South Africa Family Safari Holidays: Wildlife, Coast & Fun

We make family safaris simple, safe and unforgettable.

A family safari in South Africa gives you the best of both worlds: world-class wildlife and the freedom to mix things up with beaches, cities, mountains and wide-open spaces. You’re not tied to a single experience, and that flexibility is precisely why families love it here.

Most families come to South Africa because they want more than just a safari. They want some days watching elephants at a waterhole, others on the beach, a day exploring Cape Town’s penguin-filled coves, or perhaps a gentle hike in the mountains. Plus the bonus? Much of South Africa is malaria-free, making it wonderfully straightforward for parents travelling with younger children.

But where to go? If you’re wondering where to start, our guide to the Best Destinations for Family Holidays in South Africa. offers an excellent overview. But nothing beats a proper chat. In 15 minutes on the phone, we can help you narrow down the regions, experiences and lodges that could fit your family perfectly.

South African Family Holidays: Why we love it

South Africa makes family travel easy — excellent roads, plentiful flights and a huge variety of activities.
Malaria-free safari options without compromising on wildlife or comfort.
Lodges that genuinely cater for children, from flexible mealtimes to bushcraft lessons and junior ranger programmes.
The freedom to combine safari with beach, culture and adventure, keeping every age group engaged.
Excellent value for the quality on offer

Family-Friendly vs. Family-Tolerant Lodges

There’s a world of difference between a lodge that genuinely welcomes children, and one that merely allows them. We’re constantly revisiting, reviewing and stress-testing our recommended safari lodges to ensure they deliver the space, flexibility and warmth that families need. (And yes, we’ve seen enough “family-tolerant” places to know the difference instantly…)

We plan your safari like it’s our own family trip; because it often has been.

Malaria & Family Safaris in South Africa

Malaria is limited to a small portion of South Africa, mainly around the Kruger National Park and its private reserves. If you prefer to avoid the malaria risk entirely, you have superb choices:

Eastern Cape – relaxed, easy, and ideal for first-time safari-goers.
Madikwe Game Reserve – Big Five viewing without the crowds, excellent for multi-generational trips.
Waterberg – spacious, adventurous, and brilliant for active kids and teens.
Northern KwaZulu Natal – very low risk of malaria and the perfect bush & beach option

But - before deciding on the malaria-free route - it’s worth remembering that Kruger’s private reserves offer some of the most rewarding wildlife experiences in Africa. And mosquitos are not usually a year-round pest. Depending on the time of year - with proper medical advice & precautions - many of our families choose Kruger for its exceptional game viewing, guiding and wildlife diversity.

We’ll help you weigh up what’s right for your children’s ages, your comfort levels, and your plans for the trip.

So have a look at our recommended Malaria Free Game Reserves.

There are many months, (May to mid September), when it is too cool at night for mosquitos to survive. Happily, this is also the best game-viewing time. (It's also the time when South African families visit the Kruger National Park.)

Beach Holidays in South Africa

If you are visiting in July or August, then it’s ‘’winter’’ in South Africa. So you’ll need to head to the northern part of South Africa to Coastal Maputaland. If you are coming in the South African summer months of November to March there are great beaches all along the Southern Coast in Cape Town, Hermanus, the Garden Route (such as Wilderness or Plettenberg Bay) and on the Dolphin Coast in KwaZulu Natal.

Or click to Download our Insiders Guide to Family Safaris - full of helpful tips.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best age for children to go on safari in South Africa?

Most lodges welcome children from around six years old, though a few allow younger children on dedicated kid-friendly drives. We would say 7 or 8 would be a great age.

How do we get between safari areas and the coast?

South Africa’s domestic flight network is excellent. You can fly directly between Cape Town, Johannesburg and safari hubs like the Kruger or Eastern Cape. But there are also provinces which combine beach and beach like KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern Cape.

Are private reserves better for families than national parks?

Often, yes. Private reserves offer guided open vehicle game drives, off-road viewing, lid-friendly safari activities and smaller camps. At many game lodges, children’s safari activities (tracking spoor, making bow-and-arrow sets, bush art) help break up time between safari drives.

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Tell us what your family loves—and we’ll design the South Africa journey that fits you perfectly – for an easy, inspiring and genuinely memorable family safari.