In this article, you'll find a basic guide to Cape Town, one of the world's most beautiful cities, and the kinds of things there are to see and discover there.

Cape Town, a wonderful city surrounded by ocean

In this article you will find all the reasons why you should go and have a unique experience in Hermanus.

Hermanus, whales from the beach

The Cape of Good Hope is a myth across the world. In this article you will find advice to help you make the most of your journey there.

Cape of Good Hope: an edge of the world

The Kruger National Park in one of the best known game reserves in the world, where you'll see a host of wild animals. Among them, you'll be able to spot the Big 5.

The Kruger, in search of the Big 5

Located at about&nbsp;six hours from Johannesburg by road (it's also possible to get there by plane), Kruger is THE national park to visit in South Africa.

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Kruger National Park

Located around 200 km from Nelspruit, Balule is a private nature reserve that has the advantage of being directly adjoined to Kruger National Park.

Balule

Ohrightad

This little village is situated at the entrance to theBlyde River Canyon in the Great Escarpment, in the northeast of the country. 

Graskop

Lying 30 minutes from Cape Town by boat, Robben Island is the site of the famous prison in which Nelson Mandela was held for 19 years.

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I was impatient to visit this place because it is marked as a must-see in the guidebooks. Moreover, it is necessary to book well in advance to obtain a place on the tour. And the 45 minutes it took to get there by boat did not deter me... Because the tour was going to be guided by a former prisoner who passed several years on Robben Island, it promised to be interesting. In fact, it wasn't at all... First of all, we did a small tour of the island by bus and a very nice guide (I went there in December 2014) gave us a commentary on what we were seeing (in English, of course!). You have to know that there are 2,000 people living here!!! Then we arrived in front of the famous prison and were impressed by its tens of metres of wire fencing and its watchtowers. But the tour that promised to be interesting was very boring in the end because the former prisoner droned on in a monotone for 45 minutes, which did not suit the resonance of the room. Being a former prisoner was never a guarantee of being an unparalleled orator! And I truly struggled to understand despite my English not being too bad. It was sleep-inducing... For the rest of the tour, it says that you are free to look around, but this was really only a hurried look... Of course, we passed by Mandela's famous cell. It is the only furnished cell out of all the cells that are there and there is a queue for taking photos... In conclusion, this tour is reserved for out-and-out fans of Mandela and/or those who speak and understand English very well. Do not go there on a family outing if your children do not understand English; they will get bored. But if they do understand English, they may get bored anyway. In that case, it would be better to visit the very beautiful museum that is located on the Waterfront. It will be less expensive, you will not get seasick, and—without a doubt—you will learn a lot more.

It is there that Nelson Mandela was locked up for his 27 years of captivity.

As the long queue for the ferry at the boarding terminal testifies, Robben Island has become a site of pilgrimage and is now <a href="/south-africa/">one of the essential places to see in South Africa</a>. As soon as you arrive at the island, a former political prisoner takes charge of you and leads you on a very emotionally moving tour. Through a series of anecdotes, he tells you about his experiences and what daily life was like for him for a number of years. The part where you visit the cell in which Nelson Mandela was held is an intense experience. As for the final speech at the end of the tour – a veritable hymn to peace, forgiveness and hope for the future – I have to admit it brought tears to my eyes. In summary, it really is essential to make a visit here in order to understand this particularly sad episode in the country's history. And on a different subject entirely, the view of Cape Town from the island is superb.

Lying 30 minutes from Cape Town by boat, Robben Island is the site of the famous prison in which Nelson Mandela was held for 19 years.

