Child's Play Guide

Visit Butterfly World
One of the largest live butterfly displays in the world with specimens from five continents. Take the Klapmuts turn-off on the N1 and once you’ve finished being a lepidopterist for the day, head to Franschoek for a bite to eat.
Tel 021 875 5628

Chill with the Penguins
Take a drive via Simon’s Town to Boulders Beach and show the little terros the thousands of penguins who make up the urban colony in the world. They tend to shelter from the sun by taking an afternoon nap in the cars … so be careful when you drive away. www.simonstown.com

Make Stuff
Paint up a storm and create a new tea-set, funky mugs and plates. Hands-on creative fun. Look out for the Pottery Factory sing on Constantia Nek. Drop off the kids, head for the beach, the hairdresser (or the casino if that’s your game) and when you return you will have a proud child with an odd clay creation.
Tel 021 790 3318

Be a mad scientist
There’s entertainment for kids of all ages at the ScienCentre – it’s an interactive showcase of 280 science displays and technical innovations. And don’t miss the camera obsura – kids have been known to spend the morning enthralled by this device.
Tel 021 529 8100

See stars at the planetarium
Sounds and light are combined to reproduce the southern heavens on the domed ceiling of the Planetarium, alongside the South African Museum in the Gardens, Cape Town. A state of the art audio system and fine storytelling ensure a never-to-be-forgotten educational experience for the kids.
Tel 021 481 3900

Go ape at Tygerberg Zoo
The zoo is more a wildlife park than a traditional zoo with the animals free to roam about spacious enclosures rather than confined to cages. See lion, cheetah and leopard, antelope, crocodiles, birds, monkeys, baboons and chimps. Near Paarl of the N1. Tel 021 884 4494
Explore the depthsThe Two Oceans Aquarium has more than 3000 animals in 9 galleries for your viewing pleasure, including sharks, turtles, colourful tropical fish, a touch pool and kelp forest. At the Activity Centre kids are guaranteed to have oceans of fun.
www.aquarium.co.za / Tel 021 418 3823

Once were warriors
Simon’s Town is home to the worlds’ only Warrior Toy Museum which includes a huge display of dinky toys, dolls, Meccano model cars, boats, trains and other toys
Tel 021 786 1395

Wild Rides "The wildest place in Africa!”
Ratanga Junction is South Africa’s first full-scale theme park. It has plenty for the young and the young at heart, day and night. Over 30 rides, including the hectic Cobra, as well as bird, snake and stunt s ows, bumper cars and interactive play areas. With only a one-off entry fee to pay, the rides are for free and you can go as many times you like. Yee-haaa. The park is open from late November every year, after the annual winter hibernation.
Tel 086 120 0300