Tips for Family Travel to South Africa and Photos

Have you been thinking of a family trip to South Africa? Is family travel in South Africa possible? Can you go on a safari with kids? Can a 4 year old go on safari? Can a 9-year old go on safari? YES. YES. YES. YES and YES.

South Africa is one of my favourite countries in the world, and Cape Town is my favourite city. It’s also one of our favourite places for a family trip. So much so that we’ve been to South Africa twice as a family of 4.

If you’ve been following me on social media or here on the blog, you would have heard of The Heart of a Woman Project, a women’s mobile photography initiative I started in 2013 at eKhaya eKasi Art & Education Centre in Khayelitsha.

I have visited South Africa ten times; twice with my husband and 2 sons who were 9 & 4 the first time they visited. My father also joined me on three of those trips.

Here are some family travel tips for Cape Town, ideas of things to do with kids and information about doing a safari in South Africa with children.

A view of Table Mountain, Lions Head and Signal Hill on approach to the Cape Town airport.

CAPE TOWN FAMILY TRAVEL TIPS

VISIT KHAYELITSHA

Go on a meaningful tour with Uthando SA to visit development projects in the townships. Uthando is an award-winning fair trade tourism organization doing fantastic work. Your tour directly helps the development projects you visit; you will leave inspired.

Note: You can visit eKhaya eKasi with Uthando. Be sure to request them for your tour with Uthando.

My youngest son was learning Xhosa games at eKhaya eKasi in Khayelitsha. We spent six days at the centre and in the community on our first visit.

SEE AFRICAN PENGUINS IN THE WILD

Go to the lesser-known Boulders Beach in Simonstown where you can get off the path and take the boardwalk down to the beach for the best view of the penguins. Swim or splash in the ocean and have a picnic. Look for Boulders Beach Lodge and Restaurant on Google maps and enter the parking lot on Bellevue Road near the Simonstown Golf Club.

My son taking photos of the penguins at Boulders Beach in Cape Town.

Beach views at Boulders Beach in Cape Town.

DRIVE CHAPMANS PEAK DRIVE & THE CAPE PENINSULA

You can add a drive on the beautiful and winding Chapmans Peak Drive to your Boulders Beach visit. If you have the time, make sure to stop at the lookout points. Make a day of it and visit Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope too, passing smaller coastal towns. You might see ostriches, baboons, and seals. You can take the funicular or hike up to the Cape Point Lighthouse.

For a tour that covers the Chapman’s Peak, the penguins and the Cape Peninsula, check these tours out:

Cape Point and Penguin Explorer Full-Day Tour from Cape Town

Our family at a lookout point on Chapmans Peak Drive

VISIT MUIZENBERG, KALK BAY & ST. JAMES BEACH

Visit beautiful coastal towns in the False Bay area of Cape Town. Plan a beach day or two or three in Muizenberg. Watch the surfers or go to the nearby waterslides or mini golf (seasonal). There is a playground at the main beach at Surfer’s Corner and plenty of restaurants. Have a falafel at Yoffi’s, go to the Friday Night Market at Blue Bird Garage, have brunch and fresh pastries at Knead Bakery.

Be sure to visit the smaller and less busy St. James Beach, they have the infamous colourful beach huts (change rooms) too and a great tidal pool for swimming. Take a walk around Kalk Bay, visit the independent shops and galleries, have fish ‘n chips at Kalky’s, grab brunch with a view at Bootlegger’s and dinner at Satori’s.

Note: If you prefer to self-drive, you can easily add a visit to Kalk Bay, St. James and Muizenberg with your penguins/Chapmans Peak/Cape Peninsula trip depending on how much time you want to spend at each place. It will take a full day if you do it all. I highly recommend spending a few nights in Muizenberg if you have 4-5 days in Cape Town. It’s a world away yet close enough to the CBD and great fun for the whole family.

Father and son at the tidal pool at St. James Beach in Cape Town.

WATCH A DUCK PARADE AT VERGENOEGD WINE ESTATE

Because ducks, over 1000 ducks! I was surprised to find out how family-friendly a winery could be. I had no idea. Adults can enjoy a great meal and wine tasting while children play on the grounds and have a picnic. Vergenoegd offers child minding. You can come back together for the duck parade. Read Visiting Family Friendly Vergenoegd Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa

My boys enjoying a picnic at Vergenoegd Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Sunset Views

Catch the sunset from Signal Hill and a view of Robben Island, it’s free and it’s my favourite spot to see the sun dip into the ocean. Bring a picnic. At certain times of the year, the City Sightseeing bus can take you there, otherwise order an Uber or drive yourself.

Visit Table Mountain for a sunset and city view. Be sure to check the current conditions as it may be too windy at the top and it will close early.

