12 Best Places to Visit in South Africa with Family

Cape Town is known as the Mother City and shines brightly as one of South Africa’s flagship family destinations. Discover majestic Table Mountain as you take a funicular up the rocky slopes, following the stone pathways on top for captivating views over the city and Atlantic Ocean.

Stroll through Green Point Park and catch a local band playing at the V&A Waterfront, where a boat ride departs to take you to historical Robben Island. Spend time in Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, where the wooden walkway aptly named Boomslang, or tree snake, meanders through the trees 40 feet above a floral kingdom.

Pay a visit to Boulders Beach to view playful African penguins in their natural habitat, their black and white feathers standing out against the sandy beaches and granite rocks. Adventure is just a sand dune away, with a chance to glide across dunes on a sandboard or kite surf in the Atlantic Ocean.

Highlights: Table Mountain • Boulders Beach • V&A Waterfront • Robben Island • Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

Stretching from the coastal town of Mossel Bay to the forested region of Storms River, the Garden Route offers a menu of experiences that are fun for the whole family. Traveling along the N2 highway, you will have the Indian Ocean along one side of you, while indigenous forests, mountains, and numerous estuaries make up the scenery on the other side.

Enjoy an ocean safari from Plettenberg Bay for sightings of whales, dolphins, and playful seals. A trip through Monkeyland will have you gasping and giggling at vervet monkeys, brown-hooded capuchins, and the ringtail lemur at play.

Zip through the Tsitsikamma Forest on a tree-top canopy adventure, 100 feet above the ground, surrounded by giant Outeniqua yellowwood trees. Listen out for the loud, grating calls of Knysna loeries and look out for cheeky vervet monkeys as you whizz from platform to platform through the lush forest.

Highlights: Monkeyland • Tsitsikamma Forest Canopy Tour • Plettenberg Bay Ocean Safari

South Africa’s Kruger National Park stands at the top of the list when you are considering the best place for a family safari in South Africa. The park is home to the Big Five, namely lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, and buffalo, as well as other bush favorites like giraffe, zebra, and majestic kudu.

Many game lodges and safari camps are tailored for families with small children, with junior ranger programs that give youngsters the opportunity to interact with nature. Young adventurers can learn how to track spoor, enjoy a game of safari bingo, or take part in a scavenger hunt, all the while learning about wildlife conservation and ecosystems.

While older safari-goers head out on an afternoon game drive, kids have a chance to enjoy their own safari bumble around the lodge, checking off their wilderness and wildlife finds in their safari booklet. They can then head into the kitchen for the sweet treat of baking cookies with the chef to share with the rest of the family later.

Highlights: Spoor Tracking • Safari Bumble • Cookie Baking

Mpumalanga’s Panorama Route is one of South Africa’s most scenic and adventurous destinations. Sites like the dramatic Lisbon Falls and the grassy, beehive mountain tops, known as the Three Rondavels, paint a picture of grand beauty that the entire family can appreciate.

Standing at the scenic viewpoint at God’s Window, the view is stunning, with the expansive lowveld landscape of rock formations, ravines, and endless green valleys an impressive sight. Heading to the surreal Bourke’s Luck Potholes, you can make your way along raised walkways, over swirling puddles of water, and around low-flowing waterways.

Gaze out over the majestic Blyde River Canyon’s steep cliffs and deep valleys, with the cool, blue waters of the world’s largest “green canyon” swirling between natural rock formations. Take your family adventure to the next level at the Graskop Gorge swing. Embark on a sweeping thrill ride through sheer rock faces as the scenery rushes past you.

Highlights: Blyde River Canyon • Bourke’s Luck Potholes • Graskop Gorge Swing

Take a picture-postcard landscape set among farmland, rolling rivers, and vast spaces, mix in some fun family activities, and you have been introduced to the charm of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Travel a little further and you will be met by the majestic Drakensberg Mountains.

As you and your family travel through the meandering Midlands, you will suddenly come across an array of activities, from chocolate- and candle-dipping to painting pottery. You can also try your hand at catch-and-release fishing or explore a serene mountain bike trail.

As you get closer to the iconic Drakensberg Mountains, a sense of serenity fills the air. You and your family have the chance to explore hiking paths, horseback riding trails, and gentle walks that wind throughout the southern, central, and northern regions. Take to the skies in a hot-air balloon that will see you soaring over Giant’s Castle to the striking Amphitheatre.

Highlights: Midlands Meander • Horseback riding in the Drakensberg • Hot-Air Ballooning over the Drakensberg

Set inland just off scenic Route 62 and surrounded by the picturesque Outeniqua and Swartberg mountains lies the small town of Oudtshoorn. Delve into the wonders of the Klein Karoo, where dusty farm roads lead to fields of trotting ostriches and the chance to explore a captivating cave.

Join a kid-friendly tour to explore the famous Cango Caves. Here, a fascinating network of caverns and chambers come alive under dim light highlighting stalactites and stalagmites. Feel the excitement of an underground adventure as you wander through spaces big and small.

Enjoy a visit to a working ostrich farm, where interactive tours include the opportunity to learn about ostrich farming, potentially feed ostriches, and see real ostrich eggs. Get to know a little more about amusing meerkats when enjoying an encounter during which you can spend time with them and watch them at play.

Highlights: Cango Caves • Ostrich Farm Visit • Meerkat Encounter

Hermanus is a seaside gem brimming with must-see sites and not-to-be-missed adventures. From swirling rock pools off the Blue Flag Grotto Beach and the scenic Hermanus Cliff Path that runs along the edge of the town to ocean adventures and family-friendly food markets, there is much for your family to enjoy in Hermanus.

