Garden Route
Traveling by car from Cape Town down the Garden Route (N2) is the perfect family road trip. Kids will get a glimpse of the biodiversity of this vast country, winding through the jungle coastal region, skirting Little Karoo desert to the south, arriving at breathtaking beaches from Mossel Bay to Storms River (with a wide variety of affordable beach-front accommodations).
Knysna - One of the country's best-known holiday destinations, Knysna is the place to take in the African jungle experience. Knysna is home to the wild Knysna forest elephants, an ancient herd that has reportedly dwindled to just one.
Knysna Elephant Park - A rescue center for elephants, this hands-on experience with elephants in a free-range environment shouldn't be passed over as a touristy attraction. Children can feed and touch baby and adult elephants. Be sure to invest in a bucket of fruits and veggies at the front desk when you arrive. Canopy zip line tours - For a trip through the treetops, enjoy one of the many family-friendly forest canopy zip line tours. Plettenberg Bay - Monkeyland, the jungle and the beach are the main attraction of this relaxed coastal town. Monkeyland houses rare and exotic species that are free to roam about the forest canopy, with guided tours for humans below.
Tip: Farm stalls are the South African version of rest stops, many even serving fine cuisine. The country roads and highways are peppered with these quaint shops. With a lack of chain restaurants, these are the perfect stop for bathrooms, local fare, fresh and dried fruit and often a homemade jungle gym for stretching tired little legs.
