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Sani Car Rental have made it easy for local travels in and around Gauteng.
Family travelling is all about creating memories. But travel can also be very expensive. Sani car rental gave us an idea to travel locally using their easy and convenient drop off and pick up points, and we could not be happier with the ideas we have found.
Gauteng is so big, bustling and beautiful, and often underrated as many look to the coastal areas of South Africa for their holidays. But we have been visiting closer places either as day visits or overnight stays and we can’t tell you how excited we are to share them.
Read on and discover the magic our city has to offer.
What are a few of the family-friendly experiences we love?
The Donkey Diary in Magaliesburg.
Well this was suggested by a friend. Word of advice is to ask Sani for a nice off-road vehicle to access this magical world. Its about 2 hours from JHB mainly on the main road but then you go off road for quite a while too and just like that all city is left behind. Welcome Alpacas, Donkeys, Goats, Hiking, Lots of Mud, A teeeny little fresh water sprout that brought HUGE amounts of joy, Friends, Family and The Donkey Dairy… a full day outing I have been wishing to find! There is a small inexpensive shop and restaurant and the whole family gets to feed the animals. An absolute gem of a find.
Acrobranch
Acrobranch is a blood-pumping experience for a family of all ages with ziplines, rope swings and clamber nets. The joy of acrobranch is that it has 10 parks across South Africa but in Gauteng we have 3! The newest addition is Casalinga in Muldersdrift and boy… it does not disappoint. There are choices between courses and these are for different abilities so everyone is catered for from about 3 to old! You can choose to do a day trip or stay at any of the many guest houses in the area. And Casalinga have the most gorgeous gardens for the kids to explore while having lunch! Expect the unexpected from this wild experience.
Haartebeespoort Aerial Cable Way
This is without a doubt the most exciting day trip. You park your car at the bottom of the mountain and take a cable car all the way to the top. On a clear day the view is unbelievable. There’s a playground for the kids, a restaurant, a trampoline bungee and trails and paths for all to enjoy before taking the cable car back down to the car. That all makes it sound so simple. But this trip is full of sights, adrenaline, sugar and beauty. At the bottom you are a stones throw away from muldersdrift where you also get to explore the wonderful crafts and restaurants this part of the world offers. Van Gaalen Cheese farm, Pretville, French Toast, and even The Upside Down House.
The Wilds Nature Reserve
This is a nice simple day out. Pack you car full of picnic treats and head off on an adventure in the wilds. Hike all the way up, picnic at your choice of picnic spot, on the open lawns or even at a pond. The wilds has statues of animals making it fun for little ones. This 16ha nature reserve on the outskirts of Houghton is set against lovely koppies with well-developed indigenous gardens. Paths ramble across the hillsides with views of the city from various sides, mixing urban life with local vegetation.
The Wilds provides a pristine natural environment. With running waterfalls and fountains, it provides a gentle break from the nearby inner city suburbs. At the peak of The Wilds is a sundial that marks a wonderful city skyline view. Even in winter the park is evergreen, with wild red aloes to provide colour against grey skies. Given its stature as a nature reserve, events at The Wilds are limited to ensure that the natural flora and fauna are protected. Please keep in mind it’s public so do always be a little aware of your surroundings.
Mountain sanctuary park
And this! Children still need a childhood with dirt, mud, puddles, trees, rock pools, waterfalls and tadpoles!
We found just that thanks to Mountain Sanctury Park Magaliesburg who made our weekend visiting this magical place even more magical with superb hospitality!
An 8km climbing, walk or some would say hike, that a 5 and 3 year old did with NO complaints (okay one or two for water and food!) There were rock formations like we have never seen before, frog and tadpole watching in a grotto under a waterfall and lots of swimming in the clearest, most beautiful, deep mountain pools with natural slides made of rocks and even a man made pool overlooking the most gorgeous valley at sunset. And it was all ours. This place is a social distancing dream! The nights were filled with braais and animal watching from our fully self serviced chalet and the restaurant at the top of the rest camp should be visited, homemade and delicious! We were all a little sunburnt, tender, tired and very happy!
This is the best holiday we have done locally and will do it over and over again!
