I've recently had an amazing opportunity of growth in my career from not only focusing on MICE travel and what’s important for corporate travellers, but also to living and breathing the leisure side of travel too. Families and where they ‘holiday’ fall at the heart of this and our tailor-made teams are often required to plan a route that showcases the top destinations/must-see experiences in Southern Africa, whilst ensuring it is child friendly. South Africa fits the bill perfectly by being an exotic destination which at the same time doesn’t require copious vaccinations that parents are often hesitant to give their young children.

Having also become a mother myself, my husband and I thought we'd brave our first holiday with the little man, who is two and knows everything. Now there’s a challenge. I thought to embrace both new roles with an exciting opportunity to explore the Garden Route, the only prerequisite being to venture into it with eyes and ears open and give honest feedback.

Let me tell you one thing, I would have booked this alone and I thought I was the most confident traveller in both Southern Africa and overseas, but bringing a child with me created a whole new dynamic. No, this trip required extensive planning with the reservation team. What became apparent very quickly is what an amazing job our bespoke FIT team does each time they work with families and just the enormous amount of detail and pre-planning that is needed. What I am forever grateful for is their complete understanding that there is a big difference between being ‘child friendly’ and being ‘family friendly’. The latter means the parents have fun too because, when holiday time is scarce, it is truly important you get a chance to relax and enjoy your well-earned time off too. Essentially, let the DMC make sure your clients get the best holiday they deserve and, as a parent, I can say that's the best gift or service you could possibly give them.

It’s the small touches that let families focus on spending time together and not trying to avoid a toddler meltdown. We started off at Aquila Private Game Reserve and I must make mention of our ranger, Memory, who took our son on his first game experience. He was my son’s idol from the minute he let him sit in his driver’s seat of the game vehicle. I’ll never forget that look of pure joy. I take my hat off to him. The way he had with children and the time he took to explain the importance of looking after animals and our environment has ignited a true passion in my son. He also managed to get him to nap on the game drive so that we could have our fun too.

Next stop was Knysna. I’d say The Turbine Hotel is a definite must when travelling through the area. We stayed in the Lagoon Suite which had the most incredible views over (surprise surprise) the Lagoon. Not only was there an amazing view, but it also had a wonderfully equipped kitchen which made life easy when preparing bottles and snacks for a day of exploring the area. The jungle gym next door also helped with entertaining my son.

An excursion with the Featherbed Co was a great way to see the rehabilitation of the area following the fires and, for a toddler who loves being outdoors, a boat ride and trip in an overland vehicle just made another day for him. For us adults, being involved in the Eco experience that they offered was extremely enjoyable and their nature guides were so informative about how they are re-introducing natural flora and fauna in the Knysna Heads. It involves a catapult – naturally this had us all in hysterics.

Moving further down the coastline, I'll be forever grateful to the staff at The Plettenberg Hotel who are quite literally the only people able to get my son begging for a bath. The amenity packs they provide for children are just the ticket as well as acknowledging the fact that little people also need towels too. This wouldn’t have been something I’d phone ahead to check, but our concierge team made sure it was all sorted. The Plettenberg Hotel is one of the best I have ever stayed in – we all loved every minute. The room, the restaurant, the service, the pool and THAT view! It will stay with me for a long time.

The hotel also had an Aladdin’s cave of beach games and inflatables which meant we didn't have to trek to the nearest shop to purchase buckets, spades, and body boards which we wouldn't be able to travel home with. With time spent at the beach on our first day, we went to the highly recommended Monkeyland for the second day just to get out and about, and what an incredible experience it was! Fantastic for children and adults (aka big kids) alike, it is the world’s first free roaming multi-specie primate sanctuary. You are literally walking with monkeys for an hour and it’s so much fun! Our time spent here was a wonderful family experience.

Then, the final stop came about. It was hard to leave but when our last stop greeted us, I was soon smiling again. Botlierskop Village, a family friendly (in the true sense of the meaning) was home for two nights. With all the various room categories and sizes, we would have been pulling our hair out had it not been for our consultant who knew what would work with an active little person. With a ginormous sand pit, knowledgeable rangers, and the most wonderful place settings at meal times for children, it was a haven for families. Don’t even get me started on the food! The reservations team know me well, and with the restaurant really being at the heart of the village, you can sit, enjoy your surroundings, have a nice glass of bubbles and relax. After all, it’s what a holiday is all about for me.

The Importance of a DMC When Booking for Families on Holiday