From exhilarating adventures, action-packed obstacles courses, outdoor exploring, bucket-list worthy experiences, exciting escapades, games, and challenges, and SO much more, there is no shortage of fun and thrilling things for kids to do, see, discover, and experience this holiday season in Cape Town. Plus, the fact that the vibrant Mother City holiday season coincides with Cape Town’s glorious summer season just makes it all the more exciting.
There is absolutely no denying that your kids are jumping at the bid to get out there and enjoy every adventure, experience, and bucket-list worthy activity the Mother City has to offer – and who can blame them!
Here are some of the top things to do with kids this holiday season in Cape Town – Don’t worry, we bet that all parents and adults will have just as much fun (if not more) than their kiddos!
Visit the Two Ocean’s Aquarium
Visiting the iconic Two Ocean’s Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront is by far one of the top things to do with kids this holiday season in Cape Town.
Home to several (if not all) of the Western Cape’s magnificent marine life species, incredible exhibits, and a vast array of bucket-list worthy kid-friendly experiences, activities, and adventures, there is no doubt that a fun-filled family-friendly excursion to the Two Ocean’s Aquarium will be thoroughly enjoyed by both the young and young at heart.
Some of the Two Ocean’s Aquarium exhibits you can look forward to include:
- The Penguin Exhibit
- Kelp Forest Exhibit
- I&J Ocean Exhibit
- Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit (experience up-close encounters with some of the most misunderstood species in South Africa’s oceans, such as ragged-tooth sharks, giant yellowtail, and yellowbelly rockcod)
- The Diversity Gallery (the Diversity Gallery aims to showcase the incredible diversity of marine life found in the Indian and Atlantic Oceans)
- The Touch Pool & Microscope Exhibits (this remarkable exhibit gives you the opportunity to look through a microscope and see marine life species like you never have before).
The best part? That’s merely scratching the surface of what the wonderful Two Ocean’s Aquarium has to offer. Plus, it can all be experienced right throughout the year!
Play a game of Cave Golf
Are you ready to play a cool game of mini-golf with an epic twist? Its officially time to show off your mini-golf skills and have a blast of a time as you enjoy an exciting game of putt-putt with your whole family. But don’t get TOO competitive now – It’s all in the name of FUN!
**Note: Cave Golf has two locations: V&A Waterfront & Simonstown
Cave Golf | V&A Waterfront
The V&A Waterfront has put their own unique spin on this classic family-friendly past-time by having players play in a cave-like setting – hence the name Cave Golf. This is without a doubt one of the most exciting and fun-filled family-friendly activities to do with kids this holiday season in Cape Town.
- Location: V&A Waterfront, Dock Road (near the Aquarium), Cape Town
- Opening hours: Monday – Sunday, 9am – 4:30pm | Holidays: 9am – 4:30
- Contact details: 021 786 2020 | [email protected]
- Website: Click here to visit the Scratch Patch & Mineral World website or to find out everything you need to know about the exciting Cave Golf experience
- Price per game: Refundable deposit: R20 per player | Round of golf: R40 per player | Groups of 10: R35 per player
Cave Golf | Simonstown
- Location: Scratch Patch & Mineral World | Dido Valley Road, Simonstown, Cape Town
- Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 4:45pm | Saturday – Sunday: 9am – 4:30 | Holidays: 9am – 4:30
- Contact details: 021 786 2020 | [email protected]
- Website: Click here to visit the Scratch Patch & Mineral World website or to find out everything you need to know about the exciting Cave Golf experience
- Price per game: Refundable deposit: R20 per player | Round of golf: R40 per player | Groups of 10: R34 per player
Enjoy a fantastic day out at the Company’s Gardens
- Location: Company’s Garden, 19 Queen Victoria Street, Central, City Bowl, Cape Town, Western Cape
- Cost: Free
- Contact details: 021 423 2919 | 021 444 1901 | [email protected]
- Operating hours: Open daily from 7am – 7pm in Winter | 07:30am – 8:30 in Summer
The famed Company’s Garden is not only one of the top and most beautiful gardens in Cape Town, it is also home to several of South Africa’s most important landmarks and offers the ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Undoubtedly making it one of the top family-friendly places to go and best things to do with kids in Cape Town during the holidays.
