The Garden Route is one of the easiest places in South Africa to travel with children, because so much of it is built around animals, water and forest. The distances are the main challenge, so the secret to a good family trip is to keep the driving short and the days varied. Here is how to plan it.
Pace the driving
The route stretches for about two hundred kilometres, and children tire of a car quickly. Spend at least two nights in each base, plan no more than an hour or two of driving on most days and build in stops at beaches, playgrounds and farm stalls. Take snacks, water and something to occupy younger travellers, and avoid driving after dark.
Animals, animals, animals
Plettenberg Bay is the best place for children who love wildlife. Birds of Eden has an enormous walk-through aviary, Monkeyland lets you walk among lemurs and gibbons with a guide, and Jukani lets you look down on big cats from raised platforms. Combined tickets for two or all three sanctuaries are usually better value than separate ones, and each takes about two hours, so one or two make a good morning. Lawnwood Snake Sanctuary is a short, educational stop that older children often find gripping. Inland, an ostrich farm near Oudtshoorn lets children feed the birds and watch the ostrich derby, and the Cango Caves offer a cool, dramatic underground tour, although the Adventure Tour involves tight squeezes and is better for older, confident children.
On the water
The Knysna Heads and lagoon cruise is gentle enough for most children, and the Touw River cruise at Wilderness is calm and easy. A seal-viewing boat trip from Plettenberg Bay or Mossel Bay is a favourite, though operators set age and size rules and the sea can be rough, so ask first and bring motion sickness medication if needed. The seal swim is for older children and confident swimmers, so check the minimum age with the operator. Beaches are lovely, but currents can be strong, so swim only at signed, patrolled spots and keep an eye on the little ones.
Easy walks
The boardwalks at Tsitsikamma National Park suit most children who can manage stairs, and the Robberg Nature Reserve has short routes that are better than the full circuit for younger walkers. Wilderness National Park has gentle lake trails and picnic sites. The St Blaize Trail has a short, easy stretch near the lighthouse in Mossel Bay, but there are cliff edges, so hold hands. Always check SANParks and CapeNature for current trail notices before you set out.
Adrenalin for teenagers
The canopy zipline tour suits many older children, subject to age and weight limits set by the operator. The Bloukrans bungy has strict minimum ages and weights, so check the operator's conditions before promising anything to a teenager. Watching the jumpers from the viewing area is exciting enough for younger children.
Where to stay
Look for places with pools, gardens and space. Hunters Country House near Plettenberg Bay has grounds to explore, Pezula Nature Retreat has family suites and a children's club for an extra charge, and Tsitsikamma Village Inn has rooms that sleep families and restaurants within walking distance. In the December holidays and at Easter, book well ahead.
Sample family week
Spend two nights at Wilderness or Knysna for the river and lagoon cruises, three at Plettenberg Bay for the sanctuaries, the beach and a seal trip, and two at Storms River for the forest, a gentle zipline or wildlife stop and the national park. Add a day trip to Oudtshoorn if your children like ostriches. Keep afternoons free for the pool and early nights, and you will come home with happy children and good memories.
Safety and comfort
Pack sunscreen, hats, insect repellent and a first-aid kit, and carry plenty of water on every outing. Seat belts and child seats are required in South Africa, so arrange them when you hire the car. Beaches and rivers can have strong currents, so keep children within arm's reach near the water and swim only where it is signed as safe. Agree a simple plan for each day with the children, including a treat at the end, and be ready to drop an activity if the weather or their mood turns. A relaxed family, a few good sanctuaries and a pool at the end of the day are all that most children need.