Tip: Drive past the entrance of Table Mountain to as far as the road goes for this daytime view.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY SAFARI IN THE GREATER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK IN SOUTH AFRICA

There is an overwhelming number of places to choose from for a safari in South Africa. Not all are created equal and are family-friendly. Some lodges welcome children 6 years of age and older while other lodges require children to be 12 years of age and older. I chose Naledi Game Lodges for our family safari as I had been there a few times and enjoyed the intimate atmosphere and South African family-owned safari lodge. My sons were 4 and 9 years old at the time and were welcome on all the game drives.

Naledi is an award-winning luxury lodge, but you may be surprised at how reasonably priced it is. We stayed at the Naledi Enkoveni lodge which is no longer a part of Naledi Lodges. At the time of our family visits, I hadn’t stayed at Bush Camp. I have since stayed at both lodges and they have a 2-bedroom suite which is perfect for families.

What I love about a safari in a private reserve:

You get the knowledge and keen eyes of the guides and trackers
Someone else does the driving so you can enjoy the scenery and take photos
You often get a closer look at the wildlife as you can go off-road to follow the sound of the cracking branches by the elephants or follow the lion pride as they look for their next meal.
The drives are 3 hours each but you stop for drinks, snacks and a bathroom break, bush style. My boys fell asleep for a short nap on every game drive (early mornings) but didn’t miss any of the action.

Cons:

Have to share the vehicle with others which may mean that you have to go where everyone wants to go. Though we lucked out and had it to ourselves).

Tip: If you visit Naledi Game Lodges, make sure to visit Rosie’s hide while there, it overlooks a waterhole. Enjoy the sounds of the bush and see what comes by for a drink. Check out the 24-hour webcams streaming from Naledi at Rosie’s or from Naledi Enkoveni.

In search of wild animals with Naledi Game Lodges. Happy to have shared this special place and these moments with those dearest to me.

Rest stop in the bush on safari with Naledi

Two yellow-billed hornbills in silhouette against the Drakensberg Mountains

Father and son in the infinity pool at Naledi Enkoveni in South Africa

SELF-DRIVE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK WITH THE FAMILY

What I love about self-driving Kruger National Park:

You can drive as little or as long as you like and take breaks (in designated areas) or return to your rest camp if you’re staying in the park.
You can be on the search for wildlife from gate open to gate close (10-12 hour days).
An incredible diversity of landscapes and wildlife
An air-conditioned car on hot summer days if you need it
Snacks and drinks in the car
You can stay at different rest camps in Kruger Park
You can stay at a sighting as long as you want
Can be more affordable

Cons:

Not as relaxing as being driven, guided and pampered
Don’t get as close to the animals unless they come to the road (I’ve had some incredible sightings including lion and elephant road blocks, the best kind).
Rest camps and rest stops may be further apart

Youngest son spotting wildlife on a self-drive through Kruger National park

Wild Dog on the hunt in Kruger Park shot on iPod by my oldest son

South Africa Travel Tips:

Spend 1-2 nights on the Panorama route to enjoy God’s Window and Blyde River Canyon on the way to Limpopo.
Stay at Tsanana Log Cabins at the Africa Silks Farm near Graskop in Mpumalanga. It’s a great place for families on the Panorama route and you can take a tour.
Have pannekoek (pancakes) at Harrie’s Pancakes in Graskop
Visit the Giant Baobab tree also known as the Glencoe Baobab near Hoedspruit. It is said that the tree is over 2000 years old. There is a small restaurant on the property, they also serve wonderful pannekoek.

There are many ways to experience a safari in South Africa with your family if you prefer not to drive yourself.

SOUTH AFRICA SAFARI TOUR FOR FAMILIES

Book this tour from Johannesburg if your time is limited – full-day safari from Johannesburg to Pilanesberg Nature Reserve
Go to Sun City for a night or two with my Johannesburg-based friend, Ishmael of Afrotours, and visit Pilanesberg.
Book a full-day safari from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park (a super long day, but ideal if you have minimal time).
Fly to the Nelspruit area (airport code MQP, saves a 4-5 hour drive each way) and arrange a half-day, full-day, or 3-day safari in Kruger National Park with a private tour company.
Fly to the Nelspruit area (airport code MQP, saves a 4-5 hour drive each way) and arrange a multi-day private safari to Kruger National Park with my friend, South African tour guide, Mornay of Tours-de-Mornay. or for a private safari experience with Tours-de-Mornay. Stay at Berg en Dal, Pretorioskop, Lower Sabie, or Skukuza. If your time is limited, you could make a 1-night and 2-day trip to Kruger work.
Book a safari in a private game reserve. Fly to the Hoedspruit/Eastgate airport (airport code HDS) in the Greater Kruger National Park area, for the Sabi Sands, Timbavati, Kapama, Klasserie, Manyeleti, and Balule Nature Reserve safari lodges. Have the lodge arrange a transfer service for you. I recommend Toro Yaka in Balule, Elephant Plains or Nkorho in Sabi Sands, Shindzela in Timbavati or Buffelshoek in Manyeleti.
Arrange a transfer service (Ashton tours or Tours-de-Mornay) from Johannesburg or Nelspruit ]to Kruger National Park. Book your game drives, and walking safaris with Kruger National Park.