The Midlands Meander for Children

The Midlands Meander abounds with family holiday experiences and adventure for everyone from little ones to teenagers – and Mom and Dad too!

Families can enjoy a fun family experience in the Midlands Meander all year round. Spring brings the wild flowers to the mountain grasslands. Come in Summer to see the baby animals. Autumn sometimes brings the magic of snow, turning the Meander into a wonderland. Its ambers and oranges are not to be missed. There is nothing to beat snuggling up next to a crackling log fire in the Winter Meander…

Not all of the activities listed are suitable for all ages: parents are requested to use their discretion. If unsure, please call ahead to make enquiries. Visitors are encouraged to enquire about facilities and activities for children at accommodation establishments when booking.

DAY 1 – HOWICK/KARKLOOF/CURRY’S POST – The wonderful and the thrilling
Begin your day at the magnificent Howick Falls – see if you can see the famous Inkanyamba, a giant serpent-like creature that lives at the base of the Falls, according to local legend.

Afterwards, head onto the Karkloof Road, and stop at Yellowwood Café for breakfast, where the littlies can enjoy the animal farm and play on the jungle gym, and the older kids and Dad can challenge each other to a game of paintball (phone ahead to enquire).

Further up the Karkloof Road (and if it is a Saturday morning) stop in at the Karkloof Farmers Market which only closes at 12 noon.
For an exhilarating and up-close experience of the pristine mist belt forest of the Karkloof and the incomparable thrill of the zipline, head for the Karkloof Canopy Tour . It’s foefie slide fun for the whole family – from age 7 to 90!

Into picnics? Why not stop at the Old Mushroom Farm for a picnic?

Child-friendly places to stay on the Karkloof & Curry’s Post Road:

DAY 2 – LION’S RIVER, MIDMAR DAM RESORT – Arts and Culture
More in the mood for action? Go sailing, canoeing or fishing at the Midmar Resort and enjoy a picnic there. Lunch is also available nearby at Fern Hill Hotel. Midmar Resort is beautiful at any time of the year and the children are able to expend some of their energy out of the car. Look out for the plovers and owls.

Midmar Dam holds approximately 235,000 megalitres. Midmar Dam was built in the uMngeni river catchment between 1962 and 1965, with a surface area of 1560 ha and a maximum depth of 23 m at full supply level (Breen, 1983)

Crystals, minerals, rocks are to be found at Soul Array – Earth’s Treasures just along the way.

Next stop is a visit to see the world-famous statue of Nelson Mandela at the Mandela Capture Site, where he was arrested in 1962. In the Visitor’s Centre the new immersive exhibition includes a 360-surround film, a dazzling display of historical artefacts and photographs, as well as a replica of the Austin Westminster that Nelson Mandela was driving in when he was arrested along R103 on 5 August 1962. If you look to your right on entering the Visitors Centre you will see an enormous hand crafted beaded portrait of Madiba done by local ladies. This commission took 6 months to complete, made by hand with glass beads by the ladies of Impumelelo Bead Co-Operative at the Capture Site in 2018.

Child-friendly places to eat:

Fern Hill Hotel

Child-friendly places to stay:

DAY 3 – KARKLOOF/CURRY’S POST – The wonderful and the thrilling

Groundcover Leather Company has a shop which is a restored settler cottage – don’t forget to show the children the bronze statue of the shoemaker and elves behind the shop! The Story: Groundcover was founded as an expression of a lifelong passion for leatherwork and a search for a meaningful livelihood. Justin and Amanda McCarthy found each other at a young age and had a shared enthusiasm for craftsmanship and uplifting their community. They spent years travelling the world selling leather goods, eventually returning to Africa in the mid 80’s where they settled in Lesotho. They focused their efforts on working with development projects, teaching people about the leather tanning process and sharing their skills of the artisanal craft

Terbodore Café is the place to relax under the trees with great coffee and a delicious snack while the children get rid of some energy in the open spaces. And boasting a stylish coffee bar, intriguing coffee and pastries menu and majestic backdrops.

Child-friendly places to stay on the Curry’s Post Road:

Newstead Farm

DAY 4 – DARGLE, BOSTON – A day of fun, beautiful scenery and horse rides.
Enjoy a relaxing day of game walks, fishing and a delicious lunch. Taste Buds Farm Stall offer a wide variety of home-baked food and hand-made decor that supports our community and local suppliers. They provide more than enough space for the children to explore and the space to relax and treat yourself and them to whatever may tickle your taste buds.

At Hebron Haven Hotel the children can paint different ceramics while the adults enjoy the cool breeze on the verandah.

Book a horse ride at Mount Park and if time allows a short hike up Inhlosane but whichever takes your fancy the scenic drive along this route is just wonderful.

(At some of the undermentioned accommodation, in-house guests have access to fishing and horse rides.)

Child-friendly places to stay:

DAY 5 – LIDGETTON – Little kids, old fashioned fun and a little bit of magic

Piggly Wiggly Country Village will be a great place to experience a short zipline, a delectable ice-cream and nougat at Wedgewood Nougat Midlands Emporium and a chocolate tasting and delicious milkshake made with Belgian chocolate at Chocolate Heaven. The DinoZone is a small edutainment theme park specializing in educating us about the prehistoric world, focused on dinosaurs and the geological history of South Africa. Home to Marmaduke, the only Tyrannosaurus rex in the southern hemisphere.

Lidgetton Crafter’s Guild: Set on a farm overlooking the beautiful Lidgetton Valley the Old Creamery is a treasure trove with wooden toys, books, knitted and crochet products. This will be closed to allow crafters to visit their rural families during the Christmas to New Year week.

Checkpoint 103 Activity Hub in the KZN Midlands is the perfect entertainment venue for some active fun with family and friends of all ages. An outdoor track (including a unique seater kart, kids indoor karts, target shooting, putt putt, sand art, craft activities are all available for fun and games. Open Thursdays to Mondays.

Child-friendly places to eat:

Caversham Mill Restaurant

Child-friendly places to stay:

DAY 6 – NOTTINGHAM ROAD

Bierfassl Restaurant & Pub has a separate playground for children which is such fun!

Chocolate Heaven at the Junction offers temptations for those with a sweet tooth – try chocolate dipping or a milkshake and it’s all made with yummy Belgian chocolate.

Get the children to look out for cranes and raptors in the region. Raptors can be seen on posts, trees and in the air. Unlike other areas of South Africa, all 3 crane species in the area – the beautiful Crowned Crane, Wattled Crane and the national bird of South Africa (perhaps your children know which one this is?)

At Linga Lapa there is a children’s playground, breakfast, good coffee and excellent steaks

Child-friendly places to eat:

Child-friendly places to stay: