Eastern Cape Family Escape

Upon arrival in Port Elizabeth you will pick up your hire car and make the two hour drive north to the Kwandwe Private Game Reserve. This vibrant lodge is perfectly suited to families thanks to its spacious feel, interactive kitchen and play centre. It also happens to be incredibly luxurious, and enjoy panoramic views across the reserve from its private decks and plunge pools. Should Ecca Lodge not be quite right for your family, we've got plenty more family-friendly lodges up our sleeves. Our favourite family friendly lodges in the Eastern Cape are also discreetly fenced to keep wild animals out and the family safe from harm. Another big plus is that game reserves in the Eastern Cape are malaria free.

You'll want to spend the majority of your time out on safari, spotting the Big Five as they run wild around the beautiful Eastern Cape bushlands. There are twice daily game drives from your lodge, in the early morning and evening to make the most of the time the animals are most active. With both a ranger and a tracker on hand to locate the best spots, you're sure to see some incredible wildlife that both you and the children will absolutely love. In between the game drives there are a huge number of activities to keep all the family entertained. The 'Bugs & Bones' walk with a ranger teaches little ones about this diverse region by getting them searching for insects and bones. The reserve-wide scavenger hunt is also a big hit and has families searching for clues and marking up a map to find 'treasure', which is then used for a fun group activity such as fire making. Then there are also a number of art and craft style activities that can be done with a childminder inside the lodge, while mum and dad get a much needed massage on the deck. As for dinners, the opportunity to learn how to cook the perfect South African braai (bbq) while out in the wilderness should have Dad thrilled, and even the fussiest eaters will be appeased with DIY pizza making and animal shaped crumpets.

Sadly it's time to say goodbye to the wonderful wilderness today. So pile the family into the car and hit the road for a four hour drive west, along the coast to Plettenberg Bay. Since you'll be hugging the coast virtually all the way, there are a great number of little seaside towns to stop in, whether for lunch, a walk or just a quick toilet break. We think Jeffreys Bay is a particularly cute town for a lunch stop, which handily marks just over half way on your journey. Explore its quaint high-street and beautiful beaches, before continuing your journey west.

While it might be little heard of overseas, this is one of the most popular tourist spots for South Africans - and it's not hard to see why. The pristine beaches that line the surrounding area are some of the best in the country and thanks to their coupling with a slew of hip bars and foodie friendly restaurants, summer holidaymakers are in sun worshipping heaven. We suggest that after all the action and travelling of the last few days you join those in the know and find yourselves a beach spot to enjoy all day long. Our second suggestion for a stay in Plettenberg is to get out of town a little and explore the fantastic natural landscape around you. From canyoning to hiking, bungee jumping - the highest in the world - to kayaking, and horse riding to ziplining, you really aren't short of adrenaline filled adventure activities which will have the kids screaming with joy. If the kids haven't had their fill of animal related fun yet then there are a multitude of brilliant wildlife sanctuaries to visit, too. Whatever you, or more likely the kids choose, you can be sure it'll make for a memorable last day.