Boasting plenty of trees and a stunning diversity of fabulous flora scattered about, the garden offers visitors several shady spots and benches on which to sit back, unwind, and enjoy the peaceful and stunning surroundings. While wandering the many scenic pathways of the Company’s Garden, you’ll come across several historical features such as historic statues, a Japanese theme garden, and a vegetable garden that recreates elements of the original VOC garden. The Company’s Garden also has a beautiful rose garden, a bird aviary, water features, a restaurant, plenty of squirrels running about – which is a MAJOR hit with the kiddos as they watch them leap from one branch to the next, not to mention the fact that they come right up to you – as well as lovely lush lawns which are perfect for picnicking under the glorious Cape Town sunshine and provides plenty of fun for the young ones,
Go Artjamming!
Time to have some real ‘Paintertainment’ fun!
Going Artjamming is EVERY bit as entertaining, enjoyable, exhilarating, playful, and incredible as it sounds! Whether it’s painting, playing, sponging, or spraying, Artjamming gives you the exciting opportunity to be as wildly and wonderfully creative, bold, and free as you want to be – Unleash your fierce artistic flair onto the blank canvas in front of you and create whatever artistic masterpiece your heart desires.
Going Artjamming is by far one of the best things to do with kids this holiday season in Cape Town – But who are we kidding? Its GREAT for adults too! In fact, they welcome absolutely EVERYONE – from age 0 to 100 and beyond – ensuring tons of fun for both the young and young at heart!
All Artjammers are provided with different canvas sizes, easels, a choice of non-toxic acrylic paints on tap, paint brushes, as well as an array of cool tools and everything you need to boldly, freely, loudly, and proudly express yourself creatively and artistically.
To make things even better, absolutely NO drawing or painting skills are required to join in on the Artjamming fun and games. But just in case, qualified artists are always available to assist, guide, and lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it.
- Location: Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre | Breakwater Blvd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town| They also have locations in Willowbridge Shopping Centre and Somerset West
- Operating hours: Monday – Sunday, 9am – 6pm
- Contact details: 021 425 5050 | [email protected] | [email protected]
- Click here to visit the Artjamming website or to find out everything you need to know about this fun and thrilling experience
Have fun at the Scratch Patch & Mineral World
Did you know that almost half of the world’s gemstones can be found in South Africa? The amazing Scratch Patch & Mineral World gives you the incredible and wildly exciting opportunity to search and scratch for these remarkable gems yourself right here in Cape Town.
With two thriving locations in the V&A Waterfront and Simonstown in False Bay, Scratch Patch & Mineral World is a unique and down-right thrilling activity / experience that will be thoroughly enjoyed by the whole family on a chilly day in Cape Town – Not to mention any other day of the year too!
What exactly can you expect? When visiting the Scratch Patch & Mineral World (at either location), you will be welcomed by a vast and varied assortment of beautiful gems and stones that quite literally cover the entire floor. Once you’ve scratched, searched, and selected your favorite gems and stones, it’s time for you to visit the gem exhibitions and shops.
Scratch Patch & Mineral World | V&A Waterfront
- Location: V&A Waterfront, Dock Road (near the Aquarium), Cape Town
- Opening hours: Monday – Sunday + holidays: 9am – 4:30pm
- Contact details: 021 786 2020 | [email protected]
- Website: Click here to visit the Scratch Patch & Mineral World website or to find out everything you need to know about this incredible experience
- Price: You can purchase one of three sizes of plastic bags or a cup to fill it with your favorite gemstones:
- Small bag: R35 (contains approximately 140 grams)
- Medium bag: R55 (contains approximately 300 grams)
- Large bag: R160 (contains approximately 1200 grams)
- Cup: R105 (contains approximately 630 grams)
Scratch Patch & Mineral World | Simonstown | False Bay
- Location: Scratch Patch & Mineral World | Dido Valley Road, Simonstown, Cape Town
- Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 4:45pm | Saturday – Sunday: 9am – 4:30 | Holidays: 9am – 4:30
- Contact details: 021 786 2020 | [email protected]
- Website: Click here to visit the Scratch Patch & Mineral World website or to find out everything you need to know about this incredible experience
- Price: You can purchase one of three sizes of plastic bags or a cup to fill it with your favorite gemstones:
- Small bag: R35 (contains approximately 140 grams)
- Medium bag: R55 (contains approximately 300 grams)
- Large bag: R160 (contains approximately 1200 grams)
- Cup: R105 (contains approximately 630 grams)
Enjoy a fun-filled beach day
Its beach time! Regardless of how old you get, there is nothing better than being sun-kissed, sandy-toed, and salty-haired while soaking up the glorious Cape Town sunshine on one of its beautiful beaches. Enjoying a fun-filled beach day on one of the Mother City’s stunning beaches is by far one of the top things to do in Cape Town with the whole family this holiday season.
