The end-of-year holiday is the ideal time to do things with the whole family, and there is no better way to spend the break than building memories together.
To help you avoid repeatedly hearing the tiresome declaration “I’m bored!” from restless, grumpy children, we have compiled a list of kid-friendly activities that are bound to put smiles on your little ones’ faces this festive season.
From stargazing to adrenaline-filled adventures, there is no shortage of fun activities to keep both you and your children entertained.
5 kid-friendly activities in Cape Town
1. Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome
Bring the kids along and travel into outer space as you learn about the stars and solar system in the multi-sensory Digital Dome. This edutainment experience is an ideal way for young children to learn in a fun environment.
Entrance costs R60 per adult (19 years and older) and R30 for children and pensioners.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9am-5pm and on Wednesdays until 7pm.
Address: 25 Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town
Contact: 021 481 3900
Website: www.iziko.org.za/museums/planetarium
2. Clay Cafe
Create works of art at the Clay Cafe in Hout Bay this holiday. Visitors of all ages can go and pick out ceramic clay items of their choice from an array of mugs, bowls, pot plants, heart-shaped paper weights and more, then paint them at a table while also having a milkshake or cup of coffee.
Multiple tools, stencils and paint colours are available and are fun to experiment with to create your own works of art. Once your masterpieces are complete, you can take them to Clay Cafe’s reception desk in the entrance where they will wait to be fired, and your pieces will be ready to collect within three weeks after the date.
There is an open garden play area for children and a restaurant which is perfect for a summer lunch.
Clay Cafe is open every day from 9am-5pm, although this is subject to change on public holidays.
Address: The Clay Cafe 4080. Hout Bay Main Road. Oppsite Bokkemanskloof estate
Contact: 076 810 5120
Website: www.claycafe.co.za
3. World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park
This sanctuary in Hout Bay (just down the road from Clay Cafe) is home to more than 3 000 local and exotic birds and other small animals such as cheeky squirrel monkeys and cute tortoises, and the whole family will enjoy visiting and learning about these creatures.
Visitors can walk through the monkey jungle and capture candid moments with the friendly squirrel monkeys who are never shy to interact with you (or try to help themselves to your possessions—keep car keys, phones, wallets, and water bottles out of reach!), or look at the parrots, owls, falcons, pelicans, turkeys, quails, and many, many more feathered friends.
Entrance to the sanctuary costs R120 a head for adults, R45 for children and R75 for pensioners and students (with proof of identity).
World of Birds is open from 9am-5pm seven days a week.
Address: 4914 Valley Road, Hout Bay, Cape Town
Contact: 021 790 2730
Website: www.worldofbirds.org.za
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4. Cool Runnings Tobogganing
Fly through the twists and turns of the Cool Runnings tobogganing track in Tygervalley. The activity is suitable for adults and children and is a safe way to experience an adrenaline rush on an intricate course of steel tracks in a wheeled bobsled. Visitors are hauled on their toboggan up to the top of the track and from there the brief but exciting journey starts as they speed back down to the bottom.
A café is on-site at Cool Runnings offering drinks, light snacks and lunch meals.
Kids under the age of three are not allowed to go on this ride. Rides start at R50, and the more rides taken, the cheaper the tickets are. Young children can sit in the same bobsled as their parents for a fun shared experience.
Address: Carl Cronje Dr, Tygervalley, Cape Town
Contact: 021 949 4439
Website: www.coolrunnings.capetown
5. Wiesenhof Adventure
Cool off in the water and get involved in fun activities with the kids at the Wiesenhof Adventure Park in Stellenbosch. There are multiple trampolines, water slides, foam pits, mountain biking trails, and more at the park.
During the December and January season, visitors are not able to book and entrance is given to those first-come-first serve basis. The Wild Waters area is only open on the weekends and bikes and scooters are available for hire in the other themed areas.
Rates for the park are priced according to the time and area, details of the pricing can be found here.
The adventure park is open on Thursday to Friday from 1pm – 6pm and on weekends from 10am to 6pm.
Address: Wiesenhof Adventure Park, off the R44 12 km North of Stellenbosch
Contact: 065 820 2737
Website: ww.wapark.co.za
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Can you believe this is just over 300 visitors! ? and sooo much space still for more!!
Picture: Unsplash