Remember how fun school holidays used to be as a kid growing up? Even for those who didn’t head down the coast or have other fun activities planned, the holidays represented that sweet relief and an opportunity to do more of what you want to! Not much has changed these days, except we’ve grown up to be the parents responsible for planning these holiday getaways – so, to pay tribute to those great memories we have, it’s important to make the most of the upcoming holidays. A bit stuck for ideas? Don’t stress, we’ve got your back!
Dis Lekker By Die See
You probably didn’t need much help with this one, nothing says ‘family holiday’ quite like getting the bucket and spade out. Mzansi is truly blessed to have a gorgeous coastline with loads of fantastic spots located up and down it, but you can’t mention South Africa’s beaches without speaking about Durban. Durbs is a great place to consider during this time of year – the winter days are passing, the sun is peaking out more, but without the sweltering heat that you might experience over the year-end or Easter holidays. There are paddles pools, a water park and, of course, uShaka Marine World to entertain ocean-lovers of all ages while you enjoy yourselves at the beach. City Lodge Hotel Durban is your best bet here, you can basically smell the beautiful ocean breeze from the parking lot!
Fine Dining Picnic
The Western Cape is well known for its wine farms; many a glass has been clinked thanks to Cape Town and its surrounding areas. But how does family-friendly fun fit into this picture? Simply put, wine farms are super scenic. Take Spier Wine Estate for example, located about an hour from central Cape Town. Though they’re well-known makers of wine and hosts of tastings, they also cater to families with fun picnics. You simply pre-book, arrive and collect your picnic basket to enjoy anywhere in their scenic property. And yes, parents, the basket does have a bottle tucked away for you to enjoy too – along with farmhouse cheeses, pasture-reared cold meats, homemade bread, pâté, chutney, fresh salads and home-baked delicacies. Town Lodge Belville gets you the closest to the estate, just a brief but gorgeous half-hour drive away.
Always Be Learning
South Africa is rich in significant history, and many people around the country work hard to preserve and educate others on it. Understandably, the idea of learning during school holidays may only appeal to a certain kind of kid, but when the exhibits are larger than life like they are at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, it’d be a lot easier to motivate them! For those of you unfamiliar with this incredible exhibit, it showcases the signs of life found nearby that date back 3 billion years – you read that right, with a B!
There are many exciting things to see and do, offering a unique way of understanding how fossils came to be there, how they’re excavated and what it means for humanity as a whole. The Cradle of Humankind is also known as the Sterkfontein Mines, located about an hour outside Johannesburg. City Lodge Hotel Bryanston is nearest to this area, making it a great ‘base of operations’ for you to drive out to the Cradle, while mixing in a stay in Jozi city as well.
There are countless other fantastic places waiting for you and the family to explore – some falling into the categories we’ve already mentioned, and countless others we haven’t touched on! But what you can always count on is there being a City Lodge Hotel Group hotel waiting for you at the end of the day – your home away from home these school holidays!