Taking a safari holiday with the family can be eye-wateringly expensive and deciding on the activities you want to include in your holiday can be bewildering so are there ways to get that amazing holiday at a bargain without compromising on the quality of the experience and the safety of your family?

The good news is that yes if you are willing to take the time to shop around for the best deals there are some bargains to be found.

South Africa with its direct flights from the UK and the well-maintained roads provides an attractive destination for your family safari holiday. Going as a family group, safety is going to be vital and so a guided tour element may be your best option. The travel company will provide an itinerary which will include stops for food and overnight stays if necessary, thereby reducing the worry you may experience. A popular destination for a first-time safari experience is the Kruger Park and surrounding reserves. It is possible to self-drive in some areas which will save money and give your family a more personal experience.

Booking your holiday online rather than through a travel agent will save money and even think about booking flights and accommodation separately to get a real bargain.

Although a holiday to South Africa does not strike you at first as synonymous with bird watching for many travellers the opportunity to see exotic species of bird in the wild is what drives them to embark on a visit to this amazing place. Said to be one of the best countries for bird watching in the world, South Africa is home to a flock of great birding spots where nearly a thousand species of birds are waiting for you to spot them through your binoculars.

The best time for South Africa bird watching in South Africa is from September to March. During this time, it is spring to late summer. Peak viewing happens between December and January which is midsummer.

One of the best places to visit is Kruger National Park as out of over five hundred bird species swooping around the park, different species of eagle command the sky. Smaller, colourful species like Bee-Eaters, Kingfishers, Weavers and Starlings also share the park’s air space with these magnificent eagles. The lush riverbanks and waterholes are where you will have the best chance of seeing water birds like Grey Louries and Hornbills. Many holiday companies offer guided birdwatching tours so that you can be assured of getting the most from your holiday and seeing a good selection of wildlife.

With all but essential travel out of the UK, safari holidays to South Africa are still very much on hold. Many tour operators are hoping that holidays to South Africa and other parts of the world will be able to resume later on this year, but there is no exact date as of yet. We also don’t know what the rules are likely to be around trave in the UK or indeed the country you wish to travel too at present. It may be that certain countries will require proof that you have had the Covid vaccine before allowing you to enter or that you will have to isolate upon your return to the UK. For this reason, many people have put off booking holidays abroad until there is a bit more certainty.

If you want to book a safari holiday, you may well want to book it a year in advance anyway to allow time to save up for the trip or prepare. Many travel operators are now taking bookings for 2022 and booking early may often secure you a great deal. Many safari resorts in South Africa have struggled due to the lack of tourism and may only survive if people start to return to the area as soon as they are able to.

Family holidays can be a great way to get away and unwind without having to content with the day to day tasks you have at home such as work and cleaning. It is the ideal time to find out what each other enjoy doing and try to fit that into your schedule.

Lots of people go on holiday simply to relax and are happy to spend all day every day either by the pool or on the beach. Others like to explore a little more and do some sightseeing. This may involve a lot of walking and for smaller children, this simply may be too much for them and you may find that you have to cut your tour short. If you have a child in a pushchair then you may find that some routes are not safe or easy to go on with a buggy so you need to rethink your trips.

If you are planning some sightseeing when on holiday with children, especially young ones, then you need to plan ahead. Rather than just going off on a walk, try and plan out your route and check out the terrain.

Sightseeing can be boring for children, so try and plan in some activities for them to do along the way.

South Africa is the perfect setting for a honeymoon although it may not be the first place that comes to mind. With its vibrant cities, beautiful golden sandy beaches and wealth of culture not to mention the breath taking wildlife, it really does offer it all.

South Africa really is the ideal place for all newly weds and has something for everyone. With a huge choice of luxury hotels and lodges to choose from, you certainly won’t be disappointed with the accommodation.