The best local travel agencies in South Africa for family tours with kids

Family tour ideas in South Africa

<a data-destination-id="73" data-internal-link="destination">South Africa&nbsp;</a>is a huge country. As such you and your family will have no shortage of places to visit and memories to make during your time in this beautiful country. The South African philosophy of Ubuntu; the belief that human beings cannot exist alone and that the way that we treat others defines us, is everywhere. as such, you and your kids will be&nbsp;welcomed with open arms&nbsp;as you learn all about South Africa's beauty, culture, turbulent history and so much more. This truly is an eye-opening trip and is&nbsp;perfect for parents&nbsp;and kids looking to get out of their bubble for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.evaneos.net/where-to-go/family-vacations/" data-mce-href="https://www.evaneos.net/where-to-go/family-vacations/"></a><a data-mce-href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/where-to-go/family-holidays/" href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/where-to-go/family-holidays/" target="_blank">family adventure</a>&nbsp;of a lifetime, whether you're on&nbsp;safari, learning to kite-surf, taking a bike tour of Johannesburg or visiting the fascinating cultural sites on offer here.<h3>Best things to see and do in South Africa with kids</h3><h4>What to see as a family</h4>South Africa is home to so many incredible sights and sounds that you and your kids won’t get to see anywhere else, and there’s no better introduction to its beauty than a visit to&nbsp;<a data-place-id="30957" data-internal-link="place">Cape Point</a>. Not only can you see the best views around, with a panoramic position over the ocean, you can also explore a lighthouse that dates back to the 1800s.&nbsp;The Cape of Good Hope&nbsp;is another must see that should make it onto your list. Pack up a picnic and take the gentle hike up to this beautiful spot to sit down and&nbsp;relax as a family&nbsp;in a setting that certainly beats the local park.&nbsp;<a data-place-id="9848" data-internal-link="place">Table Mountain</a>&nbsp;is one of the country’s most famous natural sites and is an incredible place to walk, hike, climb and bike. Explore the trails that take you to the summit or take a cable car for a relaxing ride to the top. South Africa is also home to some of the most&nbsp;beautiful beaches&nbsp;in the world. Take a trip to the shores to try your hand at surfing, with lots of surf schools specialising in teaching&nbsp;younger kids.Plettenberg Bay&nbsp;is just one great choice. These white sands make the perfect place to relax and enjoy your surroundings and some beaches even have some native animal inhabitants that kids will love.&nbsp;<a data-place-id="14168" data-internal-link="place">Boulders Beach</a>, for instance, is home to a free-roaming colony of&nbsp;African Penguins&nbsp;that never fail to attract those keen to meet these&nbsp;friendly animals. Other beaches are famous for their Whale watching and you can take a boat trip of shore to see the world’s largest mammals. There’s so much history here that it would be a shame to visit without learning a little about South Africa’s dramatic and at times violent past. Museums such as&nbsp;The Apartheid Museum&nbsp;will offer an interesting and interactive experience of South African history that is important for visitors to understand and&nbsp;children can learn&nbsp;important lessons from visits here.&nbsp;Robben Island&nbsp;also makes for a fascinating and important day trip. This place was formerly a prison for political figures and housed people such as Nelson Mandela.<h4>What to do as a family</h4>It would be rare to find a visitor to South Africa that wasn’t planning a&nbsp;Big Game Safari&nbsp;at some point during their trip. South Africa is often seen as one of the top destinations to see the Big Five in their natural habitats;&nbsp;lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards&nbsp;and&nbsp;buffalo. Here, you’ll be able to organize the safari tour of your choice, with some options cater especially for kids and&nbsp;very young visitors.&nbsp;<a data-place-id="361" data-internal-link="place">Kruger National Park</a>&nbsp;is just one of many options and is one of the most popular. Come here to see all the well known animals, as well as the Big Five of course.