How did your last family holiday go? Bags barely unpacked before dad was “just quickly” checking a work email? Giving the teens an excuse to hop on their phones?
Sound familiar?
Off-grid escapes or “digital detox” holidays are still on the rise as people look to unwind, unplug and get away from it all. It’s especially important for families.
So much so that Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report has “Playtime Unplugged” as a key trend, as 84% of travellers say they’ll seek out travel opportunities that allow them “to play together as a family”, with more than half (58%) of parents and grandparents initiating periods of “no screen time” during their holiday to keep everyone engaged and in the mix.
For Antoinette Turner, GM of Flight Centre Travel Group South Africa, it’s not always about going completely off grid but finding the right balance and the right destination.
“Sometimes you need a serious change of scene,” says Turner. “In other words, destinations so special that they allow you to forget about work – and your devices – entirely.”
Still planning your December holidays? Here are ten destinations so beautiful, adventurous and culturally rich that you can immerse yourself in something completely different.
1. St Helena Island
St Helena’s remote, rugged setting is ideal for an unforgettable adventure. Think Jacob’s Ladder climbs (with stunning views), easy coastal walks, swims at Rupert’s Beach or Lemon Valley (with average sea temperatures anywhere between 19°C and 25°C), boat trips to spot dolphins and, in season, whale sharks. A week on the island – filled with history, nature, fishing, diving, and warm local hospitality – will make you forget about life on the mainland and have you plotting your return.
- Get there: Airlink’s seasonal Cape Town-Jamestown schedule kicks off on 9 December 2025 (to 10 February 2026), augmenting the once-a-week Johannesburg-Jamestown flights.
- Connectivity: Stay connected with Sure St Helena across the island, but speeds are modest, and coverage can be limited as you leave Jamestown, perfect conditions for an intentional detox.
- Unplug level: Medium.
2. Seychelles
Seychelles is easy to tailor for families. Base yourself on Mahé or Praslin for resort-pool-and-beach time, then add day trips to Curieuse (home to Aldabra giant tortoises and the coco de mer palm tree), snorkelling at St Pierre or cycling on La Digue. A 6 to 8-night hop Mahé to Praslin to La Digue keeps transfers short and attention spans happy.
- Get there: You have several flight options, particularly over the high season, with Air Seychelles offering direct flights from Johannesburg and other airlines offering connecting flights from Cape Town and Durban.
- Connectivity: On the Inner Islands Wi-Fi is available at most resorts and guest houses. On the Outer Islands connectivity is limited – and you can experience a true desert island experience (complete with long, flat beaches and incredible marine life) in every sense.
- Unplug level: Medium to hard.
3. Reunion Island
Reunion makes it easy to mix beach days with mountain adventures. Base yourself on the west coast around L’Ermitage or Saint-Gilles for lagoon swims and snorkelling, then add day trips to Piton de la Fournaise for lunar viewpoints, short hikes in Salazie or Cilaos, and a guided lava-tunnel walk for older kids and teens. Markets in Saint-Paul, waterfall stops like Langevin, and a crêpe night keep the pace family-friendly. A 7 to 9-night plan works well with a rental car.
- Get there: One-stop flights from Johannesburg with Air Austral or Air Mauritius make access simple. No visa required for South African passport holders. Car hire is the easiest way to explore scenic routes.
- Connectivity: Excellent in Saint-Denis and coastal towns, patchy in the mountain cirques of Mafate, Cilaos and Salazie, and none on deeper trails.
- Unplug level: Medium.
4. Zanzibar, Tanzania
Zanzibar is straightforward and family-friendly. Start with 1 to 2 nights in Stone Town for a guided spice tour and a hop to Prison Island, then shift to the beach for reef snorkelling at Mnemba, Jozani Forest’s red colobus monkeys, and kite lessons on the east coast. A 5 to 7-night split keeps everyone engaged without overplanning.
- Get there: From South Africa, look for seasonal direct flights from Johannesburg, or connect via Dar es Salaam for frequent short hops across the channel. Nairobi and Addis Ababa are common one-stop hubs too.
- Connectivity: Fair in Stone Town and Nungwi, more variable in smaller beach villages like Jambiani or Matemwe. Many resorts offer Wi-Fi, but speeds ebb and flow with the tide. Grab a local SIM from Airtel or Zantel at the airport for smoother browsing.
- Unplug level: Medium.
5. Mozambique
Keep it simple and sandy. Choose Vilanculos for boat trips to Bazaruto’s sandbars, snorkelling Two Mile Reef and a sunset dhow cruise, or choose Tofo for easy ocean safaris and tide-pool exploring. Families do well with 4 to 6 nights, adding a night or two in Maputo for markets and food tours (with Dana Tours) if time allows.
