By Abigail Cattell
Take advantage of the cheap Rand and lack of jetlag and take the family to
South Africa for your
next holiday. Read on for some fantastic ideas for keeping kids of all ages
grinning from ear to ear!
Best for Babies
The flight to Cape
Town might be long (12 hours) but once you're there, there's no jet lag
and the airport is a short drive (20 minutes) from this dazzling coastal city.
Nestled between dramatic Table Mountain and the vivid Indian Ocean, Cape Town
is a pleasant mix of modern architecture, dynamic culture and spectacular sandy
beaches. The lush, winelands of historic Stellenbosch and breathtaking landscapes
of the Cape of Good Hope are nearby for easy day trips.
Somewhere to stay: The Waterfront
Village is an ideal hotel for families. It's perfectly located on the Waterfront,
making strolling about with your buggy a breeze; the accommodation is self catering,
with fully integrated kitchens so you can sterilise bottles, cook familiar foods
instead of relying on restaurants, and have access to a washing machine! You're
also in walking distance of the city's aquarium and the famous V&A shopping
centre. Nearby is also Mouille Point which has mini-golf and a quaint kiddies
train if you also have older kids.
Top Tip: Boulders Beach in Simonstown is ideal for babies.
The water is clear and protected from currents if you fancy taking them for
a cooling dip. The wild penguins that love to swim at Boulders make this a unique
experience!
Top for Toddlers
The lush Stellenbosch region of South Africa is dotted with leafy vineyards
interspersed with historic towns. It feels miles from anywhere, but conveniently,
it's only half an hour from Cape Town. The picturesque mountains that frame
the Winelands
offer a plethora of activities, while the Stellenbosch Children's Route takes
you around wineries and attractions that offer a multitude of delights for little
ones (get a map from the Stellenbosch Tourism and Information Bureau at 36 Market
St, +27 21 883 3584). They include the Green Door Fairy Garden in James Town,
Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, Stellenbosch's Toy & Miniature Museum and enchanting
Butterfly World! Have lunch at Hazendal, it has a kiddies' jungle gym, children's
art classes and for grown ups, wine tasting!
Somewhere to stay: The Spier
Hotel is an impressive 'village-style' resort within a 300-year-old winery
that has an astonishing variety of activities to keep kids and adults entertained.
Wildlife lovers can cuddle a cheetah at the Cheetah Outreach centre or head
along to Eagle Encounters, and watch eagles displaying their talents at the
bird of prey rehabilitation centre. There are also miles of walks and trails,
and seven swimming pools.
Top tip:The annual Stellenbosch
Wine Festival takes place this year from 30 July to 2 August. Go along on
the Sunday and while you taste some of the 500 different wines, the kids can
enjoy special activities, food and fun!
Cool for Schoolkids
Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa is a 25,000 hectare expanse of expertly
managed land where the Big Five roam amid the wide African plains. Shamwari
is an eco-friendly sort of place with a dedicated conservation team who ensure
the resort continues to follow sustainable practices. The rangers are friendly
and knowledgeable, spotting the wildlife that hides expertly in the undergrowth.
There are child-friendly game drives for children from the age of 4.
Somewhere to stay: Riverdene Lodge at Shamwari
Private Game Reserve is set up with families in mind. From the fantastic
free children's programme to the excellent childcare facilities and interconnected
rooms, this luxurious lodge is the perfect place to introduce the kids to Africa's
untamed beauty.
Top tip: Why not stay here at the beginning or end of your
tour of South Africa's Garden
Route?
Pleasing for Teens
Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa's fourth largest game reserve, is packed
with exotic wildlife to shake your teens out of their lethargy. Its borders
are created by the crater of a long-extinct volcano and within the 55,000 hectares
are plenty of exciting creatures - lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, black rhino
and leopard, as well as hundreds of other savannah species from zebra and giraffe
to hippo and cheetah. Watching these wild animals go about their daily life
is an experience your kids will never forget.
Somewhere to stay: The dazzling resort of Sun
City has been likened to an African Las Vegas! It’s a luxurious hotel
oasis adjacent to Pilanesberg with four different hotels, not to mention a fantastic
water park with water slides, splash pools and a lazy river – perfect
for keeping teens occupied. There are also numerous restaurants and entertainment
options, including a casino (but don’t worry, under 18s aren’t admitted!)
Top tip: Pilanesberg is a malaria-free park so while it's best to slap on the repellent as you'll still be bitten by mosquitoes, you don't have to take any medicine if you holiday here.
Fancy a family holiday? Check out our latest South
Africa deals now!
Abigail Cattell is a freelance travel journalist who has written for Wanderlust,
The Guardian, ASOS Magazine and TTG Luxury