 2050694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lady grey: YES!! Definitely don't miss the opportunity to go! I think LO will surprise you, you could also bring up meds like Tylenol or Bendryl to help incase there is an epic cry fest! </p> <p>Also, I like @mrbee: suggestion of trying to have someone watch LO while you and husband have amazing trip! </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2050285 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 09:04:51 +0000 BandDmommy 2050285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My answer would depend on where you are going. There are some very unsafe areas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2050279 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 08:58:15 +0000 Reese 2050279@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lady grey: How long would you be staying? South Africa is gorgeous - I would do it in a heartbeat! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2050205 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 07:38:58 +0000 mrbee 2050205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like amazing opportunity! Could you possibly go with just your husband, and have someone watch your son for a few days? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2050199 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 07:35:27 +0000 hilsy85 2050199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @lamariniere--if you go, I would go to capetown and not Johannesburg. Capetown is supposed to be gorgeous and have lots to do. Missing out on a safari would suck, but there might be some more low key day safaris you could do with a toddler. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2050179 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 07:02:48 +0000 Andrea 2050179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would look into the safety of the areas your DH is going to first. I would be more worried about that than the sleep issue. We went pre-kids so I didn't think too much about safety, but we stuck to the touristy areas of Cape Town, the wine country, and safari area. We had a great time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2050171 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 06:08:31 +0000 SleepyMonkey 2050171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I loved south africa and would go again! But i understand your concerns about bringing a 2 yr old. I just wanted to chime in and say that the garden route is a beautiful drive and you can stay in this seaside town for a bit called Knysna. Really pretty there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2050169 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 05:52:27 +0000 Ree723 2050169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Umm, that's not really a question is it?!? :silly: I would never pass up a travel opportunity out of fear of disrupting my LO's sleep! He'll adjust and all will be fine (FWIW, we moved from Australia to the UK when DD1 was nearly 2 and her brilliant sleeping patterns never changed, other than a bit of jet lag of course).</p> <p>Now as for SA, I haven't been yet but am dying to go there! Where would you be? If it's Cape Town, I would for sure go; Jo'burg would be a bit less appealing if you will only be in the city, but I'd still go anyway. Will you have the opportunity to get out on safari at all? </p> <p>Either way, I would for sure go - what an opportunity! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2050158 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 04:03:21 +0000 Kezzeranne 2050158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lady grey: South Africa is a beautiful country. Do it. I used to regularly fly back and forth and there were always small children on the plane. Cape Town is gorgeous and so is the wine country which is only an hour or so away. jo'burg isn't that exciting. I've heard Durbin is nice as well. Plenty to do if Safari is out of picture. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2050146 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 03:17:20 +0000 erinpye 2050146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would not travel to South Africa with a young child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2050145 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 03:14:51 +0000 lamariniere 2050145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lady grey: What part of South Africa would you be going to? </p> <p>We were actually thinking about going to South Africa next month with our 4 yo and 14 month old. (We live in Europe, so while the flight is still really long, there is no time difference, so no jetlag). But, we decided not to because if we go, I really want to be able to do a safari, but most places will not take kids out on game drives if they are under 6 or 8! While we were thinking about the trip, I spoke to a friend who went last year with her 2 yo daughter (they also went because of her husband's job). They spent two weeks there, a few days in Johannesburg, a few days in the Cape Town area and a week at a game resort (they took turns staying with their daughter while the other went out on game drives). It sounds like Cape Town is a great, relatively safe place to visit with much to do and see, but she said Johannesburg wasn't really necessary (and it sounds more dangerous than Cape Town). So, if you aren't concerned about missing out on safaris, it seems that there is plenty to do in Cape Town. I also read the State Department travel advisories for South Africa and I admit they did put me off a bit as they mention that tourists are often the targets of robberies, but then again, the State Department travel warnings tend to be overly cautious, in my opinion. Also, another tip she gave me was to stay in a reputable hotel and not a short term Air BnB-style apartment as you can just never be sure about safety. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2050138 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 02:43:00 +0000 birdofafeather 2050138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Heck yes! I would love to travel with my kiddo now at 2. She's crazy but talkative and personable and much more flexible than at 16 months (the last time we majorly traveled). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2050136 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 02:32:48 +0000 gracecat 2050136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Omg haha what a dilemma. It's South Africa!! Would u have a chance like this again do you think? My girl slept like a dream before we went home for Christmas, an 11 hr flight with jet lag and all and when we got back her sleep has been total crap ever since. That being said she just turned 2 and I read this is not that unusual. It's been more than a month since we came back and it's definitely not jet lag anymore. I would go if you have a chance to do some exciting safari or sightseeing. If you won't be at liberty to explore, I wouldn't think it would be worth it to go. And there's no guarantee that sleep will stay wonderful even if you decide to stay home, tho I do wonder if we had stayed home would she be sleeping again? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/travel-to-south-africa-with-a-two-year-old#post-2050092 Sun, 01 Feb 2015 23:37:33 +0000 lady grey 2050092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH may be going to South Africa for work in the next couple of months. His company will buy plane tickets for LO and I to join him if we want. They won't pay for anything else for us though. Its a 14 hours flight with one lay over. There is a 7 hour time difference from where we live.</p> <p>LO will prob be almost two at the time. He sleeps like a dream- 2-3 hr daily nap and 12 hours straight at night. I'm truly thinking of not going because he sleeps so well- is that crazy? Should I just go for it and take advanage of the opportunity? </p>