Family Friendly Holidays in South Africa

With its first world infrastructure, favourable exchange rate and many varied attractions suitable for everyone, South Africa is a great family holiday destination! It truly has something for everyone and will leave people with lasting memories of a fantastic holiday!

One of the best holidays for an inquisitive child is a Safari! These holidays leave an indelible mark on children and give them memories to last a lifetime! Children of a sufficient age to walk and talk and communicate with ease will find a visit to a game reserve or national park thrillingly fascinating. It offers a unique and undeniably exciting holiday for them.

There are many private game reserves in South Africa that specialise in Children’s safaris, going out of their way to ensure that the children learn as much as possible in a fun and interactive way. While the kids are being taken care of, it leaves the parents free to enjoy their well deserved time off!

Many of the game reserves in South Africa are located in malaria areas, which may be risky for young children and pregnant women, but, the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and North West Province reserves are all in Malaria Free areas and as such are perfect destinations to visit with children!

As a rule the national parks are very child-friendly, with self-catering family chalets and some of them even have children’s playgrounds.

Another favourite childhood holiday is a Beach holiday and with such a long coastline, there are some really good options. The Wild Coast, in the Eastern Cape, is a favourite with local families, and many of the hotels have special children's programmes, playgrounds, children's dining areas and baby sitting services. The Garden Route is a good option if you're looking for a more exclusive experience, as there are a number of luxurious hotels and guesthouses that cater specifically for families, and many child-friendly attractions like a monkey park and walks with elephants. Dolphin and whale watching is another experience most children would never forget.

KwaZulu Natal with its sub tropical atmosphere and long white sandy beaches, is a perfect place to relax and let the kids enjoy the warm Indian ocean waters. Or, if you are more active, why not explore the beautiful Drakensburg Mountains with its many family friendly hotels and exciting day walks!

With so much to offer, go on, next time you think of a family holiday, think of South Africa!

About the Author:

Simone Truter is the author of this article on African Safaris. Find more information about Africa Holidays here.