Whether you’re looking to have some beach fun in the sun, sunbathe, go sandcastle building, learn to surf, or enjoy a sunset stroll, Cape Town’s variety of sensational beaches caters to all your beach-loving desires.
Here are some of our favorite beaches that all deserve to be on your Cape Town beach bucket-list: Camps Bay, Clifton, Muizenberg Beach, Bloubergstrand, Llandudno, Bakoven, Glen Beach, Boulders Beach, Big Bay, Oudekraal Beach, Long Beach in Kommetjie, Noordhoek Beach and Water’s Edge.
Rush Indoor Trampoline Park
The Rush Indoor Trampoline Park is the ultimate, super-spacious indoor playground, perfect for energetic kiddos with tons of zest, vigor, and curiosity who, quite frankly, never stop moving and grooving around.
In addition to being one of the most entertaining things to do with kids in Cape Town this holiday, Rush Indoor Trampoline Park offers all kiddos a vast and exciting variety of fun and thrilling activities and things to do.
Epic foam pits, multiple wall-to-wall trampolines, battle beams, dodgeball, trampoline fitness classes, basketball, and emulating some of their favorite action heroes and video-game characters are just a few of the cool and action-packed experiences and activities kids can expect to enjoy at Rush Indoor Trampoline Park.
Trained staff are always available and on-hand to provide help, guidance, support, supervision, and instruction wherever and whenever needed. So you can rest assured that your kid / kids are in great hands while you enjoy a delicious cup of coffee at the on-site coffee shop.
- Location: Rush Indoor Trampoline Park | 5th Floor (Access to Rush from Parade Area), 109 on Main, Main Road, Claremont, Cape Town
- Contact details: 021 683 3841 | 021 671 1489 | 087 094 0178 | [email protected]
- Operating hours: Monday – Thursday, 9am – 7pm | Friday – Saturday, 9am – 8pm | Sunday, 9am – 6pm
- Cost: 1 hour all access ticket: R160 | Parent + Toddler (anytime): R200 | Click here for any pricing updates or special offers
- **Exciting Note: *Cosmic Rush* – a black-light experience with music and disco lights – takes place every Friday between 6pm and 7pm
Go Ice Skating @ The Ice Station at GrandWest Casino & Entertainment World
While some may say ice skating is solely reserved for winter – you couldn’t be further from the truth! Open right throughout the year, ice skating at The Ice Station at GrandWest Casino & Entertainment World is one of the most popular, exciting, and fun-filled year-round activities enjoyed by kids and adults alike.
Reminiscent of a winter wonderland, The Ice Station at GrandWest Casino & Entertainment Worldis one of the best places to go ice skating in Cape Town for both the young and young at heart.
Home to the only indoor ice-skating rink in the Western Cape, The Ice Station at GrandWest invites first-timers, amateurs, mid-level, and professional ice skaters to hone their skating skills, as well as show off their unbelievably cool and beyond astounding (AKA jaw-dropping) ice skating moves, tricks, and twirls, all while having TONS of skating fun on an Olympic-sized rink.
**Bonus: If that’s not enough, The Ice Station at GrandWest offers free-style open-air ice-skating for individuals and groups. It is also a great and incredibly fun way to celebrate a kid’s birthday party, especially if you’re looking for something unique and exciting to do. To put the cherry on top of an already fantastic ice-skating cake – GrandWest ice rink offers special rates for groups.
