Get Outdoors for a Fun and Safe Family Holiday

Being on holiday does not mean that we can let down our guard. We need to do all that we can to help curb the spread of COVID-19. But we can still have fun. Get outdoors for a safe family holiday.

Meet outdoors

One way of minimising risk is by meeting friends outdoors. We are fortunate to have sunshine, fresh air and open spaces in abundance. There really is no reason to gather inside in cramped spaces, when you can catch up with friends for a picnic or a game of cricket in the park.

Holiday movies

Nothing beats a good holiday movie – especially if you can do it from the safety of your own car. Treat the children to some old-school entertainment at GoDriveIn, Cape Town’s Drive-In Cinema. Another cinematic treat is the Galileo Open Air Cinema, featuring a variety of popular movies.

Bucket list adventures

Now is the time to try those outdoor activities on your bucket list. Take a SUP lesson at Battery Park, or hire a bicycle for a gentle cycle along the Promenade in Sea Point or, if you are in Durban, from uShaka to the Umgeni River. Feeling adventurous? Test your skills on the bike track at Cycle Lab Bike Park in Bryanston, or Constantia Uitsig in Cape Town. Older children will enjoy the many extreme adventure activities found in the Paradise in the Zulu Kingdom. Wild 5 Adventures at Lake Eland has a 110m abseil, foefie-slide, 85m suspension bridge, white water rafting on the uMzimkhulu and paintball.

Get in the saddle

Horse and pony rides are a novel way of exploring an area. Visit Shepherd’s Fold Stables at Elandsdrift, offering lessons and rides for children from the age of 3. In Cape Town, younger children will enjoy a pony ride at Imhoff Farm in Kommetjie. Pet a variety of animals at the Animal Farmyard near Hillcrest before going on a horse ride.

On safari

Game drives and bush getaways are a good option as they offer fun outdoors for the whole family. The Jock Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park has reopened excellent Big Five game viewing. The enigmatic Lake Eland Game Reserve near Oribi Gorge in Durban is a great venue for day visits, offering self-drive game drives to view a variety of wildlife.

Creative flair

Get creative at the Color Café in Johannesburg, or Clay Café in Hout Bay. There are outdoor tables that are well-spaced and you can enjoy an artistic activity with your family in a beautiful setting.

Back to nature

There are so many natural spots to explore – Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, hiking in Newlands Forest, or the Sterkfontein Caves in the Cradle of Mankind.

Home sweet home

Give the term “home entertainment” a whole new meaning and set up some cushions and lanterns in the garden for a virtual concert under the stars. Look on Webtickets for upcoming online events. There are also virtual art and museum tours one can join via Facebook. You can explore the Sistine Chapel, for example, from the comfort of your home.