Cape Town
Vergelegen Gardens
Channel the Huckleberry Finn in you and head to Vergelegen for the day. You can wander through the gardens for hours – ideal for energetic toddlers.
– Claire Barnardo
Kirstenbosch Gardens
“It may be unoriginal to say so, but it’s still the most beautiful part of Cape Town.”
sanbi.org/gardens/Kirstenbosch
– Patrick Cairns
The Beaches on Langebaan Lagoon
“Located within the West Coast National Park, this spot is perfect for safe, family beach play and unspoilt fynbos landscapes.”
langebaanlagoon.co.za/beaches.html
– Kit Heathcock
Boulders Beach
“Ever since I was little, I’ve been kind of obsessed with penguins. I love heading to Boulders Beach to watch them waddle about.”
– Charis Le Riche
Johannesburg
The Cradle
“Book a gourmet picnic down in the shade of an old river bed and laze the afternoon away on blankets.”
– Belinda Mountain
Delta Park
“Take the dogs for a long walk and then enjoy breakfast at Delta Cafe.”
– Belinda Mountain
Nirox Sculpture Park
“An outdoor gallery near Krugersdorp showcasing land art in situ. Lovely for a wander, and worth visiting when a concert is on.”
– Georgina Guedes
Emmarentia Rose Gardens
“Beautiful rose gardens, meandering bike paths, terraced picnic spots, landscaped gardens, the Emmarentia gardens have it all in the heart of the city.”
– Georgina Guedes
Pretoria
Hazelwood Food Market
“Sit and socialize at the long tables where friends can have a cosy get-together and sample the dishes.”
– Zena Le Roux
Irene Farm
“Make sure to buy some certified raw milk produced on the farm and enjoy the tranquil dam rich in bird life.”
– Zena Le Roux
Pretoria Boeremark
“This market is for the early birds among us. The market starts at 5.30am every Saturday. It promises to be a tasty and enjoyable experience.”
– Zena le Roux
Durban
Swim
“Christmas Bay in Ballito is a sacred quiet Agatha Christie type cove for swimming and scraping mussels off the rocks for a beachy lunch.”
Salt Rock
– Suzy Bell
Kayak
“Hire a beach kayak from one of the many uShaka surf shops to ocean kayak on a windless day from uShaka Pier to North Beach and back. You may spot the resident dolphins.”
– Suzy Bell
Durban Botanical Gardens
“It’s one of the places that I can confidently say stays as beautiful and kempt throughout the seasons, so take a picnic blanket, a few snacks and go while away some Sunday hours under the trees.”
– Jenna Kelly
Kloof Gorge
“Just a little drive into the leafy suburbs will have you exploring waterfalls, braaing next to streams or taking a short hike through the forest.”
– Jenna Kelly
Port Elizabeth
Horse trails
“Trails explore the spectacular landscapes of wide-open beaches or secluded valleys and cliffs in the Eastern Cape bush.”
– Karen van Rooyen
King’s Beach
“It is ideal for safe swimming, body surfing and sunbathing. There are a host of other facilities nearby including a supertube, skate park, stalls and a funfair during the festive season.”
– Karen van Rooyen
Bloukrans Bungy
“Said to be the world’s highest commercial bungee bridge and jump, this site – about 200m above the Bloukrans River valley – also has a number of world records associated with it, including 19 jumps in one hour.”
– Karen van Rooyen