- Location: GrandWest Casino & Entertainment World | Grand West Casino, 1 Jakes Gerwel Drive, Acacia Park, Cape Town
- Contact details: 021 535 2260 | [email protected] | 021 535 2263
- Website: Visit the GrandWest Casino & Entertainment World website for more information | Click here to find out everything you need to know
- Operating hours: The trading hours are adjusted on a regular basis in terms of business requirements. Please contact the outlet directly to confirm their current trading hours | Typical operating hours are: Monday – Thursday: 10am – 7:30pm / Friday – Saturday: 10am – 11pm / Sunday: 10am – 8:30pm
Learn to surf at Muizenberg Surfer’s Corner
Calling all ocean-loving kiddos keen for an awesome surfing adventure! Are you ready to learn to surf the cool Cape Town waves like a real pro?
Cape Town is the ultimate surfing, kitesurfing, and kiteboarding mecca for locals, travelers, and world-renowned surfing legends alike. Home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, coolest waves, and a stunning year-round mild Mediterranean climate, Cape Town has fast become the MOST sought-after surfing destination for surfers from around the world. Whether you’re an avid surfing pro looking for your next big wave or a surfing first timer, Cape Town has the perfect spot for you.
To bring it full circle – Cape Town, specifically Muizenberg’s Surfer’s Corner, is one of the absolute BEST surfing spots in Cape Town (and among the top 10 in the world) to learn how to surf! Making it ideal for kids and young surfing pros in the making!
Known for its perfect ‘smooth ride’ and gentle rolling waves, sandy bottom, and clean lines, Muizenberg’s waves can be surfed almost all year-round. The warmer ocean water also increases the likelihood that the kiddos / young surfers will stay in the ocean for longer – which is certainly a win in itself!
The fact that Muizenberg fully embodies the ‘lekka’ laid-back sea-side town culture and cool surf’s up way of life means that you can easily find a variety of places / surf spots & shops / legit surfing schools to take up / arrange surfing lessons for your kid / kids. Surf boards and wetsuits are generally provided by the surf shop / surf school. There are also several places where you can rent wetsuits, and surf boards.
Parents, listen up – We definitely haven’t forgotten about you! Adults and people of all ages are MORE than welcome to join their kids in their exhilarating adventure of learning how to surf. Amazing family / group surfing sessions / lessons are available if you’re looking to enjoy an exciting and fun-filled family ocean adventure you can tick off your bucket-list!
**Extra bonus: In addition to being one of the coolest surfing beaches and best surfing spot to learn how to surf, Muizenberg Beach is also one of Cape Town’s best blue flag swimming beaches. This makes it the perfect place to enjoy a fun beach day out with the whole family.
- Location: Muizenberg Surfers Corner, 70 Beach Road, Muizenberg, Cape Town
- Click here for more information about Muizenberg Surfer’s Corner
Attend a Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concert
Nothing says the Cape Town holiday season is finally here quite like the start of the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concert Series. Besides, there’s no better way to celebrate the vibrant summer season than to the cool beats and epic sounds of some of the best local and international music acts in the shade of Table Mountain. Plus, the fact that you get to live your very best Summer Sunset Concert life in one of the most stunning settings in Cape Town, the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, with all your fiends and family just makes it all the more special.
With an incredible jam-packed line-up to look forward to this year, attending one of Kirstenbosch’s Summer Concerts is definitely one of the best things to do in Cape Town in summer and right throughout the holiday season.
Enjoy an outdoor Galileo Open Air Cinema screening
Known as Cape Town’s first and finest outdoor movie experience, a visit to The Galileo Open Air Cinema should be on everyone’s Cape Town holiday bucket-list. In Cape Town, the wildly popular and iconic The Galileo Open Air Cinema is synonymous with summertime bliss, as it brings movie magic to majestic venues across Cape Town throughout the vibrant Mother City summer season as well as special screenings on Christmas eve and Christmas day in Cape Town.
The Galileo invites both the young and young at heart to enjoy a memorable and magical outdoor movie experience underneath a canopy of stars and the Mother City moonlight.
You can also visit The Galileo Open Air Cinema website for more information, updates, along with their jam-packed movie line-up this holiday season.