- Get there: Direct flights connect Maputo and Vilanculos to Johannesburg, from there, it’s an easy hop to island lodges by light aircraft or boat. Overland routes via Komatipoort or Ponta do Ouro are popular for self-drives.
- Connectivity: Strongest in Maputo, Vilanculos and Pemba. Once you’re on the islands or deep in beach villages, expect slower speeds or signal drop-offs. Local SIMs from Vodacom or Movitel are easy to find and reliable in towns.
- Unplug level: Medium.
6. Zambia
Zambia shines with a 2-stop family plan. Do Livingstone for Victoria Falls, river cruises and gentle cycling, then add a safari base in South Luangwa or Lower Zambezi for game drives and boat trips. Walking safaris are best for older kids and teens. Think 6 to 8 nights total for a well-balanced trip.
- Get there: Fly direct from Johannesburg to Lusaka or Livingstone, with easy onward connections to South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi and Kafue via domestic carriers like Proflight Zambia.
- Connectivity: Reliable in Lusaka and Livingstone, moderate in lodge hubs, and minimal once you’re deep in the bush. Most camps offer Wi-Fi in main areas, but don’t count on it extending to sundowners in the bush. A local Airtel or MTN SIM works well in towns.
- Unplug level: Hard.
7. Kruger National Park
Kruger is a crowd-pleaser for all ages. Combine 2 to 3 nights at a private reserve for guided drives and kids’ bush programmes with 2 to 3 nights self-driving in a SANParks camp. Picnic sites, short loop roads and evening game drives keep days varied without being full-on.
- Get there: Easy access from Johannesburg or Nelspruit, with direct flights into Skukuza, Hoedspruit or Phalaborwa. Self-drivers can enter through any of the park’s southern gates for flexible, road-trip-style freedom.
- Connectivity: Strong in southern rest camps and nearby towns like Hazyview or Malelane, the further north you go, toward Letaba, Shingwedzi and Pafuri, the weaker the signal. Some private reserves limit Wi-Fi to main areas only, preserving the peace between game drives.
- Unplug level: Medium.
8. The Pondo Trail (Wild Coast)
A brilliant choice for families with active teens. Opt for a guided 3 to 5-day slackpacking version with portage so you carry only day packs. Expect tidal pools, waterfalls like Waterfall Bluff, and beach camps or community stays. Daily distances are manageable with plenty of swim and snack breaks.
- Get there: Reach the Wild Coast with Airlink’s Johannesburg to Mthatha flights, then hire a 4×4 toward Mbotyi or Msikaba. Trails and campsites are best booked through local operators or community-run initiatives that guide small groups safely along the route.
- Connectivity: Here, your phone becomes a camera and a flashlight! Power banks help, but the lack of signal is part of the magic.
- Unplug level: Hard.
9. Namibia
Plan a classic loop that keeps drives reasonable for kids. Go Windhoek to Sossusvlei for dunes and stargazing, then Swakopmund for sandboarding and kayaking with seals, up to Damaraland for rock art, and end in Etosha for waterhole wildlife. Nine to twelve days is the sweet spot.
- Get there: Fly into Windhoek via Johannesburg or Cape Town, then hit the open road, Namibia was built for road trips. 4x4s are the vehicle of choice, and routes to Swakopmund or Etosha are part of the experience.
- Connectivity: Good in Windhoek and Swakopmund, spotty in smaller towns and non-existent in deep desert regions like Sossusvlei, Damaraland or Kaokoland. Local SIMs from MTC or Telecom Namibia offer decent coverage where towers exist.
- Unplug level: Hard.
10. Malawi
The “Warm Heart of Africa” whispers slow beside its vast freshwater lake: endless turquoise shorelines, local fishermen launching their wooden barges at dawn, and villages where life still pulses to the rhythm of nature rather than notifications. Families can paddle across Lake Malawi’s glassy surface, snorkel among cichlids in its shallow bays, visit local villages, or hike gentle slopes in Liwonde and Majete reserves. Sunshine, simplicity and lakeside serenity.
- Get there: Flights from Johannesburg land in Lilongwe or Blantyre – direct options exist with Airlink (for example one-stop or direct) making the journey manageable.
- Connectivity: Moderate to strong in Lilongwe and Blantyre; lakeside lodges and national-park camps often drop to minimal signal, giving you space to really unplug.
- Unplug level: Medium.
Tips for sticking to your unplugged plan
Set expectations before you go, choose one or two device-free windows each day, park phones in a bowl at meals, switch to airplane mode and use your phone as a camera only, download maps, playlists and e-books before departure, share your lodge’s main number for emergencies, pack old-school fun like cards and snorkels, and pick stays where Wi-Fi is limited to main areas. Little boundaries add up to a big break.
“One of the best gifts you can give your family is permission to be unreachable for a few days,” says Turner. “Choose the right destination, make a simple plan and let the experience do the rest. The world can wait. Your people can’t.”
