As much as you’d love your kids to enjoy learning about local history, wandering the markets, or challenging their palates with some unusual dishes, the reality of family travel is that sometimes you have to spend time with the family. Friendly attraction needs to be found. Fortunately, Cape Town has plenty of activities for every member of your clan.
1. The coast
Surrounded by water, Cape Town has some of the best family-friendly beaches. St. James Beach, near the train station of the same name, has a tidal pool for safe swimming. For older children there is a 2km coastal path offering views and opportunities to spot seals and whales. The path leads to Muisenberg Beach (also accessible by road), famous for its colorfully painted Victorian baths. You can rent surfboards and get lessons for kids at various shops on Beach Rd. The beach has a gentle slope and the sea is safer here than elsewhere along the peninsula.
Best for: Toddlers, teenagers, teenagers
2. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Clinging to the back of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch is a stunning garden with large lawns, themed gardens and woodland to explore. Tots will love picnicking on the grass while older kids will enjoy the treetop walkway and can also relish the challenge of hiking the lower slopes of the mountain. And everyone will appreciate a slice of cake or a decadent hot chocolate in the tea room at the end of the day.
Best for: small
3. Blue Train Park
This quaint park run by the Rotary Club has been operating since the 1950s. At the center is the miniature train that loops endlessly around the park’s other attractions – soccer pitches, jungle gyms, climbing walls, skating rinks and bike tracks. It can get quite crowded with birthday parties at the weekend, but the views make up for it – sitting on the seafront at Sea Point gives you stunning views of Lion’s Head, breathing in the fresh Atlantic air. See you.
Best for: small
4. Aquarium of Two Oceans
Cape Town gets its share of rain, especially in the winter months (June-August) but offers surprisingly few wet-weather activities. A great aquarium can easily last a few hours. For youngsters, the Touch Tank is fun, and the playground with its puppet shows is always a big hit. Children over the age of eight can get up close and personal with rockhopper penguins, while children over the age of 12 can dive into the tanks, assuming they have diving qualifications. Be sure to check out feeding times for penguins, sharks, rays and the resident turtle.
Best for: Young children, teenagers
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5. Middelvlei
There are plenty of wineries offering activities for kids, but Middelvlei is one of the best. Start with some lawn games then grab a bucket of animal feed for the pigs, goats and chickens. And while the grown-ups sit down for a wine tasting or fun mixing experience, kids can enjoy the experience of thoughtful juice and candy pairings. Along with traditional, lunch is also suitable for children. Braai (Barbecue) where kids can toast their marshmallows.
Best for: Little ones, tweens
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6. Of Massimo
Restaurants with children’s playgrounds are quite common in Cape Town and good food is plentiful. But finding both at the same place can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. Massimo’s, in the seaside suburb of Hout Bay, offers authentic Italian cuisine with the added bonus of a large outdoor play area. Best of all, parents can enjoy the views of the surrounding mountains while enjoying the best pizza in town while the kids play.
Best for: small
7. Table Mountain
It’s usually at the top of every visitor’s list of things to do in Cape Town, and kids of all ages should be no exception. The fun begins with the cableway, which rotates 360 degrees as it takes riders up the mountain in just five minutes. Once at the top, a series of fairly flat paths make for easy, no-skid walking. Prepare younger children to keep count of the dikes (rock hyraxes) they see along the way and challenge older children to perfect their photography skills from the many lookout points. Brave kids can even join a scooter tour and freewheel down the slopes. The only downside is the queues that form on busy days. Buy tickets online and arrive early to minimize the wait.
Best for: Toddlers, teenagers, teenagers
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8. The Springbok Experience
Whether your child knows much about rugby or not, the Springbok experience is great fun. Interactive exhibitions allow you to train with the national team, testing your passing skills, kicking ability and general fitness level. It’s the kind of place that adults want to feel less stupid while doing it with their kids.
Best for: Tweens, teenagers
9. V&A Waterfront
You can easily spend a day shopping and dining on the waterfront, and luckily there are plenty of ways to keep the kids entertained too. A cape wheel is a good way to give children a lay of the land, with many landmarks visible on top. After the ride is over, try an hour-long trip to Table Bay on a pirate ship, complete with face paint and cut glasses. Head to the Clock Tower to see (and smell) the sea lions on the jetty, and if it all gets too much, you can drop the kids off at PlayDate SuperPark – an indoor assault course – while you browse crafts at the Watershed Market. do the shopping. . And of course for teenagers, there is a mall!
Best for: Little ones, tweens
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10. Cape Town Science Centre
Although it pales in comparison to science museums in cities like London and New York, Cape Town’s Science Center is a great way to spend a rainy afternoon. There’s a giant Lego pit, a very popular construction site complete with wheelbarrows, trowels and rubber bricks, plus lots of interactive experiences for all ages. It’s mostly geared toward children under 10, although tweens will get more out of the daily demonstrations and experiences than younger children.
Best for: Little ones, tweens
11. Muscles
It’s one of the most commercial wineries in the winelands, but it’s easy to see why so many people visit Spire. The sprawling estate is extremely kid-friendly, with kid-sized tables and colorful activities scattered throughout the various restaurants and tasting rooms. There’s juice tasting, great game birding and, for older kids, Segway tours through the estate. The attached hotel comes with a kids club so adults can relax while the kids are taken care of.
Best for: Toddlers, teenagers, teenagers