&nbsp;Addo Elephant National Park, as its name would suggest,&nbsp;is famous for its elephant herds, but is also home to many other animals that you’ll be able to see as you roam the park with your safari guide, who’ll be able to point out all the animals as well as tell you interesting facts and stories about each one. The Eastern Cape is the best place to visit for a safari if you are worried about malaria, since this area is considered as more malaria free than other parts of the country.Sabi Sabi, a private game reserve, is yet another option and is the&nbsp;clear choice for families&nbsp;looking for a little luxury in the wilderness. After spending a day or two seeing all the animals here on a game drive, you and your kids will be able to relax in a high end accommodation and enjoy some downtime before embarking on your next South African adventure. For very&nbsp;active families,&nbsp;Blyde River Canyon&nbsp;is not to be missed. In South Africa’s answer to the Grand Canyon of the USA, you can bike, hike and climb in this incredible natural setting. Admire the impressive rock formations and sheer scale of this place.&nbsp;Cango Caves&nbsp;are another&nbsp;family favourite, where you can take&nbsp;guided tours&nbsp;of each cave and her tales and mythology as you explore. After a day of caving, why not visit one of South Africa’s top theme parks, the&nbsp;Gold Reef City park, with so many roller coasters and rides to choose from, this promises to be an action-packed day trip that the kids certainly won’t forget in a hurry. Head back into&nbsp;<a data-place-id="34944" data-internal-link="place">Cape Town</a>&nbsp;via&nbsp;Constantia,&nbsp;a wine producing suburb of the city where kids can play and adults can relax and sample some of the local produce on a wine tour. Wine tasting is also a popular choice when visiting&nbsp;the Garden Route, a green and luscious part of the country. One last trip that&nbsp;young children&nbsp;especially love is a visit to&nbsp;Oudtshoorn&nbsp;- a huge ostrich farm. Here, you can&nbsp;pet the animals&nbsp;and learn all about this giant bird. &nbsp;<h3>Best time to visit South Africa as a family</h3>Since South Africa is so large, it can be considered as a year-round destination due to its diverse weather patterns. When you decide to visit will depend on what you plan on doing and if you want to visit a lot of places all over the country, it would be wise to&nbsp;prepare for diverse weather&nbsp;too. Generally speaking,&nbsp;families&nbsp;looking to go on safari would be best to visit during the drier months between May and October. For a&nbsp;beach holiday, the summer months between November and March are a great time to visit.&nbsp;Younger children&nbsp;may find the summer sun a bit intense, so it’s important to take this into account if you do plan on arriving during these months. In Cape Town, you are likely to encounter rain during the months between June and August, since winter showers are frequent. Whenever you decide to visit, you will have an<a href="https://www.evaneos.net/where-to-go/" data-mce-href="https://www.evaneos.net/where-to-go/">&nbsp;incredible trip</a>.<h3>Family&nbsp;holiday tips for travelling to South Africa</h3>With a little research and knowledge you can ensure that you are as prepared as possible for your time in South Africa, here a few tips and tricks to ensure that everything runs smoothly on your&nbsp;family trip.<ul><li style="font-weight: 400;" data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">As with any popular tourist destination, you and your family may encounter pickpockets when visiting some of the more crowded sites, particularly in cities. These are easy to tackle by simply making sure that any valuables are kept safe and sound back at your hotel and that you don’t carry large amounts of cash.</li><li style="font-weight: 400;" data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Make sure that you speak to your GP before traveling here to ensure that you have had any vaccinations that you may need. Sadly, Malaria is a reality for much of Africa, so its important to take the necessary precautions.</li><li style="font-weight: 400;" data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Book ahead, especially if you plan on traveling during peak season, to ensure that you get the best&nbsp;family-friendly accommodation&nbsp;with amenities such as a swimming pool.</li><li style="font-weight: 400;" data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Make sure that you leave yourselves enough time to appreciate everything. With such a large country, it can be tempting to zoom around all the sites in&nbsp;the&nbsp;hopes&nbsp;of seeing&nbsp;it all. It can be worth slowing down to avoid wearing yourselves out and give yourselves time to&nbsp;enjoy each location.</li></ul>

