Here are some ideas for activities which you may consider if you have kids: (or are a kid!)
Ratanga Junction is a theme park situated at the Canal Walk shopping center in Century City (about 15 minutes out of Cape Town on the N1). Operating in season, Ratanga features various funfair-type rides, including an impressive roller-coaster called the "Cobra".
Boulders Beach and the Penguins
Simon's Town is a small naval town best know as national headquarters of South Africa's navy - it also hosts Boulders Beach and a penguin colony!
Boulders is a well sheltered beach excellent for swimming and snorkling, where it can be totally calm while other beaches are unpleasantly windy (the South-Easter is regular visitor)
There is a nominal entrance fee to the beach (as it is also the penguin reserve!) You can see penguins at close range, swimming, sunning themselves, and doing other penguin activities!
The penguins make boulders a truly unique experience, for children especially.
Scratch Patch at Mineral World, Simonstown
Mineral World is a semi-precious stones factory/shop. You can see how the stones are polished in the adjacent factory.
The display area has the finest selection of semi-precious stones, both polished and raw, that I have seen in Cape Town.
The kids will enjoy the "Scratch Patch", which is an area covered in a thick layer of semi-precious stones. Basically, you buy a small plastic bag, and then you are allowed in to this area, to collect your favourite stones until you fill you bag.
Ice Rink at Grand West Casino -
Grand West is Cape Town's only Casino. It is situated off the N7, which is reachable from the N1 and the N2 and is about 25 minutes from the center of Cape Town.
The complex has a large Ice Rink and a smaller rink for young kids. Skates are available for hire. They also have an impressive games arcade and movies for the kids, and many top restaurants, a gaming floor and the usual casino gear.
Climbing Lion's Head -
Lion's head is the Peak directly to the right of Table Mountain from the front (ie from CBD). It is a fairly stiff walk (probably a couple of hours to get up, and an hour or so down). The peak itself is quite sharp, offering 360 degree views of the Atlantic Seaboard, Sea Point, Cape Town itself, the V&A Waterfront, Table Bay and of course Table Mountain.
The path starts about a kilometer from Kloof Neck (the top of Kloof Nek Road). There is a parking lot under some bluegum trees. This is quite obvious as the route is quite busy - there will most likely be other cars there.
The path works its way clockwise around the mountain once, before tackling the rocky peak. Adding to the excitement, there are a couple of pitches where one uses chains to assist climbing. This is always a highlight for the kids!
Company Gardens - Feeding the Squirrels
The Company Gardens are situated at the top end of Adderley Street, about a 15 Minute walk from the train station.
There is an outdoor restaurant under the Oak trees, which has been there for at least 30 years and serves large, very well-priced dishes.
At the restaurant one can purchase peanuts too - these can be fed to the many (quite tame) squirrels. Very entertaining .. BTW: the squirrels are Grey Squirrels, which are not indigenous, and were introduced by settlers.
Seals at the V&A Waterfront -
Close to the launching point for the Robben Island Cruise at the Clocktower Shopping Center, there is a glass enclosure where one can observe the seals that frequent the Waterfront, at close range! They do not smell good, but their hilarious antics, funny noises, and interesting features, make this well worth a visit.
Got any interesting activities for kids in Cape Town? Mail Me: [email protected], I would be happy to add your suggestion (if it's good!)..
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