New Rates, June School Holidays and Long Weekends on the Garden Route

The June school holidays are almost here, and if you have been putting off booking a getaway, now is the time to stop scrolling and start packing. South Africa’s mid-year break runs from 27 June to 21 July 2025, and with Youth Day on Monday 16 June creating a three-day long weekend right before the holidays begin, families and couples have more than three weeks of quality time to fill with something worth remembering.

If the idea of a crowded resort or a long-haul drive does not appeal, there is another option. Nestled 42 kilometres south of Mossel Bay on the Cape South Coast,

Nestled 42 kilometres south of Mossel Bay on the Cape South Coast, Kanon Private Nature Reserve is one of those places that South Africans talk about in hushed, excited tones. A 187-hectare private reserve with 3.2 kilometres of untouched Indian Ocean coastline, wild fynbos, and a handful of beautifully appointed self-catering accommodations. New rates are now live for winter 2025, making this the right moment to plan your escape.

Before the school holidays even begin, June hands South Africans a gift. Youth Day falls on Monday 16 June 2026, turning the weekend of 13 to 16 June into a three-day long weekend. This is perfect for couples or smaller groups who want to get away without the full school-holiday rush.

From 27 June the schools close, and the June to July holiday window opens up properly. With the holidays running to 21 July, families have almost four weeks to plan an extended stay, a split trip, or a mix of school holiday week plus long weekend. Availability over this period moves quickly, particularly at private reserves where accommodation numbers are deliberately limited.

There is a version of a family holiday that involves standing in queues, fighting for beach towel space, and eating at the same restaurants as everyone else. Kanon is the opposite of that.

The reserve sits in a stretch of coastline that most South Africans have never heard of, which is exactly why guests love it. The beaches are private. The fynbos is untouched. The rock pools belong to your family. Children can move freely, parents can finally exhale, and couples can rediscover what a quiet evening sounds like when there is nothing but ocean and birdsong.

Activities at Kanon span guided game drives, hiking trails through dramatic coastal fynbos, birdwatching, rock pooling, snorkelling, and cycling. Head further afield and you have access to the Oyster Catcher Trail, world-class zip-lining over the ocean, and gin tasting at Cape St Blaize. It is the kind of destination where there is always something to do, but never any pressure to do any of it.

Kanon offers five distinct self-catering accommodation options, each with its own character and footprint. Whether you are booking for two or planning a multi-family gathering, there is a space that fits.

The Khoekhoen Glamping Village sits right on the edge of the Indian Ocean. Three luxury tented bedroom suites connect via raised timber walkways to a spectacular main living tent, complete with a fully equipped kitchen and private outdoor shower. The views are unobstructed and the sound of the sea is constant. Book one tent, two, or all three depending on your group size.

Perwinkel sits at Cape Vacca Point and sleeps up to 10 guests across 8 beds. It is the ideal choice for extended families or two families travelling together. The house offers genuine seclusion with a sense of space that a hotel simply cannot replicate. It is the kind of place where the kitchen becomes the heart of the holiday and bedtimes become negotiable.

The three beach cottages offer a cosy, self-catering base from which to explore the reserve and surrounding coastline. Each cottage sleeps up to six guests, making them a brilliant option for smaller families or couples travelling with friends. Shell Catcher is particularly popular with families with young children, positioned to watch the kids on the beach from the comfort of the stoep.

Kanon has released updated rates for winter 2026. All accommodations are priced per night on a self-catering basis and scale according to the number of guests, making it straightforward to calculate the value for your specific group.

June and July accommodation on the Garden Route moves fast, and a private reserve with a limited number of units fills up even faster. If you are considering Kanon for the school holidays or the Youth Day long weekend, early booking is the single most important thing you can do.

Check availability and secure your dates directly through the Kanon reservations page. Booking directly with the reserve ensures you get the best available rate and direct communication with the team on the ground.

Kanon accommodates children of all ages and the reserve is set up for families to move around freely and safely. It is worth reaching out directly to the team if you have specific requirements or are planning a multi-accommodation group booking.

The Youth Day long weekend kicks off on Saturday 14 June. Schools close on 27 June. That is not far away, and the best accommodation on the Garden Route will not wait.

Kanon Private Nature Reserve offers something that is increasingly hard to find: genuine privacy, a wild coastline, and the kind of space that families and couples remember for years. View all accommodation options and check availability here.

For more on what makes Kanon a year-round destination, visit the Kanon activities page or explore the full

For more on what makes Kanon a year-round destination, visit the Kanon activities page or explore the full glamping experience to plan your perfect winter escape.