The Top Kid-Friendly Resorts in South Africa for Families

The resort is located within an easy 2-hour drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria and is situated less than 5 minutes drive from the entrance to Sun City and adjoins the Pilanesberg Game Park, offering both a luxury hotel and self-catering accommodation. The resort provides a free shuttle service to the iconic Sun City. 

It’s an ideal family-friendly destination as it offers a wide range of facilities and activities for both parents and children. These facilities/activities include a splash-tastic water park, adventure golf, day spa, a café for light meals and pizzas, game drives, swimming pool, trampoline and the recently introduced jumping pillow, kid’s play area, archery, a rock-climbing wall, a seasonal outdoor cinema, a boma for communal braais and complimentary Wi-Fi.

This very popular family-friendly holiday resort is on the banks of the Sabie River in the Mpumalanga province and boasts a few self-catering chalets, bungalows, cottages, and lodges each with up to four bedrooms, as well as camping sites.

Facilities at the resort include swimming pools (both cold and heated), water slides, tennis courts, a play park (with a jungle gym, trampolines, and swings), and an indoor entertainment hall with a tennis table, pool tables and video games. Tubing and canoeing on the river are always just so much fun.  If you feel up to a bit of hiking, the Loerie Day Trail beckons. There is also a popular (with the locals as well as residents) fully licensed a la carté restaurant on site.

The Drakensberg Mountain Range is a stunning destination for a school holiday getaway and the Cavern is well-known as being "The Resort of Many Happy Returns." It's quiet, stunningly beautiful, and brim full of things to do and see. This hotel has many suites, including three superior family suites, eight family rooms, and 10 inter-leading rooms. The whole family will love the many walking, hiking, and horse-riding trails. 

For parents with toddlers and young children, there’s a playroom staffed with nannies, safe and exciting playgrounds and a range of educational games and fun activities. Furthermore, the area is a haven for kids keen on fishing, horse riding, tennis, swimming and exploring. The Adventure Centre provides endless fun. This resort is specially set up for families of all ages, from toddlers to teens, from parents to grandparents and encourages outdoor activities.

Situated in Cape Town's world-famous Victoria and Albert (V&A) Waterfront situated in a working harbour this destination is a collection of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, providing ultimate luxury and spacious comfort.  The village provides its guests with secure underground parking, a gym and no less than five swimming pools.  What makes this destination rather juicy is that everything at the V&A is accessible by foot from the village!  The waterfront is Africa’s most visited tourist destination featuring over 400 stores, award-winning restaurants, boat trips (including those to Robben Island), sunset cruises, an amphitheatre, numerous cinemas, an aquarium and a very special vibe that visitors of all ages will enjoy.

Set on 750 acres of lush, natural bush, the Wild Coast Sun is a very family-friendly resort overlooking the Indian Ocean where the KZN province meets the Eastern Cape province. It has rooms and suites to suit every family.  This extensive resort has superb restaurants and boasts a world-class 24-hour casino.  Family-friendly experiences include trips upriver on a double-decked boat, water park, ten-pin bowling, surfing, bodyboarding, and deep-sea fishing. 

There is even scuba diving on offer for the more adventurous guest.  Its golf course is famous for being one of the best championship courses in the country.

It has been our pleasure to take you on an all-embracing tour of just some of South Africa’s top family-friendly holiday destinations.

From trout fishing in Magoebaskloof in the far north, to an exciting water park in Mossel Bay, from a holiday farm in the Karoo to a lush bush resort and casino on the east coast, from a Big 5 luxury private game reserve to the splendour of the Drakensberg Mountain Range, it just goes to show the variety on offer in this wonderful and diverse country.

There are of course many other great family-friendly hotels and resorts out there, far too many to cover, even briefly, in this article. Our friendly and expert travel consultants, therefore, look forward to hearing from you so that together we can find you the ideal getaway.

So, what’s stopping you?  Book your local family holiday today!