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The best tailor-made South Africa tours for families with children, created by a local travel agency. Request a local expert to create your perfect trip.

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Honeymoon tour ideas in South Africa

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The best local travel agencies in South Africa for one week tours

One week tour ideas in South Africa

<a href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/south-africa/" data-mce-href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/south-africa/"></a><a data-destination-id="73" data-internal-link="destination">South Africa</a> has something to enchant every visitor, from amazing indigenous animals to unbelievably beautiful landscapes and seascapes, to fun cities to explore. Go on safari to see the ‘Big Five’ or African wildlife before relaxing in an eco-lodge, surrounded by national park. Swim in a crystal blue sea before exploring sea caves and hidden beaches. South Africa has so much to offer that you will never be bored on a 7 day tour, no matter your tastes.<h3>Best things to see and do for one week in South Africa</h3><h4>What to see in one week</h4>South Africa’s turbulent history makes up an important part of its modern day identity and as such it’s important to get a sense of this on a one week trip here. Visit places such as the Apartheid Museum to learn all about these turbulent times and to gain valuable insights into recent South African history. For the best views around visit <a data-place-id="30957" data-internal-link="place">Cape Point</a>, where you can explore a 19th century lighthouse as well as benefit from panoramic views. Why not pack a picnic and make the most of this day trip? If just looking out to sea isn’t enough for you, you can rent a boat and go exploring offshore. South Africa has several fascinating islands to visit too, with <a data-place-id="9414" data-internal-link="place">Robben Island</a> being home to an ex-prison, perhaps best known for housing Nelson Mandela. Active visitors should visit <a data-place-id="9848" data-internal-link="place">Table Mountain</a>, where hiking, biking and climbing is on offer no matter your ability. For animal lovers, visit <a data-place-id="14168" data-internal-link="place">Boulders Beach</a>&nbsp;<a></a>where you can see a colony of African Penguins as they go about their business. <h4>What to do in one week</h4>For many people, the wildlife is one of the main reasons for visiting South Africa. As home to the Big Five of safari; the Lion, Buffalo, Leopard, Rhino and Elephant, South Africa is one of the best places in the world to see a huge range of the most majestic animals all in one place. Go on a day safari or spend several days tracking and observing the animals with your experienced local guide. There are so many places to choose from, with just a few of the best safari spots being <a data-place-id="361" data-internal-link="place">The Kruger National Park</a>, <a data-place-id="22578" data-internal-link="place">Addo Elephant National Park</a> and Sabi Sabi Game Reserve. Sabi Sabi is a private game reserve which specialises in luxury safari tours and lodging, so you’ll be able to combine adventure and adrenaline with relaxation. The Wine Route is another excellent place to visit on a week long tour of South Africa. The wine route is a route following through the South African wine country, where wine is produced in the perfect conditions here. Stay in a vineyard and sample some of the local wine before moving onto the next stop. You can also visit <a data-place-id="22589" data-internal-link="place">Oudtshoorn</a>, a huge ostrich farm where you can meet the livestock and learn all about these majestic animals. <h3>Best time to travel to South Africa for a week</h3>Since South Africa is so large, it can be considered as a year-round destination due to its diverse weather patterns. <a href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/south-africa/holidays/when-to-go/" data-mce-href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/south-africa/holidays/when-to-go/"></a><a data-document-id="12716" data-internal-link="article">The best time to visit South Africa</a> for safari is during the drier months between May and October. For a beach holiday, the summer months between November and March are a great time to visit. Some visitors may find the summer sun a bit intense, so it’s important to take this into account if you do plan on arriving during these months. In Cape Town, you are likely to encounter rain during the months between June and August, since winter showers are frequent. Whenever you decide to visit, you will make incredible memories on your one week South Africa tour.

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The best local travel agencies in South Africa for wildlife tours and safaris

Safari tour ideas in South Africa

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The best local travel agencies in South Africa for self drive tours

Self-drive tour ideas in South Africa

The best road trips and self-drive tours in South Africa, created by a local travel agency. Request a local expert to create your perfect trip.

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Self drive tours in South Africa 

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The best local travel agencies in South Africa for hiking and trekking tours

Tour ideas for trekking and hiking in South Africa

The best hiking and trekking tours and excursions in South Africa, created by a local travel agency. Request a local expert to create your perfect trip.

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Tour ideas for visiting South Africa's best beaches

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The best local travel agencies in South Africa for privately-guided tours

Guided tour ideas in South Africa

The best privately-guided tours in South Africa, created by a local travel agency. Request a local expert to create your perfect trip.

Ile Robben Holidays

Ile Robben: How to get there?

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Ile Robben: For how long?

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