by Alison Westwood, 1 January 2006

My Mother the General

The preparation for our annual family holiday when I was a child resembled the frenzied preparation for an old-fashioned military campaign, with my mother playing the part of a reluctant and understaffed general.

My mother didn't believe in using the element of surprise, however, and we almost always did the same thing. We went to Durban, along with every other family in Johannesburg.

Invasion of the Vaalies

The annual invasion of the 'Vaalies' (people from what was then the Transvaal), was viewed with a mixture of amusement and exasperation by the Durbanites. You could tell a local kid from a Vaalie invader on the beach.

The locals had magnificent tans, sun-bleached blonde hair, and started surfing at the age of 4. Us Vaalies came smothered in sun cream, carried buckets and spades, and paddled nervously in ankle-deep water.

Keep 'em Busy

Just like an army, a family is happiest when the troops are kept busy. A family holiday where there's nothing for the children to do but watch mom and dad relax (and consequently stage guerrilla attacks) is bound to end in tears.

A well-planned family holiday provides the younger generation with frenzied activity and a quiet place for their parents to do some serious work - on their tans.

We're All in This Together

The best family holidays also offer something the whole family can enjoy together. Building sandcastles was our favourite family activity. My brother and I supplied the castle design and enthusiastic workforce, my father undertook the engineering and moat construction, and my mother happily combed the beach for seashells to decorate the castle.

The More Things Change...

My father came to stay with us in Cape Town for the Christmas holidays this year. 20 years later the family holiday dynamics haven't changed much. I wanted to go hiking, he wanted to sit quietly with his book. We compromised with a short stroll through Kirstenbosch and a long picnic lunch on the lawns.

I asked him what he remembered about our old family holidays. "Building sandcastles," he said immediately. Pity we didn't make it to the beach this time.

A Battle Plan for Mums & Dads

South Africa is an excellent destination for family holidays. Two things make it particularly attractive: its good road and air networks and its wonderful climate. South Africa is easy to get around, whether you choose to fly or to drive, and families can enjoy a wide range of activities together at any time of year.

Cape Town - An Easy Win

No visit to South Africa is complete without a few days in Cape Town. There are so many memorable family experiences on offer in Cape Town that you may find you return many times. When it comes to planning a successful family holiday, it doesn't get easier than this.

The top of Table Mountain is a must. The cable car ride is better than anything at a fairground, and there's plenty of space to run around (or stroll) at the top. Paddling with the penguins at Boulders Beach in Simons Town is another all-time family favourite, and something you probably can't do anywhere else in the world.

The Garden Route - Ostrich Rides and Aladdin's Caves

A holiday tour of the Garden Route is like a beaded necklace of happy moments. It's best experienced on a self-drive tour and you can start in Cape Town, or work your way towards it.

Along the way you'll all enjoy the wonder of the Cango Caves, the ostrich capital of Oudtshoorn, the golden beaches of Plettenberg Bay, and the magical forests and lagoons of Knysna, which has been voted South Africa's favourite town several times.

Kwazulu Natal - Life's a Beach

The coast of KwaZulu Natal is as popular with overseas visitors as it was with us 'Vaalies'. Although it's slightly sweltering in summer, the weather around Durban is balmy in July and the sea is warm enough for the kids to stay in the water for hours.

Although it's not well-known, KwaZulu Natal is also a top safari destination, with some great game reserves like Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve and Phinda.

It's also the home of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site with a host of outdoor and leisure activities available for visitors.

The Kruger Park - Where the Wild Things Are

If you're coming all the way to Africa for your family holiday, it seems a bit of a waste not to see the animals. The most popular place to see them is, of course, the Kruger National Park.

If you're travelling with young children, you're probably best off staying at a private lodge, rather than in one of the main rest camps. Age restrictions on children in the safari vehicles vary, but many of the lodges provide alternate activities and supervision for children.

Sun City - Non-Stop Entertainment

Sun City provides the ultimate hands-free holiday in Africa. A stupendous oasis in the desert, Africa's answer to Las Vegas, it's also one of the top holiday resorts in the world.

The Valley of the Waves, the Palace of the Lost City, the Gary Player Golf Course - magical phrases to inspire excitement in children and, well, bigger children. If the larger-than-life-size sculptures of elephants everywhere don't convince you you're in Africa, you're only a few minutes away from malaria-free safaris in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve.

Article © Copyright 2006 Go2Africa.

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