The year is screeching to a halt and holidays are just around the corner. It’s family time and finding fun things to do that won’t hurt the budget can be a stretch for even the most imaginative parents. Our adventure specialists at Dirty Boots, locals who love adventuring themselves, have some ideas for you. These family-friendly outdoor adventures promise connecting with nature in fun, engaging ways without breaking the bank. From hiking and picnicking to wildlife spotting and easy paddling, there’s something for every family to enjoy in South Africa’s great outdoors.
To take full advantage of Cape Town’s abundant green spaces, it’s worth purchasing a ‘Wild Card’ or ‘My green card’. A one off yearly payment then allows you ‘free access’ or ‘multiple access’, to some really beautiful, safe outdoor ‘playgrounds’. Top of our list is Silvermine and Cape Point nature reserves. On hot summer days Silvermine, with its cool rooibos tea coloured dam, is kiddies paradise. You can picnic in the shade of pretty Keurboom trees, swim and take an easy walk around the dam or a longer more exciting hike to Elephants Eye Cave (just remember your hats and plenty of water to drink! Heat stroke is the main cause of rescue on the Table Mountain Chain)
Take a drive down the False Bay coast towards Cape Point. There are many gorgeous little beaches tucked away here, you might even spot penguins. Instead of buying stuff, gift your family an experience in nature. A kayaking trip along the coast near Boulders Beach observing penguins from the perspective of the sea will be a holiday highlight.
Cape Point Nature Reserve is another area that offers multiple activities- all courtesy of nature’s bounty. Take magnifying glasses to the rock pools near Booi se Skerm (check times for low tide) and have competitions to see who can spot the most species- like peering into a jewellery box! Start getting your kids comfortable with using goggles and snorkels in the safety of the rock pools. (If you want a truly amazing guided snorkelling experience for the family check our Snorkelling in Cape Town offerings.) Head to the tidal pool at Buffels Bay for a safe salty swim. Or go on a family safari without even leaving Cape Town; make a tick list of birds and animals likely to be seen in Cape Point; tortoise, ostrich, bontebok, baboon, mountain zebra, eland, sunbird and sugarbird.
An outing to Table Mountain doesn’t have to cost a fortune and you don’t have to get all the way to the top for fantastic views! A relatively easy hike up Kloof Corner or Platteklip Gorge will get you to the contour path where you can walk across the front face of Table Mountain at 500 meters, enjoying all the same magnificent views of Lions Head and the city bowl that people go up to the top for.
A picnic in Kirstenbosch, with a reasonable entrance of R40 for Kids. They will love the gently swaying Aerial Boardwalk there. Or just time playing in the cool, clean water of the streams coming down from Table Mountain.
Check our Dirty Boots Cape Town adventures now for facilitated activities. Many of these are family and budget friendly.
The old adage “some of the best things in life are free” certainly applies in Durban. Get the kids up early to watch a spectacular sunrise from the Golden Mile. Bring your own boogie board for hours of wave-riding fun. Early mornings offer free dolphin-spotting opportunities.
One of your best holiday investments will be snorkels and goggles for the kids. Have movie night at home and show them the award winning documentary “My octopus teacher” to inspire them. Then head to one of Durban’s many tidal pools- Ballito’s and Umdloti’s are lovely. In the safe and warm environment, protected from rip tides, your kids will become amateur marine biologists as they discover mussels, crabs, star fish, sea snails and other creatures who prefer the shelter of the tidal pools. They might even be lucky enough to spot an octopus.
You can hire surf boards or Sups if you don’t have your own. But for real enjoyment of these activities we’d recommend booking a surf or Supping class for the whole family. With an excellent instructor by your side you’ll quickly get the hang of it. Check our Durban adventures for more details.
There’s a mass exodus from Johannesburg to Cape Town and the Southern Coast over the summer holidays. Take advantage of the great emptying out and explore some of Johannesburg’s beautiful urban parks and botanical gardens. While Table Mountain’s Platteklip Gorge heaves creating a human chain up to the summit, you can hike peacefully with the family, including the dog, around Houghton’s The Wilds or Emmarentia Dam.
Further afield, the Magaliesberg, with its network of wonderful trails, beckons. Choose a hike that goes via cooling rock pools as motivation for the family. Or head down into the deeps with a caving adventure at the Cradle of Humankind, a way to bring our ancient history vividly alive for the kids.
Check our list of Gauteng adventures for some affordable cruise options. A boat trip on Harties is a summery way to celebrate the Christmas Season.
Escape the summer heat with affordable family adventures in and around Nelspruit. Cool down while enjoying a day packed with excitement with one of Kestell Adventures water-based adventures; white water tubing, kloofing or waterfall abseiling. Head to Mac Mac falls and enjoy the gorgeous swimming hole.
Head to the higher elevated, thus cooler towns of Graskop and Sabie, where nature’s playground of waterfalls and lush forests inspire adventure. Choose a hike that suits your experience and fitness- there are many in the area. For an experience that blends learning with fun, visit the ancient Sudwala Caves.
No need to mention the stunning beaches in the area, all free fun for everyone. But as they start filling up think about a beach hike with the family…getting away from the known hubs where the beaches can be quite chaotic. Head to Natures Valley and hike to Salt River, a gentle forested walk and have a picnic under the shade of the Milk Woods. Unlike many of the beaches in the area, swimming in the tidal Salt River is safe (with parental supervision). Or hike inland to cool off in mountain pools. The Giant Kingfisher Trail (will live up to its name if you sit quietly by a rock pool and keep your eyes open) on the Touw River in Wilderness provides shaded trails and sunny rock pools- the perfect pairing.
Explore safe SUP and paddling spots in Plettenberg Bay and Knysna. Paddle the calm Keurbooms River or the sheltered Knysna lagoon. These serene waters are ideal for beginners and families seeking peaceful aquatic adventures.
The back roads inland from Knysna and Plett offer exciting cycling opportunities for the whole family. The old Bloukrans Pass is closed to traffic but the perfect shady trail for walking and cycling. Take a picnic and stop for a riverside lunch in this beautiful spot.
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