Johannesburg - Dads are amazing! To children they are both Superman and Clark Kent.
One minute they’re out saving the world and the next they’re playing dress-up, pulling funny faces or building puzzles on the lounge floor. Playtime is an essential part of teaching kids values and self-esteem. Whether it’s riding a bike, fishing or camping in the garden, it’s these intimate interactions that bond a father and child forever.
With Father’s Day right around the corner, it’s the ideal chance to book some quality time with your son or daughter.
Or, if you’ve already left the nest, an opportunity for a special date with Dad. “Travelling is one of the best ways to get to know your kids, away from everyday distractions such as work, social engagements, homework or school sports. Travel also exposes your kids to other cultures and landscapes, which will enrich their lives forever,” says Pentravel’s Sean Hough.
Here are some of Hough’s tips:
For adventurous families: For big and small boys who love to fish, the majestic coast of Mozambique is just a short flight away (big bonus, especially if your children are still little). There are several villages along the coast where one can take part in both deep sea and estuary fishing. Active adventures are endless and will keep you entertained all day long: gear up and go and catch some big fish, or turn it up a notch and add some high-endurance dune-riding, wake-boarding, snorkelling and kayaking to the mix.
Dads with lads: Have you ever wanted to see Lewis Hamilton live in action at a Grand Prix?
Why not book the Ultimate Boys Adventure and take your dad or lad on a trip to Malaysia or Germany to experience the Grand Prix in the flesh for three days, with official grandstand tickets?
If golf is more your thing and you want to stay local, teach your little man how to attempt a hole in one at Fancourt in George.
It offers world-class golf, with all three of its courses ranked among Golf Digest’s top 20 in the country. Off the green, you and the kids also have access to the hotel’s many child-and-dad-friendly activities such as fishing, mountain biking, or tennis.
Dads with 14-going-on-20-year-olds: Cycling holidays are very popular, and Europe has some of the safest and most accessible routes available. It’s also the ultimate way to experience the beauty of a country and cultivate a love for travel among your teen-going-on-20-year-old. Take in the sights of Tuscany in Italy, renowned for some of the world’s most recognisable Renaissance-era art and architecture, and diverse natural landscapes with olive groves and vineyards.
Or go wine-tasting (adults only, even if Madam thinks she’s 18) with local meats and cheeses, and sign up for a cooking class that uses local organic produce; ideal for little ladies who have a culinary flair.
For nature-loving families: Discover the magic of the Arctic, with an otherworldly, spellbinding trip to Finland on board a cruise liner, or while exploring Iceland’s many winter wonders. Without any urban distractions, you and your kids can experience nature at its very best with a sighting of the Northern Lights, or bird, bear and reindeer spotting. You can even discover what a glacier feels like by literally walking on it! If you and your son have a need for speed, then take in the snowy wilderness, by renting cross-country skis to enjoy an epic overland rush.
You’re guaranteed to see the Northern Lights when you cruise with Hurtigruten; they’ll book you on another cruise if you miss the natural spectacular the first time around.
For bush-loving families: If you love the idea of camping, but don’t want to pack up the kitchen sink, or cook or do your own dishes, try “glamping” (glamour-camping) for a few days at a game lodge. The Kruger National Park is home to the Big Five and also thousands of bird species, insects, other mammals and reptiles; a wild classroom that is just teeming with life. Avoid the long queues getting in and out of the park by staying close to the gate or within the reserve itself.
A photo posted by Anja Slegt (@anjasondernemingen) on Apr 25, 2016 at 10:54am PDT
Time with dad is precious, so turn off your cellphone, switch off that laptop and TV, close your book and get out there to create special memories with your kids.
“The world is their best university, and dads have a lifetime of their experience to share,” concludes Hough.
l Visit www.pentravel.co.za for more information.
Saturday Star