Most parents will know that travelling with the kids can be a trying and stressful event. Whether it’s a colicky baby or a “going through THAT phase” teen, it’s often difficult to keep the children preoccupied and happy at all times. Here is a guide to kids’ activities in Cape Town, for all those parents who need a bit of a break:
1. Kenilworth Karting:
Your kids can race a 160cc kart around a high-tech, well-maintained 300mindoor track. The younger ones can enjoy the same adrenalin rush in a 140cc junior cart.
10 Myhof Road, Kenilworth, Cape Town. 021 683 2670
2. Butterfly World:
For a peaceful and serene day out with the kids the perfect place to take them is Butterfly World. The 1000 square metre green-house boasts 500-800 exotic butterflies.
Between Klapmuts & Stellenbosch. 021 875 5628
3. “Let’s Go Bowling” Stadium Bowl:
Enjoy some good old fashioned fun at this affordable and social arena. There’s nothing like a little healthy competition to get the kids excited.
Outlets in Goodwood, Claremont, Tygervalley and Bellville. 021 914 8217
4. Cool Runnings:
You and the kids can enjoy hurtling down a 1.25km steel toboggan track at up to 40km an hour. You can spend the whole day at this exhilarating activity.
Off Carl Kronje Drive, opposite Bellville Velodrome. 021 949 4439
5. The Ice Station at Grand Casino:
This Olympic-sized ice rink will have the kids skating away and giggling for hours on end. For the smaller children there is a mini-rink too.
Grand West Casino, 1
Vanguard Drive, Goodwood. 021 535 2260
6. Two Oceans Aquarium:
Discover another world entirely at this wonderful waterland which showcases over 3000 living sea animals. Watch the sharks being fed, the seals frolicking playfully and the turtles paddling slowly all in one day.
V&A Waterfront, Cape Town. 021 418 3823
7. The Scratch Patch:
Your little ones will love scratching around for treasures of colourful gemstones. You can also visit the gemstone factory (Simonstown branch only) to see how the stones are tumbled, processed and polished.
Dido Valley Road, Simonstown. 021 786 2020 or Waterfront branch. 021 419 9429
8. Eagle Encounters Raptor Rehabilitation and Education Centre:
This non-profit bird-hospital will give your kids the opportunity to learn about birds of prey and how they can help preserve them. You can also enjoy Marshal Eagles, kites, buzzards, hawks and falcons in falconry displays.
Spier Estate, Lynedoch Road, Stellenbosch.
9. MTN Science Centre: 
This interactive science centre will keep the kids interested and stimulated. With over 280 displays for them to experience they’ll learn about fascinating scientific discoveries and technological innovations.
Entrance 5, 407 Canal Walk, Century City, Cape Town. 021 529 8100
10. Boulders Beach:
Your whole family will love an outing to Boulders Beach where a colony of over 1000 fluffy South African penguins share the water and sand with the human visitors. You might even spot a seal or two frolicking in the water while the kids build sandcastles and you relax with a book or magazine.
Jade Scully is a copywriter excited about writing copy and stories, blogging about the world and editing. She currently and regularly publishes her stories on a number of blogs. Jade loves animals and hopes to begin writing copy for the animal rescue charity TEARS as her contribution to the cause.
