How you can explore South Africa with your family this festive season

Dec 14, 2023 3:30:06 PM

Try one, or all, of these activities to create magical family memories this festive season

By Jessie Taylor

The festive season offers the ideal opportunity to reconnect with your family on a new adventure. There has never been a better time to get out and explore our beautiful country.

Try one, or all, of these activities to create magical family memories this festive season:

Kruger National Park: If you’re visiting Mpumalanga, make time to visit the Kruger National Park. With nearly 2 million hectares of wild spaces teaming with 147 species of mammals and 508 species of birds, you’re guaranteed to have an unparalleled wildlife experience. Those visiting the province can easily visit the national park for a day trip or stay over at one of the many accommodation options within the park.

uShaka Marine World: Those with a love of the wild will be equally enthralled by a visit to uShaka Marine World in Durban. The kids will have hours of fun at the theme park and will also be able to enjoy educational activities at the aquarium, where they will learn about South Africa’s diverse marine life and how to protect it.

Boulders Penguin Colony: Boulders Beach in Cape Town is a popular spot for tourists and will offer your family the unique experience of encountering endangered African Penguins up close. Take a tour of the beach and learn about this iconic marine bird, or simply spend a day playing in the sand and surfing.

Tubing on the Sabie River: A unique way to explore South Africa’s natural beauty involves immersing yourself in it – and getting a little bit wet! Take your family on the adventure of a lifetime and try your hand at tubing along the Sabie River. This river is one of the most biologically diverse waterways in South Africa and offers both an educational and exciting family activity suitable for children older than 12.

Ziplining: If you’re not one for getting your feet wet, you might like to have a go at flying through the air. You can explore some of South Africa’s most beautiful mountain areas with a ziplining canopy tour. This exhilarating experience is available in the Western Cape, Drakensberg and Magaliesberg and will see you and your family flying through the treetops. This adventure is suitable for children older than six.

Bridge swings: For the more adventurous families, bring out your inner adrenaline junkie with a bridge swing. Unlike bungee jumping, bridge swings are attached to a fixed point and allow you to swing out – while less daunting; it still gets the heart pumping! There are several sites that offer this activity, such as Oribi Gorge in KwaZulu-Natal and Bloukrans in the Eastern Cape.

Ceres Steam Train: There are less harrowing ways to see the South African countryside that younger children will love, such as a ride on a steam train through the Cape Winelands. The trip from Cape Town to the Elgin Valley will take you back to a bygone era, on a steam-train line that was first opened in 1862.

The Kimberley Big Hole: If you’re taking a journey into the past, you must give the Kimberley Big Hole a visit. The Big Hole tells the story of South Africa’s diamond rush and when thousands of prospectors descended on the Northern Cape town and created the largest hand-dug excavation in the world. The mine is 463 meters wide, with a depth of 240 meters, and was active between 1871 to 1914. It is considered one of the deepest cavities excavated by man. Neighbouring the Big Hole is the Kimberley Mine Museum, which will teach your little ones about South Africa’s rich mineral heritage.

Constitution Hill: Constitution Hill is an incredible glimpse into the past, hidden in the heart of Johannesburg, and provides the opportunity for a family outing steeped in history. The home of the Constitutional Court, the precinct includes several prisons that held numerous world-renowned men and women, including Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Joe Slovo, Albertina Sisulu, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Fatima Meer. The prisons at Old Fort, Women’s Jail and Number Four held thousands of people over a 100-year period and today are open to the public in the form of a living museum that tells the story of South Africa’s journey to democracy.

Cradle of Humankind: Travelling further back into our past requires a visit to Maropeng, the visitor centre for the famous Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. Only an hour outside of Johannesburg, this site is considered the birthplace of humanity and has evidence of life dating back more than three billion years. This educational tour will allow you to explore some of the 13 excavated sites in the area, including the famous Sterkfontein Caves, where the pre-human skull, known as Mrs. Ples was found.

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