Warm weather and sunny skies; endless beaches and thrilling activities; interesting new cultures and people to get to know; breathtaking scenery and of course wildlife: Africa offers parents and kids the holiday experience of a lifetime whatever order you pack it all in.

A beach holiday always pleases the whole family. And from South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal coast, the palm tree-lined beaches of Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya, and the tropical Indian Ocean islands, there are a number of African beach holidays on offer.

The tropical island of Mauritius does family beach holidays best. With calm, safe waters, long sandy beaches and most hotels offering every conceivable watersport, everyone has something to do. Even parents get some time to themselves while kids are entertained through hotel programmes.

To go on safari is quintessentially African and nothing can prepare you for the beauty and wonder of the African bush and its wildlife. Seeing an elephant in its natural habitat is an awesome sight for adults: imagine such a sight through the eyes of a child.

It's worth remembering though that many of Africa's great safari destinations fall in malaria areas. It's advisable that pregnant women and children under the age of six steer clear of Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and even the Kruger National Park, particularly during the rainy season.

There are, however, some excellent malaria-free game viewing areas, such as the Madikwe Game Reserve and the Eastern Cape Reserves in South Africa.

Make sure you chat to one of our specialist vacation specialists before planning any safari as many game lodges have age restrictions and often won't let young children, sometimes up to the age of 12, go on game drives - while other lodges have drives specifically for kids.

If you have young children ensure you choose one of the lodges that offers activities and nature experiences for kids and especially one that offers baby sitting services so that you can enjoy the game drives and walks.

Our top family vacation destinations:

Cape Town is a beautiful city with so much to do! Culture and history will keep the adults and teenagers interested, whereas the beaches, penguins at Boulders Beach, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens and the activity at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront will keep the little kids and the rest of the family happy too.

Cape Town is full of family friendly hotels such as the Southern Sun, Radisson and Vineyard Hotel & Spa.

Mauritius is all about fun for everyone. The Residence and Le Cannonier are just two hotels with great kids clubs. Shandrani has great kite surfing facilities and is popular with teenagers.

Sun City, aptly nicknamed the Kingdom of Pleasure, has entertainment that caters for all ages. Activities include: golfing, casinos, a variety of water sports including a man-made beach and a children's entertainment area filled with a variety of games.

A stay at the Cabanas or another of Sun City's hotels is a sure way to keep the whole family occupied.

A safari in a malaria-free area like Madikwe Game Reserve or the Eastern Cape Reserves is a great, hassle-free way to get into the bush and go in search of the Big Five.

Somewhere like Kwandwe or Bukela Lodge in the Eastern Cape have great kids programmes and educational activities like 'insect safaris' and 'frog tracking'. And the Indian Ocean isn't too far away if you want to combine a bush and beach holiday.

In Madikwe, Jaci's Safari Lodge has a fun, specialised children's safari programme, but if you have a big family group you may want to stay at Royal Madikwe.

The Kruger National Park is one of the best game viewing areas in Southern Africa, and a place where many South African children have spent their holidays.

Thornybush Main Lodge and Honeyguide Khoka Moya Safari Lodge both have great ways to educate your kids about the bush and make them feel welcome.

Kenya is probably Africa's most famous safari destination. Why not try and see some different parts of it by taking the family on one of our tours, such as the Family Safari or the Kenya Family Fly-in Safari?

It's great to discover a new country with your children and to meet new people from different cultures. The Family Life 10 Day Tour is a perfect way of doing this. It is also a chance to help a community and teach your kids about being part of a group.