Go Sandboarding at the Atlantis Dunes
Located approximately 40-minutes from the city center, the Atlantis Dunes is the ultimate sandboarding mecca. It is also one of only a handful of sandboarding locations in the world, undoubtedly making it one of the most thrilling bucket-list worthy experiences and best things to do in Cape Town with kids.
Besides the obvious, this is one of the best things about going sandboarding at the Atlantis Dunes – People of all ages and experience levels are invited to join in on the sandboarding fun and games! Even if you’ve never sand boarded a day in your life, the experienced guides will be right there to help you out along the way.
- Atlantis Dunes Location: 0 Dassenberg Drive, Atlantis, Cape Town
Enjoy a game of HintHunt
HintHunt is the original live escape game! It is fun, thrilling, and interactive and has taken Cape Town by storm with everyone eager to get in on the action. HintHunt is a game played in groups of three to five people where you get an hour to work out puzzles and mysteries to escape / release yourselves from a room.
If you’re up for something truly exhilarating, a little different, and super interactive that gets your mind working in all the right ways, a game of HintHunt is the perfect choice!
HintHunt offers visitors and eager thrill seekers an amazing variety of experiences to choose from, including:
- Live Escape Games
- Online Escape Games
- Outdoor Escape Games
- Amazing Race Experiences
- Mobile Escape Games
With such an exciting range of thrilling activities and experiences to choose from, the only thing you’ll have trouble with is deciding which HintHunt adventure to tick off your bucket list first. Here’s the best part – HintHunt has made it their mission to ensure there is something for absolutely EVERYONE to enjoy!
- Location: HintHunt | JH02 The Watershed, 17 Dock Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town
- Operating hours: Monday – Thursday : 10am – 7pm | Friday – Saturday: 10am – 10pm | Sunday: 10am – 5:30pm
- Contact details: 076 187 2764 | 021 001 4215 | [email protected] | www.hinthunt.co.za
- Click here for more information or to view HintHunt’s current COVID-19 regulations, protocols, and guidelines
Bookings:
- Click here to book a HintHunt Escape Room Experience
- Click here to buy HintHunt Online Escape Games
- Click here to book a HintHunt Outdoor Escape Game Experience
- Click here to book a HintHunt Amazing Race Experience
See the African Penguins at Boulders Beach
Seeing the cute and charismatic African Penguins in their natural habitat is by far one of the top family friendly outdoor experiences and absolute best things to do with kids this holiday season in Cape Town – Trust us, they’ll be jumping up and down from the very moment they spot these tuxedo cuties!
Home to a thriving population of African Penguins, Boulders Beach is one of the only places in the world where you can get up close and personal with these cool and playful ocean locals. This makes visiting the African Penguin colony at Boulders Beach a bucket-list worthy experience in every way.
Besides seeing the African Penguins from the African Penguin Viewing Site in Boulders Beach, you can enjoy a variety of other once-in-a-lifetime adventures such as swimming, kayaking, or enjoying a laid-back beach day with them right by your side – How unbelievable is that?!
In addition to Boulders Beach, Stony Point Nature Reserve in Betty’s Bay is home to an African Penguin viewing site as well as one of the largest successful breeding colonies of African Penguins in the world.
**Note: Visitors will need to pay an entrance fee (which forms part of a conservation project) to gain access to the African Penguin Viewing Site and Boulders Beach. Your ticket is valid for the entire day. You can choose to exit and re-enter as it suits you (this only applies to the day your ticket was purchased).**Visit the SANParks website for more information regarding Boulders Beach’s Conservation Fees.
Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome
If your kid / kids are at all obsessed with space and everything cool, magical, and mind-blowing that goes along with it, and even if they’re not, a trip to the infamous Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome is definitely one of the best things to do in Cape Town with kids. How can you not be completely and utterly mesmerized by the Planetarium’s magnificent projected night sky?
The Iziko Planetarium has since undergone a 21st-century makeover with its remarkable Digital Dome, making it the most advanced planetarium on the African continent. Boasting a 360-degree screen, it makes virtual voyages of the entire universe possible – if that’s not deemed a beyond remarkable, over-the-moon exciting, one-of-a-kind, bucket-list worthy experience, we’re not sure what is! The Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome also provides both multi-sensory edutainment and cutting-edge scientific research facilities.
