FAMILY-FRIENDLY EASTERN CAPE
Friday, 25th January 2019
Happy January! It’s time for the weekend warriors to start emerging from their post-Christmas slump and begin planning those amazing weekends away. Where else but the Eastern Cape could you laze on golden beaches in the morning while taking in a Big Five game drive in the afternoon? Where else could you paddle an ancient gorge, climb a mountain and learn to surf on the same roadtrip? Where is the ancestral home of the colourful Xhosa culture and the national’s greatest Arts Festival? That’s right, the Eastern Cape. So, pack up the fam, fill up your tank and make the various regions of the Eastern Cape your playground in 2019.
RENT A BIKE IN HOGSBACK
The charming mountain hamlet of Hogsback is best explored at a slower pace and biking through town and forest is an exhilarating and immersive way to experience the wonders of the Eastern Cape’s little wonder-village. Rent a bike from Hogsback Adventures, they’ll provide a map, and explore the surrounding by Afromontane and Afroalpine indigenous forest or potter around town, visiting the Eco Shrine, Labyrinth, Crystal Corner and The Fairy Realm. Perfect family fun for everyone who can ride a bike!
TAKE A SAFARI IN THE KAROO
Ah, the Karoo Heartland. Grey mountains, golden plains and that eternal blue sky. Add to this some of the finest national parks and private game reserves in the province and you have a winning South African wildlife combination. There are so many memories to be made and the little ones will learn so much from knowledgeable guides. Who doesn’t love a safari? Afterward, there’s nothing quite like sleeping in a star-bed beneath the shimmering Karoo Heartland sky after a day of game viewing.
SANDBOARDING AT SUNDAYS, ADDO
Sandboards at the ready! Sunday’s River borders the world’s largest dune field (it’s visible from space) and provides endless hours of family fun that can be combined with paddling, fishing, boating and much more. You’ll quickly come to realise that this region is an ideal location for the adventurous family and includes the fabulously fun Addo double zipline and giant swing.
FISHING ON THE WILD COAST
Most of us have fond childhood memories of seaside holidays: squishy bait, rods, buckets and fish hooks and look forward to introducing our children to the spirit of the Eastern Cape fishing excursion. The Wild Coast, with its seemingly endless coastline, is a perfect playground for fisherfolk and mini-fisherfolk. With fabulous coastal resorts all along the Wild Coast, whether the kids are of an age for battling the big ones or dipping a net in a rockpool, this is the place for seaside family fun.
FAT BIKING IN KENTON
One of South Africa’s unsung heroes is the sparkling Sunshine Coast: meandering rivers give way oceanside villages, rock pools and sandy white beaches - perfect for the active family. Paddle the rivers, wakeboard, kite surf and hop on a fat bike (designed for riding on the sand) to explore even more of this sundrenched region.
ZIPLINING IN TSITSIKAMMA
Africa’s first canopy zipline has stood the test of time, just like the ancient Yellowwood trees around which the canopies’ platforms are built. The Tsitsikamma Forest is one of the Eastern Cape’s many treasures and you’ll find serenity and adventure beneath its emerald leaves. Zipline, hike, Segway, bike, paddle, tube or bungy jump – the choice is yours. The kids will find endless hours of entertainment exploring the forest or ziplining from towering tree to towering tree. There’s always more to explore.
HORSERIDING IN JEFFREYS BAY
Ever since Tom Cruise and Elizabeth Shue galloped along the shoreline in Cocktail, a horse ride along the beach has been on any number of Bucket Lists as the ultimate nod to a seaside holiday. Jeffrey’s Bay, home to the perfect wave and more, is also home to the magical horseride on the beach. Wake up to the sound of the waves, spend the morning on the beach, the afternoon exploring on horseback and finish it all off with a fresh seafood dinner. That’s one Instagramable day!
STAY IN KOUGA BAVIAANS │THE WILD COAST │KAROO HEARTLAND │AMATHOLE MOUNTAIN ESCAPE │ROUTE 72 ON THE SUNSHINE COAST │GREAT ADDO │TSITSIKAMMA
