Family
Kids love Cape Town. Which is why parents do too! The city is the perfect place for a family holiday – with loads of activities and attractions, we promise to banish boredom!
As you know, keeping the kids entertained is not always an easy task. The good news is that Cape Town is a city for children as well as for parents. There are loads of nature-based activities, as well as exciting outings and activities on offer. You'll also be happy to note that treating the kids to a great day out needn’t be too punishing on the pocket.
www.capetownkids.co.za(+27 21 685 7199) gives you extensive tips on where to eat, play, shop and stay with kids in Cape Town. Specializing in information for parents and kids who want to explore Cape Town and surrounds, Cape Town Kids is the online source for locals and tourists alike! Whether you want a quiet place to enjoy a good cup of coffee while the kids play in a safe environment, an exciting adventure for the whole family.
For kids with sea legs, there are boat trips from a number of seaside suburbs including Table Bay, Gordon' Bay, Simon's Town and Hout Bay (head out out to Seal Island, a large seal colony). There are also boat charters at the V&A Waterfront.
While at the Waterfront, why not take the little ‘uns to the Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront (021 418 3823, www.aquarium.co.za) where they will enjoy eye-balling great whites and other predatory marine animals. For young prospectors there is the Scratch Patch at the V&A Waterfront (021 419 9429), where they can search for gems – great fun! The older kids will enjoy Cave Golf Putt-Putt (1 Dock Road, V & A Waterfront, +21 27 419 9429).
You could also take them to the Iziko South African Museum (+21 481 3800, www.iziko.org.za) at the bottom of the Company's Gardens in the CBD. The 'Whale Well' features a life-size replica of a blue whale – definitely not to be missed!
Also in the Company's Gardens is the Iziko Planetarium (+27 21 481 3900, www.iziko.org.za/planetarium/), so you can combine entertainment and education all at the same time.
There are performances for small children at the main theatre complexes during holiday seasons. Zip Zap Circus stars young acrobats and will appeal to the very young and teenagers alike.
Take your kids for a walk, run or bike ride (small black bikes for toddlers welcome!) along the Sea Point promenade. Or enjoy 18 holes on the magnificently situated outdoor putt-putt (miniature golf) course (+27 21 434 6805) and let them wind their way through the Serendipity hedge maze. The tiny tots will love a ride on the "Blue Train".
For kids with adventure on their minds, why not let them ride a camel in Kommetjie, a mountain bike in Tokai forest or a surfboard at Surfers’ Corner, Muizenberg. If they're more than 1.2m (3ft 9in) tall, they can go indoor ‘grand prix’ racing on go-karts in Kenilworth (+27 21 683 2670).
Simon’s Town is a great place for families. Take the kids to see the statue of the famous Great Dane, "Just Nuisance". In this harbour town they can also see where the navy frigates dock and naval exercises are a fun attraction. The Simon’s Town Warrior Toy Museum (+ 27 21 786 1395) may be as nostalgic for you as it is engrossing for them. Of course, everyone loves the penguins at Boulders Beach (+ 27 21 786 2329).
The Imhoff Farm in Kommetjie (+27 21 783 4545) and the Adventure Farm in Phillippi (+27 21 371 5246), encourage children to feed and touch animals. The West Coast Ostrich Farm (+27 972 1955) is another great alternative.
Pre-teens may want to fly kites at Fish Hoek or Zandvlei, where the likelihood of getting a good gust of wind is pretty good! Let them aim for a perfect score at 10-pin bowling at ‘Let’s Go Bowling’ at the Stadium on Main, Claremont (+27 21 671 1893) or go for urban style combat with Laserquest (+27 21 683 7296). The real toughies can take part in paint ball games in Tokai (+27 21 790 7603).
Horse-riding in Constantia or Noordhoek, a beautiful windswept beach, is also an option. Noordhoek Farm Village is child-friendly, with a play-ground, open space for children to stretch their legs, child-friendly restaurants and regular children’s events (+27 21 789 2812).
For kids taller than 1.2m, there's an indoor ‘grand prix’ racing on go-karts at Canal Walk (+27 21 551 8570). The Green Acres Estate in Kleindassenberg is a child’s paradise, quad biking, jumping castles, waterslides, jungle gyms, trampolines and pony rides (+27 21 572 0781).
The MTN Sciencentre at Canal Walk (+27 21 529 8100) is a great educational and interactive experience for the young and the young at heart.
Try the Millstone Farm Café for tasty food, good coffee, freshly squeezed juices and home-grown organic produce, as well as daily wood-fired breads. The farm café has a great garden with a super tree house and play area for children. It also hosts birthday parties, functions and corporate events and offers holiday programmes for children.
Just outside Durbanville is Clara Anna Fontein, home to 11 indigenous species, including eland, bontebok, ostrich and zebra (+27 21 975 7017).
Try ice-skating at the Grand West Ice Station in the casino complex (+27 21 535 2260). Boogaloos Skate Park (+27 21 555 2895), at the Canal Walk Shopping Centre, offers an outdoor skate boarding and BMX ramp.
The Helderberg region has lots on offer for kids: the Noddy party at Vergelegen Wine estate is an annual heart-warming charity event (+27 21 840 1400, www.vergelegen.co.za). Touch and mingle freely with the 20 species of exotic monkeys at Monkey Town in Somerset West (+27 21 858 1060).
Visit the Drakenstein Lion Park (+ 27 21 863 3290) in Klapmuts, where you can view these magnificent beasts. Take a trip to the Giraffe House Wildlife Awareness Centre (+27 21 8844506), which is home to eland, giraffe, ostriches and lots more interesting animals, birds and reptiles.
Pre-teens will enjoy flying kites on the beach at Strand and Strand's Waterworld has a waterslide, speed slide and lots more to amuse children (+27 21 854 4702). There is also a laser shooting range which offers beam-hit, laser clay-pigeon shooting and combat challenges (+27 83 666 6113).
For more information on family friendly accommodation, search our Accommodation Database for an option that best suits you. You can also call 021 487 6800 and speak to one of our friendly Cape Town Tourism team. We'll be happy to share some local knowledge with you. Send us an email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
While in Cape Town, be sure to visit at least one of the 18 Official Cape Town Tourism Visitor Information Centres located across the City. We stock free brochures and maps, sell great Cape Town retail and crafts, do reservations for accommodation, tours, attractions, taxi's, car hire and will give you advice on the best family activities in the City. Call us on 021 487 6800 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
We also make South African National Parks reservations for accommodation in the parks across the country and can make bookings for any Cape Nature reserve. Call us on 021 487 6800 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
There really is so much for families to do when visiting the Mother City, and we promise that as the kids make memories, their parents will too.