The planetarium offers four shows, two of them specifically geared towards children. For example, this year they can join Tycho the space dog on his trip to the moon.
- Location: Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome | 25 Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town
- Contact details: 021 481 3800 | [email protected]
- Operating hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 9am – 5pm | School holidays: Tuesday – Sunday, 10:30am – 1:30pm
- Cost: Adults (18 years+): R70 | R40 (17 years & younger, students & pensioners)
- **Extra Bonus: The Iziko SA Museum is right next door – filled with interesting exhibits ranging from fossils and dinosaurs to giant squids and enormous whale skeletons.
- Click here for more information on the Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome
Cool down in one of Cape Town’s AMAZING tidal pools
If there’s one thing that kids absolute love, it is taking a cool dip in one of the Mother City’s incredible tidal pools – Making going on the ultimate tidal pool adventure one of the best things to do with kids in Cape Town this summer! And lucky for them, Cape Town has a whole ton of them that can be thoroughly enjoyed by the entire family!
The Mother City is blessed with countless tidal pools built along the coastline, providing everyone with an incredible, safe, and family-friendly space to swim, cool down, have fun, and enjoy the sunset.
Get ready to embrace the icy waters of the Atlantic as you spot a few sea slugs or cuttlefish. Not to mention one or all of the members of the Marine Big 5 if you’re lucky!
While Cape Town has no shortage of awesome tidal pools, the St James Tidal Pool is definitely one of the best. Not to mention a real fan-favourite among the young and young at heart.
How to get there: Situated close to the Muizenberg station, you will need to cross over the train tracks and follow the winding concrete path that meanders along the coast. Once you’ve reached your desired destination, a refreshing dip in the cool St James tidal pool waters is an absolute must! It really is the perfect Cape Town summer holiday activity for the whole family.
In addition to the famous St James Tidal Pool, here are a few more amazing tidal pools that will help you beat the heat in Cape Town this summer:
- Miller’s Point | Simon’s Town
- Maiden’s Cove | Between Glen Beach and Camps Bay Beach
- Dalebrook | Kalk Bay
- Camps Bay tidal pool | Camps Bay
- Shelley’s Point | Glencairn
- Milton tidal pool | Milton Beach
- Glencairn | Glencairn Beach
- Buffel’s Bay | Cape Point Nature Reserve
- Soetwater | South of Kommetjie
- Sparks tidal pool | Gordon’s Bay
- Kommetjie tidal pool | Kommetjie
- Saunders | Saunders Beach, between Clifton and Sea Point in the suburb of Bantry Bay
- Silwerstroom | Silwerstroom Resort, Meklbosstrand
- Wooley’s tidal pool | Between Kalk Bay and Clovelly
- Monwabisi | Khayelitsha
- Brass Bell | Brass Bell Restaurant | Kalk Bay
- Harmony | Strand
Go to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
A visit to the iconic Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens promises to be an exciting and fun-filled day out for the whole family!
Located on the eastern slopes of the magnificent Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is acclaimed one of the great Botanic Gardens of the World. Forming part of the Cape Floristic Region UNESCO World Heritage site, Kirstenbosch is home to more than 20,000 native South African plant species spread across a 528-hectare nature reserve of indigenous forest and fynbos, it truly is any nature lover’s paradise.
Besides its vast natural beauty and top Cape Town garden status, Kirstenbosch offers visitors an endless variety of things to do and see. Not to mention some exciting adventure experiences. Most importantly, be sure to take a stroll on the legendary Centenary Treetop Canopy Walk, also known as the ‘Boomslang’ – Not only is it a fan-favourite Kirstenbosch attraction for anyone who visits, but a REAL treat for the kiddos – They’ll be in awe and loving every single second of it!
Here is a sneak-peak of what you can expect on your visit to Kirstenbosch:
- Calling all wildlife and bird lovers! Kirstenbosch is home to over 125 bird species, making it any bird enthusiast’s dream come true. You will also encounter several reptiles, frogs, and invertebrates as well as amphibians such as the Chirping Frog, the Cape River Frog, and the critically endangered Table Mountain Ghost Frog.
