Things to Do | Adventures | Attractions | Beaches | Country Places | Cultural Heritage | City Life | Historic Places | Heritage Sites | Popular Destinations | Scenic Routes | Wildlife Viewing | Other Activities
South Africa is child-friendly and one of the best choices for a family holiday. It is a country that upholds family values and many resorts offer excellent facilities for children.
South Africa has the key elements for a great family holiday - excellent weather; scenery that will take your breath away, accommodation to suit your
budget; a variety of activities, excellent road infrastructure for self-drives and wildlife.
Going on holiday to a
family resort is an excellent way to offer the kids something special.
A variety of resorts are found - Forever Group offers you Self Catering Resorts,
Sun City Resort is the World-renowned Kingdom of Pleasure, and then you get individual resorts such as
Cape St Francis Resort (Eastern Cape) and
Gooderson Drakensberg Gardens & Golf & Spa Resort (Drakensberg),
Gooderson Natal Spa Hot Springs & Leisure Resort (KwaZulu) and
Maselspoort Resort; to name a few.
Family hotels welcome children of all ages and usually offer a sizeable discount on accommodation for children - if they do not stay for free.
Experienced and trained babysitters are available and many have specific kids programmes in place. Popular family hotels include
The Golden Gate Hotel near Clarens in the Free State and the Windsor Hotel in Hermanus (Western Cape).
Family Safari Holidays
National and provincial parks offer unique wildlife attractions with world-class facilities and first-world infrastructure.
Tsitsikamma National Park (Eastern Cape), Pilanesberg Game Reserve (North West), Kruger Park (Mpumalanga) , Karoo National Park, Table Mountain National Park & Bontebok National Park (Western Cape), Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park & Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve (KwaZulu-Natal) and the Golden Gate Highlands National Park (Free State) are popular amongst families.
There's an excellent change of spotting the Big Five, as well as hippo, cheetah, crocodile and a plethora of antelope and birdlife.
There are also many private game lodges set in unfenced areas adjoining the national parks offering family safari holidays.
Beach Holidays
South Africa is blessed with excellent weather and superb
beaches, making the coastal holiday the ultimate vacation for families in need of some serious rest, relaxation and fun in the sun. Explore the beaches of the
Western Cape,
Eastern Cape and
KwaZulu-Natal.
A number of South African coastal towns that offer your perfect beach holiday.
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Hermanus &
Langebaan in the Western Cape
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Plettenberg Bay &
Knysna on the Garden Route
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Umhlanga Rocks &
St Lucia on the KwaZulu north coast
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Margate on the KwaZulu south coast
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Jeffrey's Bay in the Eastern Cape
Outdoors
South Africa's warm and temperate climate lends itself to enjoyment of the outdoors with many walks suitable for families in and around the cities.
Nature Reserves in the
Western Cape,
Eastern Cape,
KwaZulu-Natal,
Mpumalanga,
North West and
Limpopo provide ample opportunities for day-trips and picnics.
The
Drakensberg, a mountain range and World Heritage Sit , is green in summer and boasts snowy peaks in winter. There are many excellent lodges in the mountains and clearly marked
trails from sedate to energetic.
South Africa abounds with outdoor picnic areas that are safe and well maintained.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, on the slopes of
Table Mountain in
Cape Town, is listed as one of the world's seven most beautiful gardens.
Visit South Africa's Cities
The three main cities usually included in any tourist itinerary are
Johannesburg, Durban and
Cape Town.
Gold Reef City is a theme park set just outside Johannesburg, where children can experience interactive games and rides.
Pretoria, a mere half-hour's drive from Johannesburg where you can take your children to the renowned
Pretoria Zoo and reptile park.
To the west of Johannesburg you'll come across
Hartebeespoort Dam, offering water sports, hot-air ballooning and an array of craft shops. A little further is
Sun City, a unique pleasure resort, and the adjoining
Pilanesberg game reserve - home to several endangered species.
Durban, on the east coast of the country, is a tropical paradise. Take a rickshaw ride along its famous beachfront and you'll see the amusement park. Durban is for
family and fun with beaches among the world's best. The
uShaka Marine World is an aquarium and amusement park combined.
Cape Town, where the international jet set loves to relax, is frequently listed as one of the world's most beautiful cities. Take your children in the glass-sided revolving cable car to the top of Table Mountain, treat them to an ice cream in the
Table Mountain National Park and spend at least a day at the city's pride and joy: the
V&A Waterfront.
The
Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront is also one of the best in the world, and arranges special entertainment packages for children. There are many other family attractions - such as to wander through the local craft market and enjoy a pleasant hour choosing pretty gems from the bins of the
Scratch Patch.
In Hout Bay, one of the city's most appealing harbour areas, visit the World of Birds wildlife sanctuary and monkey park, with over 3 000 birds, monkeys and animals in walk-through enclosures.
Related Links*
Game Reserves & Game Lodges in South Africa*
Southern Africa Safaris & Tours
