A family trip you'll never forget!
While Emke chats happily with Lotte and Ties, Hidde watches The Lion King on the iPad. With a blueberry muffin in hand and rosy cheeks from the warmth, he occasionally calls out an animal name or waves and laughs joyfully. This is going to be a family holiday to remember!
Traveling to South Africa with Toddlers
Traveling in South Africa seemed easy for us, as you have the option to drive yourself, and the distances are not too long. The beautiful nature was also a big attraction, and we were excited that Hidde would be able to see so many animals. He was still too young for a ‘real’ safari, but in the nature reserves, you can still spot quite a few animals, and in the national parks, he can join us on a self-drive safari. Additionally, no vaccinations are required, and South Africa is mostly malaria-free!
The ultimate highlight of our family trip
Tsitsikamma was truly the most beautiful in terms of natural beauty! The nature there is overwhelming. The nature reserves are so diverse; every hour you're driving through a different kind of landscape. Addo African Home near Addo was our favorite accommodation: very cozy, delicious food, and super kind people. Hidde saw many animals: elephants, giraffes, zebras, a very big monkey, and, less fun… a big spider.
The next family trip to Tanzania...
"We could easily spend another two weeks in Cape Town, there's so much to do here! When Hidde is a bit older, we'd like to do a more adventurous trip through Africa. We went to
Tanzania a few years ago, but that wasn't an option this time due to malaria risks. Maybe in a few years!"
Our tips for a family trip to South Africa
Just do it! You hear a lot of negative stories about safety in South Africa, but we never felt unsafe. The atmosphere is relaxed, and although most accommodations advise not to walk the streets at night, it feels like it would be fine. For peace of mind, we still avoid it, but with Uber, you can easily and safely get anywhere at night.
We're used to traveling more adventurously and on the fly, but with baby Hidde, we prefer having a set itinerary. South Africa is the perfect destination for traveling with young kids. It's cleaner, cheaper, and more efficient than places like southern France! Along the roads, you'll find playgrounds and clean toilets. Many restaurants and wineries also have playgrounds and kid-friendly menus.
Cape Town with Toddlers
Cape Town feels very Western, everything is well-organized and clearly signposted. For us, the ease of travel was really a breeze. Everyone speaks English, and even with some Dutch and a bit of Afrikaans, we were able to get by just fine.
More tips on our family page
Over the years, we've organized many family trips at Charlie's Travels, for families with both young and older children. If you have any questions about traveling with kids, our Charlie's Team is ready to assist you through chat! You can also
leave a message or read more about family trips on our special
family page. Safari njema!
You often hear many negative stories about safety in South Africa, but we never felt unsafe for a moment.
Our routes
South Africa is of course vast and offers countless beautiful places to explore. Take the Garden Route, for example, the most popular coastal route in South Africa. Absolutely impressive, but due to the enormous amount of tourism and our desire to focus on what we do best, we’ve chosen not to offer this route.
We focus on off-the-beaten-path experiences and routes, away from mass tourism. We want to show our travelers the authentic side of South Africa as much as possible. In South Africa, we opt for routes with relatively short travel distances, where you can enjoy a mix of safari, nature, tropical coastlines, and mountains. With a variety of activities ranging from unique hikes to stunning boat tours, from diving to zip-lining and horseback riding, and, as the cherry on top, culture! That’s why we’ve focused on two regions: the truly off-the-beaten-track Western Cape and The Eastern Loop! This way, you can make the most of the beauty South Africa has to offer.