- Avid hikers can enjoy a variety of hiking trails and walking routes. The Kirstenbosch estate can be explored via five trails of differing levels of difficulty. All are well-maintained, logged footpaths or gravel roads and are sign-posted. The Braille Trail and Boekenhout Trail are ideal forest walks for those pressed for time and the not so fit. The Stinkwood Trail is a relatively short exploration of the oldest part of the forest with some of the largest trees. The Yellowwood Trail and Silvertree Trail are long hikes that take you up to the waterfall and around the estate, through both forest and fynbos. It is also possible to climb Table Mountain from Kirstenbosch, up Nursery Ravine or Skeleton Gorge.
- Kirstenbosch boasts a variety of beautiful garden areas, including the Botanical Society Conservatory, art at the Sculpture Garden, and the Protea Garden, to mention just a few.
- For avid adventurers and thrill seekers, there are tons of hidden gems, secret spots, caves, waterfalls and so much more to be discovered and explored – so get ready for an adventure!
- Beautiful, lush lawns and large shaded trees perfect for picnics and kiddies running around.
- The famous Centenary Treetop Canopy Walk, also known as the ‘Boomslang’, has fast become a fan-favourite Kirstenbosch attraction for both the young and young at heart. The Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway is a curved steel and timber bridge that winds and dips its way through and over the trees of the Arboretum. The Walkway takes visitors from the forest floor into and through the trees and bursts out above the canopy, boasting spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and Garden.
- The cyad amphitheater which features life-size models of dinosaurs – this is a real winner with the kids!
- Kirstenbosch also has a variety of restaurants to and curio shops.
Go Tobogganing at Cool Runnings
Going tobogganing at Cool Runnings is by far one of the most fun and thrilling things to do with kids this holiday season in Cape Town, not to mention right throughout the Mother City’s warm and vibrant summer months.
The first downhill tobogganing track in Africa, Cool Runnings is a Cape Town-based family park boasting an intricate course of steel tracks and top-notch, wheeled bobsleds.
Go hurtling down a half-pipe in a bobsled, flying through the twists and curves as you race along the 1.25 km track. It’s fun for kids and adults, and it’s completely safe and the combination of speed and skill makes it a thrilling challenge for even the most die-hard speed freak.
Starting at the foot Durbanville’s slopes, you settle into your toboggan and set off as the cables in the tracks haul you to the start of the course (a relief for anyone thinking they’d have to climb the hill every time!).
Once at the top, it’s just you, the toboggan, the brake lever – and the spectacular view of Cape Town. Cruise through the 17 corners, S-bends and even a tunnel, before the sled automatically slows down at the bottom of the course, safe and sound. Perfect for a day out with the family, friends or colleagues, Cool Runnings is a one-stop destination, with a café serving up delicious boerie rolls, burgers and pizza, and a bar to quench your thirst. Best of all? It won’t burn a hole in your wallet!
The rides start at only R90 – and the more you ride, the cheaper it gets. It’s also free entry for team-building events, school outings, and birthday and bachelor/bachelorette parties.
**Note: Kids under the age of 3 are not allowed.
**Visit the Cool Running’s website to find out more.
Enjoy s down-right delicious ice-cream at Moro Gelato
KIDS! ITS’S ICE-CREAM TIME!!!
If you’re craving “new-school” Italian gelato, Moro Gelato is renowned for creating and making gelato the traditional Italian way with a slight twist by incorporating a delicious variety of modern and local fan-favoure flavours.
If there’s one nation who knows how to do things with flair and extravagance, it’s the Italians – and this is no different when it comes to their spectacular ice cream flavours and exciting flavour combinations. Moro Gelato is real-deal Italian gelato in every way!
Not only will you feel like you’ve been transported straight to the charming streets of Italy when indulging in one of Moro Gelato’s amazing gelatos, but each and every simply sublime gelato is freshly made, using only the best local produce and spices. So you better believe you’re in for one hell of a treat!
