Great family destination.

The Garden Route is an ideal holiday destination for families. There is a good selection of guest houses and hotels that welcome children of any age, and also several self-catering cottages that are ideal if you don't want to eat out every night - especially if you have very young children.

There is also plenty of things to do to keep children amused - and parents too!

Beach Fun

The Garden Route is famous for its miles of endless sandy beaches, which are just begging to have sand castles built on them, and coupled with the warm waters of the Indian Ocean makes a day at the beach a definite on any itinerary.

It is worth pointing out, however, that in some places along the coast, the ocean current can be quite strong, so always ask the advice of your hosts where is the best place to swim.

Some of the best beaches can be found at Wilderness, Brenton-on-Sea, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.

Visitors to Monkeyland can enjoy a one hour 'monkey safari' walk through the forest, led by knowledgeable game rangers who will tell you all about these fascinating creatures as you encounter them.

Listen to them chatter to each other as they swing from tree to tree, or watch them clambering onto the feeding tables to enjoy the fruits, nuts and vegetables which are laid out each day.

There is also a restaurant with a large open deck, right next to the forest, which serves snacks, meals and drinks. Some of the monkeys are particularly curious - and will come very close to investigate what is going on!

Part of the safari, for those who wish, includes walking across a rope bridge which spans a canyon above the forest canopy giving you a birds eye view of a section of the forest and its inhabitants otherwise seldom seen.

Ostriches at Oudtshoorn

Oudtshoorn, 55 km north of George, is famous for its Ostrich Show Farms. The most popular ones are the Highgate Ostrich Show Farm, the Safari Ostrich Show Farm and the Cango Ostrich Show Farm.

Daily 2 hour tours include a visit to the hatcheries, where you can see the eggs and the chicks (in season), as well as close up encounters with the ostriches themselves - feeding the ostriches by hand is very popular with the children, and the brave ones just love being able to sit on an ostrich.

Birds of Eden

Birds of Eden is the Garden Route's only free flight bird sanctuary, developed from the need to create a safe environment in which to release a large collection of African birds.

The unique 2 hectare dome (the world’s largest) spans over a gorge of indigenous forest, and also has its own mysterious ruin, which incorporates a walk-behind waterfall. On opening, there was approximately 2,000 birds in the Avery, comprising over 100 species, and it is anticipated that these numbers will increase drastically as the project gets more established, as bird owners can also apply to release their pet birds into the sanctuary.

Like its neighbour, Monkeyland, Birds of Eden boasts its own canopy walk, which hangs above the clouds.

Upon arrival you will be greeted by your guide who will inform you of when your tour will start.

During your wait (which will normally not be more than half an hour ) you can view the snake park, farmyard animals or have a bite to eat at the Turtles Restaurant, which has a special kiddies’ menu to satisfy the younger members of the family.

Your guided tour will take you through the alligator and crocodile enclosures and then off to Cheetahland where you will meet the big cats.

Buffalo Hills

Big game, more than 150 species of birds, a traditional mampoer and liqueur distillery - these are just some of the attractions for kids and parents alike at Buffalo Hills, situated 15 km from Plettenberg Bay and 35 km from Knysna.

Various day packages include game drives aboard shaded 4x4 game viewing vehicles, distillery tours and tasting, guided walks and traditional African braais (barbecues) in the boma.

On your game drive in this 1,000 hectare malaria-free reserve, look out for rhino, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, several antelope species, wildebeest - and the elusive and shy leopard. Listen as your trained guide tells you interesting facts about the wildlife, and helps you spot animal tracks and identify bird and interesting plant species.

During the whale watching season (mid July to end November), migratory Southern Right whales come to the waters off Plettenberg Bay to calf, and regular boat-based whale watching tours provide the opportunity to see these gentle giants at close quarters. 

You can also take a boat trip to the seal colony at the Robberg Nature and Marine Reserve, just south of Plettenberg Bay, or go out on a dolphin safari looking for bottlenose dolphins, humpback dolphins and common dolphins.