Boat-based whale-watching tours are popular in the region, with southern right whales entertaining you among the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. If your visit falls between June and November, keep an eye out on your coastal hike, as these magnificent mammals may be seen from the shore.

The adventures continue with a quad bike tour in the Hermanus forest, where you will traverse rocky terrain in beautiful surroundings. Heading back indoors, discover more about the area with visits to the Old Harbour Museum and Whale House Museum, and learn about space research through the exhibits at the South African National Space Agency.

Highlights: Whale Watching • Quad Biking • Coastal Hiking Trails

South Africa’s northeast coastal region of Zululand is home to the country’s oldest game reserve, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, a haven for wildlife that includes the Big Five. The landscape outside the safari circuit comprises lush valleys, golden beaches, and rolling sugarcane fields.

The Zulu culture is rich and intriguing, and you and your family have the opportunity to visit traditional Zulu villages, where you will be entertained by traditional songs, dances, and customs. Learn how to weave baskets and make colorful beaded necklaces, and listen to tales about Zulu ancestors.

Take your family to the World Heritage iSimangaliso Wetland Park surrounding popular Lake St Lucia. If you are visiting between November and February, you may have a chance to witness the incredible journey of newly hatched turtles making their way to the Indian Ocean. Snorkel off the coastline at Cape Vidal, enjoy a deep-sea fishing trip, and keep an eye out for whales and dolphins.

Highlights: Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve • Zulu Cultural Village • iSimangaliso Wetland Park

The Eastern Cape is home to several malaria-free game reserves set among rivers, rolling hills, and neighboring farmlands. With a comfortable driving distance from Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) Airport, a family safari can be perfectly combined with a Garden Route adventure, thereby combining bush and ocean exploration.

The Eastern Cape is home to one of the densest elephant populations in the world, with drives through the Addo Elephant Park an exciting opportunity to spot these incredible animals. With over 400 species of birds in the area, your safari guide will help kiddies cross off favorites such as the red-billed oxpecker and greater double-collared sunbird on their safari bumble around the lodge or camp.

A lodge set along the Kariega River allows your family to enjoy an afternoon boat ride, looking out for grazing buffalo on the banks, the horns of a lone male kudu peeking out from behind a bush, or a wallowing hippo in the distance. As the sun sets, make your way back to camp, where you are welcomed by traditional singing and dancing that will allow your young adventurers to learn some new moves as they join in the fun.

Highlights: Addo Elephant Park • Bird Watching • Boat Cruise and Safari

Nestled in an ancient volcanic crater, Pilanesberg National Park offers you an accessible safari experience just a few hours' drive from Johannesburg. The park's unique circular geography, created by volcanic eruptions millions of years ago, encompasses diverse landscapes where grasslands meet rocky outcrops, providing ideal habitats for Africa's celebrated Big Five, along with over 300 bird species.

The park's size makes it manageable for short visits, while its road network allows for self-drive safaris, allowing you to explore at your own pace if you have access to a vehicle. Beyond traditional game drives, Pilanesberg enriches the family safari experience with educational programs at the Pilanesberg Centre, where interactive displays bring the park's geology and wildlife to life.

Hot-air balloon safaris provide a breathtaking perspective of the crater's perfect circular formation at dawn, while guided bush walks offer intimate encounters with smaller creatures and fascinating plant life that often go unnoticed from a vehicle.

Highlights: Big Five • Hot-air Balloon Rides • Educational Center • Self-drive Options

Gauteng is home to the bustling city of Johannesburg and the capital of South Africa, Pretoria. It offers you and your family the opportunity to discover the rich history of the gold-mining industry when visiting Gold Reef City and the brilliance of diamonds with a tour of the Cullinan Diamond Mine.

For some outdoor fun, spend time at the Hartbeespoort Dam for a ride on the cableway. Make your way to the top of the Magaliesburg Mountains, where captivating views over valleys, towns, and the glistening Hartbeespoort Dam are your reward. Enjoy a stroll along the Dassie Walk to spot these cute and cheeky rock hyraxes.

To discover all there is to know about the heritage of mankind, pay a visit to the Cradle of Humankind and the Sterkfontein Caves. Find proof of humanity dating back to the early Stone Age with an impressive display of fossils. Enter the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Sterkfontein Caves, where examples of nature and man co-existing will unveil secrets about our earliest ancestors.

Highlights: Gold Reef City • Cullinan Diamond Mine • Cradle of Humankind

The Orange Free State is home to wide open spaces, rich farmland, and picturesque scenery. Nestled near the Golden Gate Highlands National Park is the quaint town of Clarens, known as the jewel of the eastern Free State. Outdoor attractions suitable for the whole family include mountain biking and hiking trails through the Clarens Village Conservancy.

Enjoy the rock formations, birdlife, and wildlife when spending time in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. Horse riding is popular in the surrounding Maluti Mountains, with gorgeous scenes of golden valleys and mountain ranges at every turn. Other adventures include quad biking around the foothills of the Rooiberge and abseiling off the sandstone rockface of the Swartland cliff.

If visiting in November, embrace the cherry-picking season with a tractor ride on a cherry farm or by picking cherries as a family. During the season, towns enjoy entertainment centered around the fun annual event.

Highlights: Golden Gate Highlands National Park • Mountain Biking • Hiking • Cherry Festivals

There are many splendid landscapes, exciting adventures, and charming urban areas to explore with your family in beautiful South Africa. Take a safari in the African bush, where lions and elephants roam, while ocean safaris will introduce you to dolphins and whales. Take cable car rides and whizz through treetops, learn about the history of gold mining, and take part in cherry picking.

Discover the diverse beauty and exciting adventures that South Africa holds by searching our South Africa safari tours and vacations. Explore our South Africa travel guide for more tips and insight into experiencing the best South African family vacation.