Two Oceans Aquarium
©Genevieve Behrens
CAPE TOWN FOR KIDS!Things to do with children in Cape Town. Cape Town is an amazing holiday destination for kids with an abundance of things to do. The weather is excellent and there are numerous fantastic beaches, an awesome mountain, nature reserves, forests, historic estates and beautiful gardens for younger children to get rid of their excess energy. Something to take into account is that when the wind is blowing on one side of the mountain, the beaches are warm and sheltered on the other side. If the weather is a bit miffy there are a multitude of indoor activities to entertain little people.
Kids will dig the noise and colourful pageant of the groovy Kaapse Klopse minstrel dancers who take over parts of the city streets in a New Year tradition that stretches back a few hundred years.
Ensure that you book child-friendly accommodation. Public transport in Cape Town isn’t great and hiring a rental car is practically essential. It's worth booking a child seat in advance, especially during peak season.
Waterfront fire eater
©Genevieve Behrens
The V&A Waterfront is excellent for kids. There are plenty of boat rides, ships going in and out of the harbour, seals, fast-food joints, buskers and entertainers. A visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium is essential, especially if you can time it at shark feeding time. Tel: +27 21 4183823, adults R70, kids 4-17 years R32. Next up is an interactive science museum, the Telkom Exploratorium, where kids can take a whirl on a gyroscope or a virtual-reality trip in a speeding Ferrari. Tel: +27 21 4195957, adults R15, kids R10.
The Wild Outdoors
Guaranteed hits for your "Wild Things."
A ride to the top of Table Mountain in the revolving Cable Car is always a hit. At the top the panoramic views are fantastic, there are marked pathways to explore and an indoor and outdoor restaurant. The plump little dassies are an added attraction but don’t be persuaded to offer them any food as they can deliver a nasty bite. Note that if the wind is too strong or the tabletop is covered in cloud the Cable Car will most likely not be operating. Costs vary for trips in the Cable Car (adults R115 with 2 kids free - August 2006 ). Breakfast at the top outdoor cafe will cost around R20 and a burger R22. Tip: take your own bottled water as it is a tad pricey up there.
Boulders Beach with its resident penguins is one of the best beaches for young children and creates great photo opportunities. It’s very safe for swimming and the enormous granite boulders shelter the beach from the southeaster so it's great for a beach picnic. The penguins come waddling down to the beach and if you don’t move too quickly they will come right up to you. Adults R20, Kids R5 (Wild Cards valid). The pine forests are great on hot days or when the southeast wind blows. Newlands Forest and Cecelia Forest as well as the Tokai Forest Arboretum are fantastic for peaceful, shady walks and picnics. Children will have a lot of fun jumping off logs and exploring the little streams. There is a coffee shop and mountain bike trails at Tokai Forest.
Frolicking on the lawns at Kirstenbosch
©Genevieve Behrens
You can’t go wrong if you’re planning a family outing to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. It has wonderful sprawling lawns to picnic on, a multitude of paths to explore, streams to splash about in and trees to climb. There are hiking trails further up the mountain and various indoor and outdoor cafes and restaurants. Rhodes drive, +27 21 7998899, adults R27, kids R5. Spier is a wonderful place for a family jaunt that merges a Winelands tour with brilliant attractions for kids. The historic mansion is set on a huge estate with a lake that’s perfect for picnics. Note that you may not take your own food into the grounds but there is a great deli where you can gather homemade bread and other deliciousities for your picnic basket. At the cheetah breeding centre you can get real close and pat a tame cheetah whose purring sounds like a Harley Davidson. At Eagle Encounters, the Raptor rehabilitation centre, there’s a chance to meet fascinating eagles, vultures, falcons and owls – a guaranteed hit. There’s also a Children’s Garden with flying fox slide, treehouse, arts & crafts section and enchanted garden. Close to Stellenbosch and off the R310, Tel: +27 21 8091100
Table Mountain rocks
©Genevieve Behrens
The Scratch Patch and Mineral World in Simon’s Town is a veritable Aladdin’s Cave with reject polished gemstones covering the floor. Kids from 3 and up will enjoy filling up bags with their treasures. The large gemstone tumbling plant is also worth a visit - open Monday to Friday. Dido Valley Rd, off Main Rd +27 21 786 2020, from R10 for bags.
Monkey Town Primate Centre is
home to over 220 monkeys from around the globe. Guided tours are on
offer and there’s a touch farm, play park and restaurant. Mondeor Rd,
off the N2 outside Somerset West, Tel: +27 21 8581060, adults R45 kids
R25.
Oh no, it's raining!
City Rock is Cape Town’s premier indoor climbing gym and an excellent place for energetic kids and adrenaline junkies. There’s a bouldering cave for unroped climbing, roped climbing on the main wall and a ladder climb. Corner of Collingwood and Anson St, Observatory, Tel: +27 21 4471326.
Cecelia Forest
©SafariNow.com
The Ice Station is another great place for working off excess energy on the ice-rink. Sessions: weekdays 10:00-12:00 & 14:00-16:30; Sat 9:00-11:00, 12:00-14:30, 15:00-17:30, Sun 12:00-14:30, 15:00-17:30. Vanguard Dr, Grand West Casino, Goodwood Tel: +27 21 5314709. Feeling creative on a rainy day? At the Clay Café children can select a ceramic bisque piece and paint their own design. Main Rd, Hout Bay, Tel: +27 21 7903318, R40 per item for adults and kids.
Bizzy Bodies has the biggest indoor play gyms in Cape Town with supervision for children from the age of one to 12 years and convenient coffee shops for parents. Sommerset West - (0)21 852 2101 or Westlake Business Park - (0)21 7020505.
| 