Beyond their extensive selection of classic and uniquely inspired gelato flavours, Moro Gelato also offers head-over-heels ice cream lovers an incredible selection of vegan-friendly sorbet options, This ensures that there is something for absolutely EVERYONE to enjoy and gives everybody the opportunity to join in on the delicious Moro Gelato celebrations!
Their pastel-coloured parlour on Long Street is Wes Anderson perfection and they are open till late – which is music to any ice cream enthusiast’s ears! They also have chocolate fountains with dark and white chocolate pouring like a waterfall for your enjoyment pleasure. Besides their Long Street location, Moro Gelato has 2 more locations in Green Point and Sea Point.
- Website: morogelato.co.za
Some other mouth-watering ice-cream spots in Cape Town include:
- The Creamery | Mouille Point | Durbanville | Newlands | Twenty on Vineyard, Claremont | Constantia Emporium | Palmyra Junction, Claremont | The V&A Waterfront’s Food Market | Earth Fair Market
- Unframed | Woodstock | Kloof Street, Gardens |The V&A Waterfront Food Market | Cavendish
- Crumbs & Cream | Sea Point
- Sorbetière | Woodstock
- Ice Dream | Hout Bay
- The Ice Café | Kalk Bay
- Kristen’s Kick-Ass Ice Cream | Noordhoek | Newlands | Stellenbosch
- The Dairy Den | Sea Point
- Serendipity Creamery | Claremont
- De Villiers Chocolate | Franschhoek Valley
- Gelato Mania | Hermanus | Camps Bay | Newlands | V&A Waterfront | Green Point | Kloof Street | Sea Point | Stellenbosch
- Sinnfull | Hout Bay Harbour
Have a blast at Acrobranch Adventure Park
Are you looking to add a bit of adventure and excitement to your fun-filled family day out in Cape Town? Then a visit to Acrobranch Adventure Park should be right at the top of your list! Acrobranch is the ultimate treetop experience dedicated to offering children and adults alike a unique, memorable and bucket-list worthy adventure unlike any other. This tree-top obstacle adventure park provides visitors with an action-packed day of tree-top exploring and adventuring as they move from tree to tree in lush, green forests.
Acrobranch boasts different obstacle courses in each of their parks, with some of them being exclusively for kids (marked Acrobranch Kids) and others for reasonably fit adults and teenagers. Some of their thrilling obstacles consist of tree top high ropes and tricky crossings (with ladders, tunnels, walkways, and bridges). They also offer exhilarating zip lines to top it off.
To find out more about Acrobranch, their exciting range of activities, thrilling experiences, obstacle courses, and various safety regulations and measures, visit the Acrobranch website.
- Locations: Acrobranch Cape Town: 1 Hout Bay Main Road, Constantia Nek, Hout Bay, Cape Town | Acrobranch Stellenbosch: Klein Joostenberg, R304, Muldersvlei, Stellenbosch
- Contact details: 086 999 0369 | 021 201 1121
- Opening days & times: September – April: Wednesday – Sunday from 9am to 6pm (Last slot @4pm, Closing @6pm) | May – August: Wednesday – Sunday from 9am to 5pm (Last slot @3pm, Closing @5pm) | *Open on Public School Holidays & Public Holidays
- Booking: Click here to make a booking online | Contact Acrobranch Cape Town on [email protected] or 086 999 0369 to make a booking
- Click here to visit the Acrobranch website or to find out everything you need to know about this fun and thrilling experience
*Additional Information*
- Does Acrobranch cater to various age groups?
At Acrobranch you choose from various courses with different levels of difficulty. The height of the challenges, distance between steps and level of difficulty required has been carefully measured. Each park has different age and course restrictions depending on the forest terrain, so please check out the park nearest to you.
Whatever Acrobranch Centre you choose, each offers a range of courses designed to ensure that no one takes on more than they can comfortably handle. You can either experience your adventure solo, or tackle it with family and friends, you are not limited to group sizes.
- What should I wear for my outdoor Acrobranch adventure?
**Tip 1: Please wear closed shoes with good tread.
**Tip 2: Dress in clothes you can move freely in (touch your toes, stretch for a tree a little out of reach, sit comfortably).
**Tip 3: People with long hair should tie up their hair (in a bun) so it’s out of the way of pesky tree branches that may want to snag onto it.
