It’s Monday, and with the kids having finally woken up after a well-deserved sleep-in, the winter school holiday gees will have undoubtedly set in. Not long from now, the dreaded moans of ‘I’m so bored’ will soon start ringing in your ears and the weight of having to keep them entertained will set in too.
Although it may be a bit chilly outside and Ratanga Junction may no longer exist for you to pacify their need for adventure, the Mother City and surrounds are teeming with fun-filled activities that both you and the little ones can enjoy.
Also read: 5 indoor activities to keep the kids entertained this school holidays
Here are some kid-friendly adventures to try out in and around Cape Town this school holidays:
Stay a while for some fun with crocodiles
If you and the kids are reptile enthusiasts, the Le Bonheur Reptiles and Adventures offers a thrilling, engaging and informative reptile experience.
Situated between Paarl and Franschhoek, Le Bonheur is home to over 1 000 reptiles including approximately 250 crocs (no, we don’t mean the shoes) and an indoor exhibit housing a selection of local and exotic snakes. Make your way across rampways spanning four large dams overlooking these fascinating scaly creatures on a guided croc pond tour.
Children older than the age of nine can participate in crocodile cage dives or swim next to some 3-metres plus crocodiles. If they’re too nervous, they can always opt to play with the potbelly pigs or take a trip to the dam for catch-and-release fishing.
- Location: Babylonstoren Road, Simondium, Suider Paarl
- Times: Monday to Sunday 9am to 5pm
Cape {town} Etc discount: Experience a tree-top adventure to the Monkey Moves obstacle course for two at any Acrobranch nationwide for R279 (valued at R400). Get it here.
Explore the Toy and Miniature Museum
Both you and the kids are bound to become enchanted when you step inside the Toy and Miniature Museum in Stellenbosch. Stroll through rooms filled to the brim with antique dolls, room boxes, dinky cars, cuddly toys and so much more at the museum that houses an extremely detailed and lifelike miniature of South Africa’s iconic Blue train – the only one of its kind in Africa.
After that, make your way to the information bureau next door or join a walking tour of the town for the ultimate mini-adventure out of Cape Town.
- Location: Mark Street, Stellenbosch Central, Stellenbosch
- Times: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm | Saturday, 9am to 2pm
Visit the Cape Town Ostrich Ranch
The Cape Town Ostrich Ranch offers you and your little ones the opportunity to get up close and personal with a giant living dinosaur – the mighty yet shy ostrich.
In addition to expert tour guides teaching you all about this somewhat majestic creature, you also get to engage with them in an array of fun-filled ways. You can feed them, meet the babies, or catch a hatching (in the right season), and if you’re feeling brave enough, you can sit on their backs and snap a great pic.
For those who would rather admire from a distance, you get to test the strength of an ostrich egg or meet some crocodiles, tortoises, peacocks and cheetahs too.
- Location: Van Schoorsdrif Road, Philadelphia
- Times: Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm
Cape {town} Etc discount: Give your little ones a day of pure adventure with an all-access VIP pass to Bugz Playpark for R160 (valued at R320). Get it here.
Get creative at Clay Café
Let your creative juices flow at the Clay Café. With its gigantic backyard and wide selection of practical and wacky pottery pieces, the Hout Bay Clay Café branch is an excellent place for families with children of all ages.
Let the little ones bring their inner Picasso to the fore as they paint and decorate the items of their choice (don’t worry, the paint is washable). Throw in a delectable snack or two from the menu, and enjoy a moment of peace as you watch them explore the garden and playground or have their faces painted.
- Location: Main Road, Hout Bay
- Times: Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm
Make a tall friend at Giraffe House
You probably never thought you’d ever see a giraffe’s face up close, what with their long necks and clumsy-looking legs, but in Stellenbosch, the seemingly impossible is always possible.
At Giraffe House, you get to learn all there is to know about these gentle giants as well as have the opportunity to get up close and personal by feeding them.
There are also other animals to see and interact with, making a day out at Giraffe House a memorable adventure for any little one – especially if they’re self-proclaimed animal lovers.
- Location: Corner of R304 & R101, Muldersvlei
- Times: Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm
Cape {town} Etc discount: Enjoy an hour jump session and glow-in-the-dark golf at Jump 4 Fun – R99. Get it here.
Reach for the stars at the Planetarium and Digital Dome
The Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome, where art, science and entertainment meet, is the ideal space (pardon the pun) for children and budding space explorers to learn all about the stars and planets above in a fun and exciting way.
Well-trained and knowledgeable staff are available to give insight into the constellations as you lie under a virtual canopy of stars at this world-class facility. There are several special programmes on offer, curated especially for the winter school holidays.
An immersive multi-sensory experience that’s bound to be a highlight of any child’s holiday adventures.
- Location: 25 Queen Victoria Street, City Centre
- Times: Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm
Need a vehicle that fits your needs and your budget? Find car listings here.
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Picture: Caia Image / Gallo Images