• Addo Elephant Park, Eastern Cape
  South Africa’s third-largest wildlife park is just over an hour from Port Elizabeth. Addo has whales and sharks as well as the Big Five, but the amazing elephants are the biggest thrill of all.

• Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, Cape Town
  The vast, flat-topped bulk of Table Mountain is Cape Town’s most iconic sight and the Table Mountain National Park is so enormous it’s a holiday all by itself. Get your bearings first with a trip to the top of the mountain on one of the world’s most exciting cable cars.

• Two Oceans Aquarium, Cape Town
  Celebrating Western Cape’s unique location between the Indian and Atlantic oceans, this award-winning aquarium is thrilling – go for shark-feed Sunday.

• Boulders Beach, Cape Town
  A gorgeous white-sand beach just 30 minutes from Cape Town and home to over 2,000 African Penguins.

• Gold Reef City, Johannesburg
  Designed to seem like an early-20^th-century mining town but packed with 21^st-century theme park action and almost everything else you can imagine in terms of outrageous fun entertainment, Gold Reef is one of South Africa’s leading family attractions.

• Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga
  20,000km², this legendary game reserve is so huge it crosses provinces. There are nine gates, a huge choice of family safaris and the Big Five are guaranteed – Sabi Sands sits on the northern edge of Kruger.
• The Garden Route, Western Cape
  It’s under 200km, but the Garden Route from Mossel Bay to Nature’s Valley is one of the world’s most astounding road trips with everything from game reserves to sensational beaches, vineyards, seaside towns and staggering natural phenomena along the way.

• De Hoop Nature Reserve, Western Cape
  Part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, De Hoop is also one of the best places in the world to watch whales – and it’s fantastic for walking trails, too.

• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape
  Africa’s only transfrontier park, Kgalagadi was established to allow natural wildlife migration between South Africa and Botswana unimpeded by man-made borders.

• Greenmarket Square, Cape Town
  The most historic market in Cape Town is a fantastic adventure for kids, an easy history lesson and packed with colourful arts, crafts and friendly local traders.

Educational value for kids

• Visit vibrant Durban for the beaches, but don’t miss the culture – the Indian district is especially interesting for kids.
• The prison on Robben Island just off the coast of Cape Town is a moving and involving experience for older kids.
• If you’re going on safari, get youngsters excited about what to expect before you head off.

• Even in the tamer reserves, wildlife is wild in South Africa, so it’s always a good idea to prep children for the possibility of seeing nature at its worst.
• Discover the different traditions, customs and communities of South Africa in dynamic places like former Cape Town township Bo-Kaap – take one of the excellent Cape Malay tours.
• Eat local. South Africa has a hint of just about everywhere in the kitchen, and food is a great learning opportunity for kids.
• The country’s wild and wonderful coastline is matched by awesome watersports, and South Africans believe it’s never too early to learn, so the standard of tuition is exceptional.

Getting about with kids in South Africa

South Africa is big and the roads are good, so driving is stress-free and the best way to see as much as possible. Self-drive safaris are available in some reserves but, unless you know what you’re doing and feel confident in the environment, guided safaris are a much better option. Don’t drive in cities if you can help it. Public transport is usually reliable but taxis are inexpensive and good for visiting attractions and historic districts.