South Africa: The family trip that has it all

When our Marketing Director Caroline packed up her teenage twins for a two-week road trip through South Africa, she wasn’t expecting to fall quite so hard for it. Now she’s back and she’s convinced this is the ultimate family adventure. Here’s her take – and her top tips.

The all-rounder of dream holidays

Is South Africa the perfect holiday destination? Short answer: yes. There you go. Done. For those who need a little more convincing, here’s my 'SA all the way' pitch, fresh from a 12-day trip with my 17-year-old twins, from Cape Town to the Garden Route and on to safari. It was a revelation – a destination that’s made for shared experiences, whether you’re travelling as a couple or a family. There’s so much to do, and you can shape it any way you like: take it easy or fill the time with an endless choice of activities. Here’s how our trip came together and what I’d pass on to anyone planning the same.

Our South Africa game plan

So much to do, so little time. For us, 12 full days (plus the overnight flight) was the sweet spot. Long enough to fit plenty in, short enough to keep family harmony intact. We spent four nights in Cape Town, three along the Garden Route (one in Hermanus and two in Plettenberg Bay), three on safari, then a final night at an airport hotel before flying home.

It was one of the easiest road trips I’ve ever done, but there’s so much to do that the driving ends up taking a fair chunk of your time. So if you’re planning something similar (especially with active kids) I’d recommend adding at least one extra night on the Garden Route. We skipped the wine routes this time (apparently vineyards don’t thrill 17-year-olds), but still managed an incredible mix of food, nature and wildlife.

My top tips, stop by stop

Cape Town

• The V&A Waterfront is a great base – central and brimming with restaurants and shops. We stayed at African Elite Waterfront Apartments; roomy for families and with a kitchenette for the inevitable teenage grazing.

• South Africa’s food scene is consistently excellent and great value. Our first lunch at The Grand Café, overlooking the marina at the V&A Waterfront, was in a very chi-chi spot with brilliant service, and still only came to £23 for three of us. After that, I stopped checking the exchange rate and just said “yes” to everything.

• If you’re heading up Table Mountain, book the Fast Track tickets. Weather and demand change daily, and if the wind stalls the cable car (as it did for us), you’ve got seven days to use it.

• Check out the seal platform by the aquarium. It’s a hangout for the local seals – my 17-year-olds turned into little kids the moment they spotted these puppies of the sea.

• Driving the Chapman’s Peak route is a must if you’re self-driving, but check the official website for closures – it shuts at certain times for environmental reasons.

• The weather in Cape Town can be unpredictable, so it pays to stay flexible. Do activities early in the day where possible, and keep a bit of breathing space in your itinerary in case things shift.

• Skip car hire in the city. Ubers are everywhere, super cheap and save the stress of parking.

The Garden Route 

• Don’t rush the journey. The scenery changes constantly, from beaches and cliffs to forests and mountain passes, which makes the drive as much a part of the adventure as the stops themselves.

• Everyone talks about the Big Five, but the Garden Route proves there’s plenty more to see. Whales, seals, dolphins and endless birdlife, from strutting ostriches to tiny yellow-masked weavers.

• Betty’s Bay makes a worthy lunchtime stop on the way to Hermanus. It’s home to a penguin colony that rivals Boulders Beach without the crowds or the price tag. We also stumbled across a vast colony of nesting cormorants up close, which was unexpectedly brilliant.

• A must-see stop is Hermanus. You can spot whales straight from the cliff path or even your restaurant table. Grab a lovely breakfast at Burgundy Restaurant or for later on, Perlemoen Seafront does fantastic waterside dining.

• Then there’s Plettenberg Bay, the activity capital. Kayaking with seals was our highlight, but there’s so much more to do here, like hiking Robberg Nature Reserve, surfing or even bungee jumping if you’re feeling brave.

Eastern Cape safari 

• The Eastern Cape is an easy hop after the Garden Route and is malaria-free, which is a huge plus for families. We stayed at Shamwari Private Game Reserve – Long Lee Manor; it’s fully inclusive, so once you’re there, everything’s taken care of and the team couldn’t have been more knowledgeable or welcoming.

• Three nights is ideal, especially for first timers. It gives you time for the sunrise and afternoon game drives, a guided walk and a full-day drive that takes you further into the park.

• Factor in tips for your ranger and the lodge team. It’s customary and really appreciated.

• Pack light layers and neutral colours for game drives, a jumper for early mornings and evenings and something a bit less 'safari' for Cape Town dinners.

• We went in October, the tail end of the dry season (roughly May to October). It was great for wildlife spotting and not too hot, but you can visit South Africa year-round. Just be ready for Cape Town’s four seasons in a day weather.

Driving tips

Roads are good. Gas stations have workers who'll do the filling and take payment. In the towns there are car attendants who'll find you a place for a few coins on your return. The other drivers are patient. I really enjoyed the very polite overtaking traffic etiquette, which I mastered. Aim to get to your destination by 4pm. That avoids any getting lost in the dark at night in a place you don't know.

Safety first

The minute I told people I was going to South Africa, reactions ranged from a polite pause and an “interesting” to an all-out “aren’t you worried about safety?” But no one could ever give an actual example of why they thought that. When I asked our safari guide what surprises guests the most about South Africa, he said that for UK travellers, it’s how safe it feels.

Here’s the truth: as a solo parent driving across South Africa, I felt completely safe. Of course, I stuck to tourist areas and avoided wandering after dark – the same common sense I’d use anywhere. Everyone we met was friendly, helpful and genuinely welcoming.

Ready to start planning?

To follow in Caroline’s footsteps, take a look at our South Africa Family Adventure Self-Drive itinerary, which follows a similar route through Cape Town, the Garden Route and the Eastern Cape. If you’re short on time, our City and Safari Squad holiday packs the highlights into seven nights, combining Cape Town’s sights with a family-friendly safari.

This feature was created on 28th November 2025. The information within this feature is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication.