FAMILIES GONE WILD
For high-adrenaline holidays, Claire Keeton offers 10 adventure destinations that are all child friendly. Some still have space over December, otherwise book early for 2014.
1. WHITEWATER RAFTING
Tugela River in KwaZulu-Natal
Zingela Safari and River Company, on the banks of the Tugela River, runs a soulful bush camp overlooking rapids. It offers fly-fishing, abseiling, mountain biking, birding and game viewing.
The camp has rooms and chalets made of stone, reeds and canvas; a honeymoon suite; and a camp on Warthog Island. The great meals (booked in advance) surpass standard river fare but only self-catering options are available over New Year.
Phone 036 354 7005/7250, e-mail zingela@futurenet.co.za or visit
zingelasafaris.co.za. Phone reception is limited, so you can also try the satellite phone on 087 802 0050.
2. HORSE RIDING
Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal
Crossing the border from South Africa to Lesotho on horseback, cowboy-style (or cowgirl-style), with just a passport, toothbrush and change of clothes gives riders a sense of freedom.
Khotso Horse Trails near Underberg follows a donkey trail up the mountain, west into the Sehlabathebe National Park, where guests stay in huts or a chalet.
Khotso has space for guests over Christmas and New Year. The trails are closed on December 25 and 31.
Khotso Adventure Farm has rondavels, a log cabin, dorms and camping.*
Phone 033 701 1502 or 082 412 5540, e-mail khotsotrails@futurenet.co.za or visit khotsotrails@futurenet.co.za.*
3. HIKING AND FLYING
Groot Winterhoek and Cederberg, Western Cape
Hiking through giant boulders and fynbos in the Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area is peaceful. The dog-friendly Cedar Peak farm also has two remote cottages with views over the Olifants River Valley.
The view is even more impressive paragliding over the ridge — when tandem pilots are in Porterville to offer flights.
Walking along the Dwars River and climbing the Wolfberg Cracks — all accessed through Sanddrif Holiday Resort — is another great way to unwind.
Call the Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area 0861 227 362 8873 or visit capenature.co.za.
Phone Cedar Peak Farm on 021 438 7702. Bookings through budget-getaways.co.za.
For Fly Porterville, call 022 931 3567, e-mail coral@flysa.net or visit flyporterville.info.
For Sanddrif phone 027 482 2825; email sanddrif@cederbergwine.com or visit cederbergwine.com.
4. SURFING AND HORSE RIDING
Chintsa, Eastern Cape
Chintsa East has a long, sandy beach with a lagoon and dune forest, perfect for surfing, swimming and horse riding.
About 40km east of East London, Chintsa has a popular backpackers’ lodge, a family resort and a luxury lodge, all within walking distance of the ocean.
Buccaneers Lodge & Backpackers has space for camping and in dorms over December. Call 043 734 3012, e-mail buccaneers@cintsa.com or visit cintsa.com.
For Crawford’s Beach Lodge, phone 043 738 5000, e-mail chintsa@iafrica.com or visit crawfordsbeachlodge.co.za.
For Prana Lodge, phone 043 704 5100 or 043 704 5119, or visit pranalodge.co.za.
Phone Cintsa Horses on 043 738 5141 or 083 459 6646 or visit cintsahorses.co.za.
5. ROCK CLIMBING AND MOUNTAIN BIKING
Waterval Boven, Mpumalanga
Waterval Boven is famous for its rock climbing but its mountain-bike trails are becoming another drawcard.
Tranquilitas Adventure Farm has comfortable camping, safari tents and four chalets and an artificial climbing wall overhanging the pool. Camping is available over the holidays and there are a few free nights in the chalets (though not over New Year). The well-equipped Climbers’ Lodge in town has dorms and four double rooms.
For climbing courses, camping and all of the above-mentioned accommodation, contact Roc ’n Rope on 013 257 0363 or 082 753 3695, e-mail climb@rocrope.com or visit rocrope.com. They are offering a 10% discount if you mention Travel Weekly.
6. CANOPY GLIDING
Magoebaskloof, Limpopo
Misty forests and crystal rivers are hidden away in Limpopo, beneath the slopes of the northern Drakensberg.
For a unique view of the Groot Letaba River and its waterfalls, however, try canopy gliding in Magoebaskloof. Exploring the forest trails is also relaxing.
Magoebaskloof Adventures advises booking for activities and has space in its tented camp.
Kuhestan Farm, which borders the forest, has four studios (with space for the holidays) and a garden. Host Shahrzad Hone offers Persian cooking courses.*
Phone Kuhestan Farm on 082 903 7593, e-mail info@kuhestan.co.za or visit kuhestan.co.za.
Phone Magoebaskloof Adventures on 083 866 1546, e-mail adventures@thabametsi.com or visit magoebaskloofcanopytour.co.za.*
7. FLY-FISHING AND HORSE RIDING
Hogsback, Eastern Cape
Clear rivers abound in the Elandsberg mountains near Hogsback, amid grasslands and rocky slopes. This is premier flyfishing terrain and experts can try their skills on the 18km Klipplaat River. This runs through the 5 500ha Lowestoffe Country Lodge, which has four stocked trout dams and a bass dam. Lowestoffe is ideal for a farm holiday and has three private houses (space over the holidays).
South Africa’s first Appaloosa Sport stud farm was started here and the horses are trained for beginner and veteran riders.
Phone 045 843 1716, 083 651 9224, e-mail lowestoffe@hogsback.com or visit lowestoffecountrylodge.co.za.
8. PARAGLIDING, MOUNTAIN BIKING AND SNAKE-PETTING
Garden Route, Western Cape
Floating above the waterways of Sedgefield or the golden dunes of Wilderness gives you a unique view of the Garden Route. Tandem paragliding is effortless and peaceful, without the noise of an engine.
Another scenic option is mountain biking the Harkerville Trails in the Garden of Eden near Knysna. Four colour-coded routes offer miles of single track in the forest and gorgeous views from ocean viewpoints. Hikers and horse riders can also follow the trails.
Children and adults will enjoy the Lawnwood Snake Sanctuary near Plettenberg Bay, where guests may handle snakes under supervision.
For Cloudbase Paragliding, phone 044 877 1414 or 082 777 8474 or e-mail jan@cloudbase-paragliding.co.za.*
For Outeniqua Bike Hire, call 044 532 7644 or 083 252 7997 or e-mail bikesshop@mweb.co.za.
Call Lawnwood Snake Sanctuary on 044 534 8056 or visit the sanctuary’s
website at lawnwoodsnakesanctuary.co.za.
9. CANOEING, HIKING AND FISHING
Wild Coast, Eastern Cape
Mtentu River Lodge has every element for classic summer holidays: beaches, surf, waterfalls (five within walking distance), rock pools, estuaries and forests.
For those who want to get back to nature in comfort, this eco-lodge on the ocean is the place to go. Across the river is the 8 000ha Mkambati Nature Reserve.
Canoeing up the Mtentu estuary and hiking to the waterfalls, horse riding along the beach and fishing are among the activities. Mtentu offers three- and five-day packages for exploring the coast, which include guides, accommodation and food.
Phone 083 805 3356, e-mail info@mtenturiverlodge.co.za or visit mtenturiverlodge.co.za.
10. HIKING, CLIMBING AND CAMPING
Magaliesberg, North West
The Magaliesberg kloofs, near Joburg and Pretoria, are secluded and shady with streams, pools and soaring rock walls. This is where Marianne and I intend to spend the holidays with our partners and friends.
For nearly 20 years, we have been climbing and camping in the Magaliesberg and it remains one of our favourite places.
The kloofs are found on the slopes of the Magaliesberg ridge, which stretches from Pretoria in the east to Rustenburg in the west.
Most of the publicly accessible areas, such as Mountain Sanctuary Park (they have space over the holidays) and Fernkloof, are on the north-facing side.
Bordering Mountain Sanctuary are three kloofs under the Mountain Club of SA — hikers need to get permits from the club to access them.
Along the Magaliesberg Meander route are many game reserves, guest farms, lodges and resorts where people can hike, climb, horse ride and go on game drives.
Call Mountain Sanctuary Park on 014 534 0114 or visit mountainsanctuary.co.za. For Mountain Club of SA, visit mcsa.org.za. * The places with an asterix offer a 5% to 10% discount if you refer to the Travel Weekly article when you book.
If you’d like even more ideas, the book Wild Weekends: Places to go, things to do by Travel Weekly team Claire Keeton and Marianne Schwankhart includes 34 destinations and dozens of activities. Co-published by Bookstorm and Pan Macmillan, it’s available in book stores for R220.