The primordial beauty of South Africa is nothing short of breathtaking, from its spectacular coastline to the top of Table Mountain. From discovering the ‘Big 5’ on safari to falling asleep under star-filled skies, there’s no shortage of adventure in store. Here are my favourite things to do as a family in this colourful country.
By foot: Go on an epic hike atop Table Mountain
Voted one of the “New 7 Wonders of Nature”, the imposing, flat-topped massif that defines Cape Town appears to rise out of the sea. A landmark to sailors for over five centuries and a symbol of hope to Nelson Mandela and his fellow inmates on Robben Island, it remains a source of inspiration. It’s impossible not to be struck by the beauty of this ancient mountain, whose rocky genesis predates the dinosaurs. Learn about the geological dramas of mountain formation and the resultant explosion in biodiversity—this mountain range hosts more plant species than Sweden!
By sea: Explore the Cape coastline
Wedged between two seas at the southwesterly tip of the African continent, Cape Town is an ideal spot for aquatic adventures. You might master stand-up paddleboarding in a sheltered tidal sea-pool before striking out into the ocean, beachcomb for shells on the Atlantic coast or snorkel the coves of False Bay.
By air: Go ziplining!
Just an hour or so out of Cape Town in the fertile Elgin Valley, kit up in harnesses and helmets for an aerial discovery of dramatic gorges, canyons and the Cape countryside.
This jagged landscape is an area of outstanding natural beauty, and it’s no wonder that it has attained World Heritage status. The thrill of ziplining, suspended over the fynbos-rich Riviersonderend Gorge, allows you to glide like an eagle above this spectacular, once-inaccessible, landscape hundreds of meters at a time.
By day: Go on safari in search of big game
There’s nothing more awe-inspiring than heading out in search of the ‘Big Five’ (lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos and the Cape buffalo) and a whole animal menagerie on safari. Train with your field guide on a game drive, covering a range of nature-focused topics from animal behaviour, tracking, and identifying creepy-crawlies like spiders and scorpions.
By night: A turtle conservation adventure
Learn about these threatened gentle giants of the ocean on a night walk along the Elephant Coast of South Africa. Between November and February every year, the leatherback and loggerhead turtles come ashore to nest and lay their eggs on the pristine beaches of Kwazulu-Natal. Follow the flipper tracks of the world’s second-largest reptile after the crocodile, the giant leatherback turtle.
