10 fun, kid-friendly things to do in Cape Town

I'm lucky enough to call Cape Town home and sometimes I feel like we become immune to its beauty. So recently, when we had visitors from overseas I had to come up with a couple of things to do in and around the city that was one, kid-friendly and two, fun enough for the accompanying adults. When you have kids, you need to plan and prepare for the day ahead, which needs to factor in naps, snacks and stroller-accommodating terrain.

What is Cape Town renowned for?

Well the appeal is its natural beauty. We are fortunate to have mountain and ocean views, which lends itself to lots of activities that don't cost an arm and a leg. If you are looking for ways to entertain your kids over the holidays, why not try some of these fun-filled activities...

1. Zipline over the valleys in Constantia

You can look forward to a ride in a rugged Jeep up the steep mountain ascent

Located just opposite Constantia Nek in the Silvermist Private Estate, is the base from where Cape Town Ziplines operate. They claim to offer one of Africa's longest and highest zipline tours, which stretches over 2.3 kilometers, with slides as long as 500 meters and as high as 155 meters. 

It costs around R450 per person for the seven slides and all you need is a healthy dose of enthusiasm and a sense of adventure. 

The views are spectacular with the lush canopy of trees and the Constantia wine farms in the distance. The guides are very friendly and can allay any fears. It's great to do as a team build activity or as fun for the whole family.

Always time for a selfie

The wine farms in the background

Silvermist Private Estate

2. Clay painting in Hout Bay

Cheese!

I am one of five siblings (three of us are married) with two nieces and two nephews (all under the age of 5) and my parents. So finding an activity that can entertain and excite the whole family is quite challenging. My brother arranged a surprise visit to Clay Cafe in Hout Bay.  

Upon arrival you receive a short tutorial on what to do and everyone selects the clay item they'd like to paint. There is a wide array to choose from, ranging from different types of mugs and tea cups to teapots, some toy figurines like Hello Kitty and Thomas the train to rocket ships and piggy banks to different kinds of plates and bowls. 

The fun starts when you select the paints and accompaniments (like stickers, stencils and crayons) you'd like to use and sit around a long trestle table while you chat and paint. It is quite relaxing and somewhat therapeutic. 

You can order snacks and drinks while you paint and they have a lovely kid-friendly entertainment area outside, with swings, a jumping castle and a jungle gym. 

The clay items vary in price and once you are finished painting they go into a kiln and you can collect it in two-weeks time. The items are great gift ideas to say thank you, for Christmas or birthdays, when you want give something personal that shows your creative flair.

My dad painting his ship

My mom and her tortoise

Mujaahid painting Table Mountain

Abu-baker and his rocket ship

Fatima having fun

3. Spend an afternoon at the Blue Train Park in Mouille Point

Muzzafar the birthday boy

The Blue Train Park was the venue for my nephew's birthday and it's an awesome picnic spot, which offers loads of activities to entertain the little ones. The center of attraction is the Blue Train and your entrance fee covers a ride of two laps around the circuit. There is a jumping castle and a bigger, inflated waterslide, a mini-rock wall, a zipline, some jungle gyms, swings and lots of room to run around. The view is amazing as you look out onto Lions Head and the Atlantic Ocean. 

The Blue Train passing Lions Head in the distance with a lovely ocean view

4. Catch a sunset in Sea Point

Sometimes just getting out and enjoying the fresh, sea breeze while brisk walking can be loads of fun. Sea Point promenade offers amazing views of Table Mountain and Lions Head while the path snakes around the Atlantic seaboard. 

There are lots of parks along the way for the kids to play and exhaust themselves, which will ensure a peaceful sleep later on. 

There are also lots of interesting art-ifacts like huge sunglasses, a stacked rhinoceros and benches with words on them where people take loads of pictures. A huge attraction is also the free, outside gym. If you time your outing correctly you can also sit down and catch a sunset.

sunset

Beautiful view of the sky and an amazing colour pallet

5. Dinner at the V & A Waterfront

No trip around Cape Town would be complete without a visit to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. I'm not a mall person but Cape Townians have definitely developed a mall-culture and it has become a favorite pastime. But I can't deny that there's nothing comparable to having dinner at one of the restaurants peppered on Quay Four with Table Mountain as the backdrop. You can go for a ride on the Cape Wheel, enjoy the free entertainment at the Amphitheatre, catch a movie at the cinema or shop for just about anything you fancy from designer brands to groceries and even souvenirs.

Quay Four with Table Mountain and the Cape Wheel in the background

6. Pick strawberries at Polkadraai in Stellenbosch

Delicious strawberries

About 30 mins out of Cape Town, Polkadraai Farm is located in the Stellenbosch Winelands. From October to December, they offer strawberry picking and are open daily. It is a fun, family activity. 

You pay for a bucket and manoeuvre your way along the beds to pick some big, plump, red strawberries. There is a play area for kids and you can get some snacks from the farm stall.

Working the fields at Polkadraai

7. Saturday mornings at the Tokai Forest Market

Anyone for a horse ride?

Want a mellow Saturday morning activity? Visit the Tokai Forest Market. You will find an array of stands from amazing Gautemalan coffee to a curry stand that offers Halal, Banting and Vegan options, locally-grown olives and fresh produce to kids toys and interesting animals made out of pine cones. 

The kids can enjoy a ride on the horses and there is a play area for them, which includes a sandpit, jungle gym and a jumping castle. Fun for everyone!

Waleed getting some much-needed coffee...

Anyone for curry?

The olive stand

Some fresh produce

Handmade toys and frames

Check out the pine-cone guinea fowl 

8. Braai at Buffels Bay in the Cape Point Nature Reserve

Cape Point is the most south-westernly tip of Africa where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. The Nature Reserve offers an idyllic setting for a family day out. Buffels Bay located in the Reserve provides some beautiful views and tepid, ocean water for a swim. There's even a tidal pool. 

Remember to pack some umbrellas or a gazebo as there is very little shade. There are loads of braai spots and because of the hefty entrance fee (R125 for adults and R65 for kids) it is not very crowded. You can get a Table Mountain National Park green card for R125, which allows locals 12 entries and access into Cape Point, Boulders, Oudekraal and Silvermine among others. Watch out for the baboons who often ravage through the trash to look for food.

Buffels Bay at Cape Point

Beach side accommodation

At Cape Point

9. Hike up Lions Head

We conquered Lions Head

If you want to catch an awesome 360 degree view of the city, there's no better way to do it than to hike up Lions Head.

Ideally, you want to hike up early in the morning before the sun gets too hot or before the crack of dawn to catch the sunrise at the top or in the afternoon and catch the sunset. 

The hike is a medium on the difficulty scale and has quite a steep incline followed by a step-like structure to the top. At some points you need to climb up ladders and can either use the chains to pull yourself to the top or take the scenic route which has more of a climb. 

At the summit you can see Table Mountain behind you, Camps Bay and Clifton below you and other iconic structures like the Cape Town Stadium, The Waterfront and even the harbor. Pack some snacks and enjoy a picnic at the top.

10. A visit to Giraffe House

The snake charmer

Situated on the R101 (Old Paarl Road towards Paarl) Giraffe House provides endless activities for kids. They have a hand-reared giraffe, called Gerry, lots of goats, turkeys, monkeys, meerkats, eland, zebra, warthogs, foxes, ostriches, blue cranes (the South African National bird), crocodiles and tortoises, to name a few. 

You can feed the animals and watch a snake show. They are open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm and are closed on Christmas Day. There are facilities to sit and enjoy your packed picnic lunch.

Mom feeding the goats.

Gerry

Mujaahid feeding the goats