If you have always fancied going on a safari, then you would be in the prime place to try it and because there is so much else to do in South Africa, you don’t have to spend your whole honeymoon on a safari if you don’t want to. Many holiday companies offer packages that include a one day or two day safari trip and the rest of the time in near a beach or busy town allowing you to explore the country in more detail.

Some areas of South Africa do have malaria, so it is worth getting your vaccinations prior to travelling to stay safe. There can also be high levels of crime in certain areas, so be sure to find out where is safe to go and importantly where is not safe to go.

If you are able to get the time off work and have a bit saved away, then why not book a last minute holiday to South Africa. South Africa has seasons which are opposite to ours in the UK meaning that December and January are actually their main summer months and often popular times of year for tourists to visit. With money tight for many families over the Christmas period, holidays to South Africa in January are often offered at a huge discount if booked last minute, so you really can pick up a bargain.

If you have always fancied a safari holiday or maybe have never considered one but are looking for a new adventure then South Africa is the place to go. See the Big Five at any of South Africa’s premier Game Reserves, from the impressive wilds of Kruger National Park to the malaria free private reserves of the Eastern Cape, there is something for everyone and it is often considered the holiday of a life time.

Before booking any last minute deal, it is important to ensure that you have a valid passport that is not going to expire in the next six months and also that you have travel insurance in place or at least quotes that you can take out immediately.

A holiday can be a huge expense for many of us and it’s not only the initial cost you have to fork out for. Spending money often costs equal to or the same as the price paid when you book the holiday, so it is essential to try and cut down on the spending whist still allowing you enough to enjoy yourself.

If you are planning on taking a credit card to use when abroad, be sure to check all the charges that you incur, you will have to pay an exchange rate similar to the banks but you may also find hidden fees added on to each transaction. This can make a simple meal out cost a lot more than you have originally thought.

Be careful when it comes to data usage abroad. It may be that you need to use a translation service when you are in places such as Africa, but data on your phone can very quickly add up and you may not know about it until you receive a hefty bill a month later. Download any apps you may need whilst still in the UK and try and use WiFi in the hotel etc if needed.

South Africa is the southernmost country within the continent of Africa. It is a very popular destination for tourists and especially for safari holidays, offering one of the best safari experiences you can expect due to the ideal climate and density of the animal population.

When choosing to stay in South Africa, you have a large number of options available to you when it comes to accommodation. Prices range drastically from staying in a simple hostel to a five start resort with spas, swimming pools and excellent food. You can tailor make your holiday to be whatever you want it to be. Many students visit South Africa as part of their travelling year (gap year) and chose to stay in low cost accommodation and see as many sites as possible, where as other people opt for a two week break away in a luxury hotel where they will be pampered the entire time.

When talking about holidays to South Africa, many people think of Safaris and although these are extremely popular and South Africa is one of the best destinations for a Safari holiday it is also great for water parks.

There are many water parks in South Africa that offer fun for all the family and the great thing is you can spend all day there. The parks cater for family members wanting the thrill and exhilarating rush that some rides give you, Lazy River for those that wants something a little more relaxing and slow paced to beautiful settings to catch a few sun rays by the pools.

The prices are fairly cheap compared to many other water parks across the world with many of the parks charging as little as 150r which is approximately seven pounds fifty per person, so a relatively low cost day out for all the family.

If you are looking for something different to do in South Africa, something to really get your adrenaline going they what could be better that going shark diving?!

Just of the Cape coast you can go on arranged shark diving trips where you can come face to face with the legendary great white shark.

You are lowered into aptly named ‘Shark Alley’ in a small cage to get a once in a lifetime experience of the sharks up close. The sharks are fairly used to seeing the cages so will not attack them however they will brush past them and sometimes peep inside as they are naturally curious creatures.

This trip is not for the faint hearted but definitely is a must for the adrenaline junkie that’s looking for a new experience.

The dives use scuba equipment but do not go too deep into the water therefore no previous diving experience is necessary, just ensure that you book the trip through a reputable company and follow all of the safety instructions for an exhilarating experience with sharks.