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Elephants in the evening light in Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape

Sample journey · 13–16 days

The Garden Route with children, and a safari to finish

Cape Town, Hermanus, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Tsitsikamma and a private reserve in the Eastern Cape

Photo: Hanne Neijland / Unsplash

Illustrative journey ideas — not bookable packages. No prices, dates or accommodation are implied.

South Africa with children can be both easy and full of adventure. This route is a road trip along the coast: from Cape Town's penguins and beaches, via the whale coast at Hermanus, to the lagoons, forests and suspension bridges of the Garden Route. Drives are short or split, and you stay several nights in each place, so children have time to play and parents time to breathe.

To finish, a safari in a private reserve in the Eastern Cape. Elephant, rhino, lion and much more live here, and the region is considered free of malaria risk, which matters to many families. Many reserves have programmes designed for families, though age rules vary. This sample route is only a starting point: we'd shape the pace, stays and activities around your children's ages and interests.

The route

The journey

  1. Cape Town
  2. Hermanus
  3. Knysna & Plettenberg Bay
  4. Tsitsikamma
  5. Eastern Cape private reserve
  6. Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
  1. The African penguin colony on the white sand of Boulders Beach near Simon's Town

    01Days 1–4 · Cape Town

    Penguins, beaches and a mountain

    Cape Town is worth four nights, and after a long flight the first day can be very easy. Then Boulders Beach near Simon's Town, where African penguins waddle just a few steps from the boardwalks, the colourful beach huts and gentler waves of Muizenberg, the aquarium at the waterfront and Kirstenbosch botanical garden with its treetop walkway. If the weather allows, you can ride the cableway up Table Mountain; if not, there's always another plan.

  2. The deep blue water of Walker Bay and the mountains beyond, seen from the rocks at Hermanus

    02Days 5–6 · Hermanus

    The whale coast

    About an hour and a half east along the coast lies Hermanus on Walker Bay. From roughly June to November southern right whales are often seen right from the cliff path, though their timing and numbers vary each year. On the way it's worth stopping at another penguin colony at Stony Point, and in Hermanus clambering over the rock pools in search of crabs and starfish.

  3. A wooden boardwalk over the dunes in Robberg Nature Reserve near Plettenberg Bay

    03Days 7–10 · Knysna & Plettenberg Bay

    Lagoons, forests and long beaches

    The drive into the heart of the Garden Route is longer, around five hours, so it's worth breaking it at the Wilderness lagoons or in Mossel Bay. In Knysna, a boat trip on the lagoon towards the Knysna Heads and trails through old forest. Plettenberg Bay is known for its wide beaches, and in Robberg Nature Reserve the shorter loop suits children too: dunes, boardwalks and, often, seals on the rocks below.

  4. The suspension bridge across the Storms River Mouth on the Tsitsikamma coast

    04Day 11 · Tsitsikamma

    A suspension bridge over the river mouth

    A day in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park, about an hour further east. A short but steep trail leads to the suspension bridge across the Storms River Mouth, where waves break against the rocks. Older children can try a canopy zipline through the forest (where age and height allow), while younger ones will be happy with the pebble beach and a picnic. You can stay on the coast or continue east.

  5. A rhino grazing on green grass in Kariega Game Reserve, Eastern Cape

    05Days 12–15 · Eastern Cape private reserve

    Safari at a family pace

    After a drive of about two to three hours, a private reserve in the Eastern Cape bush, for three nights. Open-vehicle drives in the morning and evening and, at many lodges, activities for children too: reading tracks, short walks with a ranger, stargazing. Some reserves only take older children on drives or give families a private vehicle, so we choose carefully. From here, a visit to Addo Elephant National Park is also worthwhile.

Experience highlights

  1. 01

    Penguins up close

    At Boulders Beach the penguins live among the granite boulders, right beside the boardwalks.

  2. 02

    A whale from the shore

    In season at Hermanus, whales can often be seen without even getting into a boat.

  3. 03

    A bridge above the waves

    The suspension bridge at the Storms River Mouth: an adventure both children and adults remember.

  4. 04

    The first elephant

    The moment the vehicle stops, the engine goes quiet and everyone holds their breath.

First, we listen. Then, we explore what's possible.

Make it your own

  • With young children

    Fewer moves: two bases on the Garden Route instead of three, stays with kitchens or family rooms, and a reserve that takes all ages on drives.

  • With teenagers

    A surf lesson in Muizenberg, a sea-kayaking trip, the Tsitsikamma zipline and a walking safari with an armed ranger, where allowed.

  • Add the Winelands

    Two nights in Franschhoek or Stellenbosch before heading east: farms with play areas for children and long lunches for parents.

  • In the school holidays

    Lithuanian summer holidays fall in the South African winter, cooler but often whale season; over the Christmas holidays the coast is warm but busy, so stays are worth planning early.

Practical considerations

  • There's little or no time difference with Lithuania, an hour at most, so children settle in more easily after an overnight flight.
  • The route is planned as a self-drive (South Africa drives on the left); child seats and a larger car are worth booking in advance. You fly out from Gqeberha, usually via Johannesburg or Cape Town.
  • Eastern Cape reserves are generally considered to lie outside the malaria-risk areas; even so, check current health advice for the whole family with a doctor or travel clinic.
  • Reserve rules for children vary: minimum ages for drives, walks or shared vehicles are among the first things we'd talk through.

General guidance only. Seasons, weather and wildlife are never guaranteed, and travel requirements are always worth checking before you go.

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Thinking about South Africa with your children? Tell us how old they are and what they love, and we'll work out together how to balance the beaches, the road and the safari at your family's pace.

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