If you’re thinking about heading to the coast for the long weekend this month, here are some family-friendly (and good for your pocket too) outings and adventures that everyone is bound to enjoy!
Lake Eland Game Reserve in Oribi Gorge is the ideal place to spot some iconic wildlife while going on your own game drive or bike ride. There are also great 4×4 tracks, fishing spots, paintball, a restaurant, tea garden and picnic sites. Costs for mountain biking, fishing or walking (using your own equipment) are R75 for adults and R45 for children under eight. 4×4 tracks are R150 entry per car or R60 for motorbikes or quad bikes. Paintball is R150 a person (10 years and older) for 70 shots – a minimum of four people is needed to play. Details: 039 687 0395, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.lakeeland.co.za
Families can enjoy a day of fun activities at Wild 5 Adventures in Oribi Gorge. There are extreme (and milder) adventures including an 110m abseil, zipline, 85m suspension bridge, quad biking adventures, paintball, team building and guided hiking and birding trails. Hiking trails and view site entry is R30 an adult and R20 for pensioners and children (aged six to 12 years). Free for children under five. Paintball is R150 a person and includes equipment, a helmet and 100 rounds.
Details: 082 566 7424, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.wild5adventures.co.za
For a culturally enlightened experience, families can visit museums like Port Shepstone Museum that boasts a range of artefacts that tell the interesting history of this seaside town, and Margate Museum showcasing artwork and reflecting the rich culture of KZN. Entry to both is free.
Details: 039 688 2195 (Port Shepstone) and 039 312 8392 (Margate).
Southport’s women-owned agritourism initiative, BBS Farm, offers tours to give visitors a taste of the organically-grown produce like macadamia nuts. The farm also boasts some great fishing spots. Tickets are R50 an adult and R30 a child. Details: 079 568 1815.
Port Edward’s Beaver Creek Coffee Estate, the world’s southernmost coffee plantation has a great Crop to Cup walkabout tour; a café serving breakfasts, snacks, cakes and baked goods; and biking along some of the best trails. Cost is R75 a person. Details: 039 311 2315, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.beavercreek.co.za
For another agricultural excursion, families can head to Ubumbano for a farm tour and the chance to enjoy some home-made eats at the farm stall or a picnic under the trees. They specialise in freshly-made macadamia nut and rocket pesto, macadamia nut biscuits and brittle, baked mielie loaf and steamed mielie bread. Cost is R25 a person. Details: 081 508 7672
There’s something for everyone at Mac Banana Estate & Adventures – shopping, four restaurants (and the famous pancake house) and more than 20 adventurous activities. General entry costs you R20 otherwise it’s free with any other activity. There’s an animal farm tour (R50 for adults and R40 for kids), a banana tour (R55 for adults and R40 for kids), Pony rides for R25, Mac Venture Golf 18-hole adventure (R59 for adults and R40 for kids), a game of nine-hole mini putt putt for R35 a head, Mac Butterflies (R55 for adults and R40 for kids) and Mac Paintball for adults which is R95 a head. Details: 039 319 1033, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.macbanana.com/activities
Near Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve just outside of Port Shepstone is this incredible vulture viewing hide where families can enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience watching Cape Vultures in their natural habitat. Tickets are R100 an adult and free for children under 15.
Details: 072 893 3794 or e-mail www.vulturehide.blogspot.com
The family will be all a-flutter on an outing to this Ramsgate’s Butterfly Valley Farm which specialises in indigenous butterflies, with many other interesting creatures also homed there. Tickets are R80 an adult, R60 for scholars and R40 for children (aged three to 10) Details: 073 422 5357 or 072 235 3688, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.butterflyfarm.co.za
Families will smile for a while when visiting Southbroom’s Riverbend Crocodile Farm, home to more than 200 resident Nile crocodiles. There are scheduled crocodile feedings and the delicious Crocodile Café for meals and snacks. Entry is R90 an adult, R70 for scholars, students and pensioners, R45 for pre-scholars. Children under three enter for free. Details: 039 316 6204, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.crocodilecrazy.co.za
Those who enjoy biking mustn’t miss the opportunity to explore the purpose-built trail networks of Clearwater Trails in Port Edward, with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean and Umtamvuna River Gorge. Cost for Mountain biking is R40 an adult and R20 for children under 12. Walking trails are R20 an adult and R10 a child. Details: 083 549 6710, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.clearwatertrails.co.za
For lovers of nature reserves, there’s Vernon Crookes in Scottburgh boasting indigenous coastal forest, several hiking trails for viewing the local bird- and wildlife and scenic picnic sites available. Entry is R30 an adult and R15 for children under 12; TC Robertson in Scottburgh (082 406 9891) that has great hikes along various trails within the reserve, and the chance to picnic along the banks of the Mpambanyoni River. Entry is R30 a car (with five passengers); River Valley in Manaba (www.rivervalleynaturereserve.co.za) has fantastic picnic sites and hiking trails that cut across a variety of ecosystems home to birdlife, antelope and smaller mammals. Entry is R30 a person; Oribi Gorge (www.kznwildlife.com) just outside of Port Shepstone boasts memorable hiking trails along forests, rivers, rapids and ravines – as well as the Samango Waterfall. Entry is R30 an adult and R15 for children aged three to 12; Mpenjati (www.kznwildlife.com) is ideal for bird lovers with two fantastic hiking trails and great views. You can also fish in the river and picnic or braai with the family. Entry is R15 an adult and R5 for children under 12; the pristine coastal reserve near Port Edward is home to The Red Desert (www.reddesertnaturereserve.co.za), the world’s smallest desert which is 200m in diameter and 11ha in entirety. It’s a must-see global phenomenon. Entry is R30 an adult and free to children under 12; Port Edward is also home to the Umtamvuna (www.kznwildlife.com) which has several marked trails for excellent wild- and birdlife viewing. Entry is R20 a person.
KwaXolo Caves Adventures is a really unique family outing where visitors are taken on a guided hike along the mountainside using a rope-and-rung system affixed to a rock face, with great gorge and waterfall views. Once inside the caves, you get to experience centuries-old San artwork before enjoying a family picnic. Tickets are R150 an adult and R120 for children aged eight to 16. Details: 076 185 3447 or 074 887 3742.
The entire family will enjoy a trip to the biggest reptile farm in Africa, Pure Venom! This Shelly Beach animal centre is home to several reptile species, a petting zoo with farm animals and exotic birds. Entry is R140 an adult and R120 for children aged four to 12. Details: 082 492 8256, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.purevenom.com
There’s so much to ‘sea’ and do on the KZN South Coast! To find out more about these and other KZN South Coast family outings you can download the free ‘Explore KZN South Coast’ app from Google Play and Apple stores.
