Activities to do with kids in Cape Town
The city of Cape Town is a place where thousands of people and tourists go for the holidays. It’s a place of beauty with rich culture, history and diversity.
There are so many things to do in this beautiful city that it would be impossible to cover all the wonderful things to do without writing an entire book. Therefore, to keep things short, this list will contain something for everyone’s taste and not something that you can do in most other cities in South Africa.
So without further delay, lets get into it!
- Something indoors – Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome
People, including kids, have always been fascinated by beauty of outer space. Stars, planets, black holes, meteors and more have captured the attention of young and old for thousands of years. Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome has gone through a 21st century makeover and it is one of the most advanced planetariums on the continent! Your kids will love this, whether they are into science, nature, the outdoors, like pretty things or just have their heads in space, pun intended.
They offer four shows, two of which are specifically designed to entertain children.
You don’t even have to stop there because right next to the planetarium is The Iziko SA Museum. It is filled with interesting exhibits that kids would love ranging from fossils and dinosaurs on land to giant squids and enormous whale skeletons from the sea.
- Something Famous – Table Mountain Cableway
Recognized as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, Table mountain is a must see! Taking a ride in the famous cable car is definitely one of the best and exciting ways to view Cape Town in its entirety. There is so much to do like spotting familiar landmarks, photographing or looking at dassies, agamas and other animals and plants on three easy walks, or heading over to Woodhead Dam to visit the Waterworks Museum. There is also a self-service café that serves popular, child friendly foods like pizza or snacks.
Kids are in awe and love to spend the day there. If you do have little ones who may get too excited and you’re concerned about their safety, rest assured that there are many safety measures taken. However for added peace of mind having a safety harness or rope will come in handy.
You can find one here: https://4akid.co.za/products/wrist-link-orange
- Something wet – Boulders Beach
Boulders Beach, this is the home to a serene penguin colony and also one of the very few places in the whole world where you can actually swim with the penguins! And honestly who wouldn’t want to swim with these cute happy feet? Because the colony falls under the protection of SANParks it does require a conservation fee to gain access to them. Although you may approach them its best not to get closer than a meter or two.
You can have a picnic on the beach and enjoy watching the penguins frolicking in the water. There are also restaurants in the nearby Simon’s Town
- Something Challenging – Playstation by Rush
Wait it’s not what you think! This indoor amusement centre (for younger children, age 2 to 13) is a Fun Central. There are many ways your kids will be entertained and getting rid of excessive energy with giant slides, an adventure maze with swing bridges, climbing walls, a bike track and other energy-consuming activities, including puzzles and games for brain exercises. The best part? Kids are supervised by trained personnel so that the parents can relax in the café with free wifi, TVs and coffee!
There it’s all about real-life games and challenges instead of virtual ones. They will go home feeling happy, confident, strong and courageous. The Mini Town for toddlers features a fire truck, a supermarket, a hardware store and a bakery – it’s a great way for kids to pretend play!
- Something relaxing – Ceres Steam Train to Elgin Railway Market
This family-friendly steam train departs from the Foreshore district in Cape Town, taking you on a three-and-a-half-hour ride to Elgin. On your way you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery of mountains and rolling hills. Upon arrival at the train station, you can disembark to explore the steampunk-themed Elgin Railway Market. There is live music, clothing, accessories, arts and craft stalls that you’ll be able to enjoy all while savouring delicious street foods and beverages.
- Something adventurous – Wonderdal
This unique, state-of-the-art edutainment centre combines creative design and award-winning educational resources with world-class technology in an immersive interactive space. Kids between 5 and 13 get a chance to learn while they play as they journey through a world of science, nature and life skills. The space is divided into indoor and outdoor areas with different zones, each focused on specific educational themes and modes of playing. It’s safe for kids and has access-controll and supervision at all times, so parents can go and enjoy the other activities for which Hazendal is known.
It's an immersive fantasy world that is designed to make kids feel part of a story. As they explore, the kids are accompanied by virtual inhabitants called, the Amuki. These friendly, creatures will help them complete the courses.
- Something exotic – Exotic Animal World
Exotic Animal World is a safe haven for exotic animals, like monkeys, meerkats, spiders, scorpions, snakes, many species of birds as well as a freshwater aquarium with piranhas and other fish. All of the animals there have either been donated by their owners, or have been rescued by local authorities and handed over to the sanctuary. You can relax at Café Lemur after viewing the animals.
You can also get your kids a digital inexpensive camera to take pictures of all the cool animals here: https://4akid.co.za/products/kids-digital-camera-assorted-colours
Cape Town has so many things to do so feel free to ask the locals for suggestions on what places to visit as well! You will always find something great to do in this beautiful city! However if you want to have a day in with your family you can enjoy board games or other fun activities in the comfort of your home.
To see some great games that everyone can enjoy at good prices, you can visit www.4akid.co.za.
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