What does a good family vacation destination look like?

If you’re curating ideas for family vacations in South Africa, the ABCs through to Z start with Alpine Heath in the Drakensberg, the Blyde River Canyon, and all the way through to Zimbali in the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal.

Best Family Vacation Spots In South Africa

Families of different shapes and sizes will have different ideas in mind for what makes for great family vacation spots. What does a good family vacation destination look like? That all depends on the activities your family is into. You could be the rough-n-tough types, who like to pitch a tent in the great outdoors, or the types that go for sojourns through the hubs of our expansive country, carving dots across the maps that memories are made of.

Family Vacation Spots Near You

Where are good family vacation spots?

This time, our vote goes to KwaZulu-Natal

With the exception of some Cape Tonians who won’t travel further than the edge of their own suburb (tssk tssk, you know who you are), there’s just something about Natal that appeals to just about everyone. Sure, it’s a trek if you are in the Mother City, but it’s more than worth it! For Blue Flag beaches (and water you can actually swim in), the spanse of Durban’s offering — and the fact that is has something for everybody — makes it one of those top family vacation spots.

Given that you’re a Subaru owner / lover / fan, we’re sure you’re down for a road trip anyway.

There are the obvious attractions that spring to mind, but let’s get a little more creative, shall we?

St Lucia: Hippo and Crocodile Cruise on a 15-Seat Vessel

Witness hippos, Nile crocodiles, and hundreds of bird species onboard a cruise departing from St Lucia. This two-hour safari gets you up close to nature’s wonders within the estuary. Set adrift on a 5-seater vessel with experienced and knowledgeable skippers and rangers who have all the answers to the questions you might have about your experience or the area. Find out more

Durban: 30-Minute Harbor Boat Cruise

Did you know? Durban Harbor is the biggest and busiest harbor in the southern hemisphere. Spoil the kids on a boat that takes them to points of interest in Africa’s largest harbor, either down the Maydon Wharf Channel or to the City and Cor Container terminal. Find out more

Durban: Waterfront Canals Pedal Boat Rental

Rent a 4-person pedal boat and discover the Durban Point Waterfront Canals, a protected marine reserve with over 30 species of fish. Come with family or friends and make your way through the calm waters of the canals, keeping an eye out for the marine life below. Find out more

If you’re looking to ramp up your experience of family destinations in South Africa, there’s a higher-end experience with a complete dose of KZNs heritage and more! Take a full day private tour of the Top 10 City Sights where you get to visit Gandhi’s House in Inanda Township, Umhlanga Promenade, KwMuhle Museum, Botanical Gardens, Victoria Str Market, Zulu Herb & Medicine Market, City Hall Square, Moses Mabhida Stadium, and Ushaka Village Walk.

Blue Flag Beaches

What is a Blue Flag Beach? It’s a beach that meets the organisation’s standards of environmental management. These standards are for water quality, safety, and public environmental education.

Here’s the list of Blue Flag Beaches in KwaZulu-Natal that you might want to make part of your family vacation spots.

• Marina
• Trafalgar
• Southport
• Umzumbe
• Hibberdene
• Ushaka
• Durban North Beach
• Point
• Amanzimtoti
• uMhlanga Main

It’s almost impossible to have to suggest one specific region of South Africa to cover under family vacations in South Africa. To be fair, we could have made a list about each province, but then with so much to see and do in each of those, you’d spend all your time reading this and none of it getting out there, living life in the fresh air and see breeze — and of course, so much in between!

Perhaps we’ll come back to this topic and explore more possibilities in the context of family destinations in South Africa. Getting behind the wheel of your Subaru really leaves the canvas blank as to where you might like to go, right?

And if you don’t have a Subaru yet, why put the cart before the horse? Get started on the Subaru journey, and then the world’s your oyster (well, anywhere you can drive is, anyway). Book a test drive or find your local dealership and come in for a chat. If you prefer to stay home and talk about anything-Subaru with one of our helpful representatives, call our Customer Care Department on +27 11 608 0116.