It’s hard to keep kids entertained all the time, so here is a list of things to do with your kids these holidays if you’re in Johannesburg.
Acrobranch
Acrobranch gives you and the kids the chance to unleash your inner ape and go swinging through the treetops. Website acrobranch.co.za
Play Lab
The Play Lab is aimed towards children aged from 8 months to under 5 years old. Five sensory learning stations filled with varying non-toxic, hand made and taste safe materials. They offer trial sessions, term class bookings and parties.
Website: www.theplaylab.co.za
Red Bus City Tour
The Red Bus City Tour is a hop-on, hop-off excursion which takes you to over 20 of the most interesting attractions in Joburg, from Gold Reef City to the James Hall Transport Museum, with a special audio commentary channel for kids.
Website citysightseeing.co.za
Roll Egoli
Roll up, or rather roll on down to the Roll Egoli Rink for some fun on skates. Egoli is great for kids’ parties too as there are loads of other activities and amenities to keep everyone, young and old, busy as long as they can last.
Magic Paintbrush
The Magic Paintbrush is an inspiring story of optimism. The theatrical play sees a poor farm girl, Shen, receives a magic paintbrush to enact good deeds by helping the poor.
Venue: SA State Theatre, 320 Pretorius Street, Pretoria
Rush Trampoline Park
Rush is an indoor extreme Trampoline Park with 1500-2500 square meters of adventure, excitement, fun and challenges.
Venue: Greenstone Mall, Modderfontein Rd, Greenstone Hill, Edenvale
The Cradle of Humankind
Get out of the city and head to the Cradle of Humankind in Maropeng for a family trip that promises to be as fun as it will be educational. The Learner Centre is interactive and informative and will be a hit with both young and old.
Art at Zoo Lake
Hosted by Art Under the Sun, Art at Zoo Lake is the largest open air monthly exhibition of fine art in South Africa.
Venue: Zoo Lake Park, Cnr Jan Smuts Ave and Westwold Way, Saxonwold
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a theatre adaption by Richard George based on the original classic by Roald Dahl.
Venue: Main Theatre at National Children’s Theatre, 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown, Johannesburg
Website: www.nationalchildrenstheatre.org.za
Quad-biking
Escape the urban jungle and hit the Segwati quad trails on the slopes of the Witwatersberg mountain range overlooking the Cradle of Humankind. Combine your quad-biking trip with a picnic, braai or maybe even some game-viewing or bird-watching. There’s also a paintball range here. Kids have to be over 13 years old to go quad-biking.
Garden of Lights
Emperor’s Palace presents their annual Garden of Lights show, a light extravaganza and yuletide adventure all in one.
Venue: D’oreale Grande Garden of Vespasian, Emperors Palace, 64 Jones Rd, Kempton Park, Johannesburg
Melrose Arch Lights
If it’s magic you’re looking for this festive season, Melrose Arch is the only place in Joburg you need to head to for enchantment and entertainment.
Pottery Junxion
Pottery Junxion in Edenvale is a great place to get your hands dirty and have something to show for it at the end of the day.
Festival of Lights at Joburg Zoo
Festival of Lights at Joburg Zoo features a collection of illuminated life-size animal characters with classical, harmonious performances, food and craft markets for visitors.
Venue: Joburg Zoo, Jan Smuts Ave and Upper Park Dr, Parkview, Johannesburg
Peter Pan On Ice
The World’s premier theatrical ice-skating company, The Imperial Ice Stars, returns to South Africa with a brand-new show Peter Pan On Ice. Take a journey to Neverland in this classic tale of magic and make-believe, staged on real ice.
Venue: Teatro at Montecasino, Montecasino Blvd, Fourways
Marvel Universe Live
Marvel Universe LIVE! is a live-action performance. The Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy and Spider-Man join forces with Doctor Strange to recover the Wand of Watoomb before it falls into Loki’s hands.
Venue: Sun Arena, Time Square, 209 Aramist Ave, Waterkloof Glen, Pretoria
Kloofendal Nature Reserve
Friends of Kloofendal is a conservation NGO that offers guided nature tours through the Kloofendal Nature Reserve in Roodepoort. These tours give you a chance to learn about and interact with the reserve’s plants, animals and insects.
Johannesburg Wits Planetarium
If stars, constellations and comets are your kid’s thing, the Johannesburg Wits Planetarium should be at the top of your holiday itinerary. There experts on site to answer astronomy questions and stoke your child’s curiosity in what lies beyond the earth’s atmosphere.
Honeydew Mazes
Honeydew Mazes’ latest Bee Maize Maze is now open and its 12th maize maze, designed in the shape of a honeycomb, has a whopping 3.5km of pathways and includes an eight-station general knowledge quiz which can be enjoyed by the whole family.
The Billions Bubble Show
Bring the whole family to watch this breathtakingly beautiful bubble magic show! The Billions Bubble Show is true family entertainment! The show involves spectacular displays of lights, lasers, smoke and bubbles thousands of tiny bubbles and enormous ones, bubbles within bubbles, as well as bouncing, floating and mega bubbles, to name a few.
Venue: Sun Arena | Time Square
