Futululu Caravan Park

Weeks and weeks’ worth of activities are in this action-packed area, from snorkelling in the clear bay at Cape Vidal 20 minutes’ drive away to meets and greets with the reptiles at Crocodile Centre St Lucia (25 minutes). For more wild swimming, head to Mission Rocks 40 minutes’ drive away and drench yourself in the rockpools or trek to pretty Perriers Bay; you could also ask on site about how to organise whale-watching tours (June to November), beach and bush horse riding trips including overnight stays in the wilderness and deep-sea fishing for panfish and marlin off the KwaZulu-Natal coast. To learn about local culture as well as immerse yourself in the lush environment, Dumazulu (45 minutes by car) is a traditional Zulu village for educational tours of a rural community. And last but definitely not least? The Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park game reserve is 50 minutes away for perhaps your main reason for visiting South Africa: to see the Big Five.