Family holidays to South Africa

South Africa’s Western Cape on the south-west coast is famous for spectacular beaches and the capital, Cape Town, the country’s oldest city and third-most-visited on the entire continent. Nowhere does holidays quite like this province, and the choice of places to stay ranges from high-quality family guesthouses and self-catering seaside villas to stunning resort hotels and historic game lodges.

• Delightful colonial Simon’s Town, just 30 minutes’ drive from Cape Town, is the place to find Boulders Beach and its resident colony of more than 2,000 African Penguins.
• The Cape of Good Hope is the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean in the far south of the province.
• Table Mountain National Park is in Western Cape, and Cape Town sits in the shadow of the famous mountain itself.
• You can drive the celebrated Mossel to Plettenberg Bay Garden Route in Western Cape.
• The province has several Big Five game reserves and national wildlife parks, including the Garden Route Game Reserve and Tsitsikamma National Park.

The eastern province, bordering Swaziland and Mozambique, has some of the most breathtakingly dramatic scenery in the country. It’s also very accessible by road and world-renowned for its game reserves.

• 20,000km² Kruger Park is the largest game reserve in South Africa and one of the largest in Africa.
• 65,000-hectare Sabi Sands is one of the country’s finest private game reserves, known for its innovative and incredible lodges, guesthouses and camps.

The province where Durban offers big, beautiful beaches and a colourful, multicultural vibe. It’s also the area you’ll find Dolphin Coast and quaint seaside towns, just half-an-hour from Durbs.

• The majestic Drakensberg Mountains in KwaZulu-Natal province are perfect for hiking and walking adventures.
• iSimangaliso (‘a miracle’ in Zulu) Wetland Park, South Africa’s third-largest protected are, is also in the province.
• There is an excellent road network and fine beach resort hotels in the city, as well as cute heritage self-catering on the coast.

Without equal for vast, wild, natural beauty – even in South Africa – Limpopo is fast becoming a family favourite for its range of malaria-free Big Five game reserves. The most northern province, it borders Botswana and includes part of the Kruger Park.

• The Balobedu people are native to Limpopo and their rich culture is alive across the province.
• Mapungubwe National Park and Entabeni-Waterberg, Timbavati and Kapama game reserves are all in Limpopo.

Eastern Cape is fantastic if you want to easily combine beach and Big Five game reserves in a family holiday. The birthplace of Nelson Mandela, this is also the province for the astonishing Wild Coast, extreme watersports, world-class surf schools and fabulous road trips along the Garden Route.

• Eastern Cape’s largest city, Port Elizabeth, is one of the top holiday destinations for South African families.
• Addo Elephant Park is in Eastern Cape and home to the ‘Big Seven’ (Big Five plus sharks and whales). Eco-marine tours here are unforgettable.

Johannesburg’s province, Gauteng, is small and central but densely packed and very high energy. Good for a city and safari holiday and walking in the Magaliesberg Mountains.

• Huge lightning storms over Gauteng’s Highveld grasslands are stupendous.
• Dinokeng Game Reserve is Gauteng’s Big Five park and offers self-drive safaris.

Best known for the entertainment capital of South Africa, Sun City, North West province has some of the country’s most extravagant hotels and luxurious family self-catering.

• 55,000-hectare Pilanesberg Game Reserve is in North West.
• The province’s Madikwe Reserve is one of the best for big-game viewing by hot-air balloon.