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Things to do in Cape Town with Kids
Written by Daniel Koopowitz
Grand Africa Safaris > Blogs > Things to do in Cape Town with Kids
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The city of Cape Town has become South Africa’s family travel hotspot, and for good reason. With Table Mountain as a backdrop and world-class beaches surrounding this vibrant city, there is no shortage of fun activities to keep the little ones entertained. Based in Cape Town, our team of travel specialists know the best spots for family-friendly fun in the Mother City. From discovering Cape Town’s underwater world to taking a tour of the night sky, we share our top recommended things to do in Cape Town with kids.
Two Oceans Aquarium
A popular favorite is Cape Town’s underwater world at the Two Oceans Aquarium. Located in the V&A Waterfront, the Two Oceans Aquarium is home to over 8000 marine creatures including ragged-tooth sharks, rays and a colony of African penguins. Clients and their families can spend the day exploring the marine exhibits, catch an informative feeding show presented by in-house experts or take the little ones to the I&J Play Center where they can enjoy educational puppet shows, as well as games and arts and crafts activities.
PlayDate SuperPark
Kids can play to their heart’s content at the PlayDate SuperPark. Situated in the Watershed at the V&A Waterfront, this indoor play park welcomes kids of all ages with a dedicated play area for toddlers. The PlayDate SuperPark boasts a range of engaging activities from a 3D maze and obstacle course, to a zipline and high-line rope course. For families traveling with teens, we recommend Hint Hunt, the original escape game.
Scratch Patch & Cave Golf
Also located at the V&A Waterfront, the Scratch Patch has been a firm family favorite for decades. Little ones will love rummaging through thousands of colorful gemstones including Tiger’s Eyes, Rose Quartz, Amethyst and more in search of their favorite stones. In addition to the gemstones, the Scratch Patch has an 18-hole indoor cave golf course, the perfect activity for the odd rainy day in Cape Town.
Iziko Planetarium & Digital Dome
Invite your clients to take a tour of the night sky at the Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome. Boasting the most advanced digital planetarium on the African continent, this world-class facility offers multi-sensory experiences that catapult guests into distant galaxies. The innovative multi-functional complex has created a space where art, science and entertainment merge and where virtual voyages of the universe are made possible through an unparalleled experience of animation.
Boulders Beach
A scenic drive via Chapman’s Peak will take clients to the renowned Boulders Beach, home to a famous colony of African penguins. Located in South Africa’s quaint naval base town of Simon’s Town, Boulders Beach forms part of the Table Mountain National Park and derives its name from the inlets of giant granite boulders sheltering the landscape. A conservation fee is required for entry, making this one of Cape Town’s less frequented beaches and fantastic for a summer swim in the clear False Bay waters.
Kirstenbosch Gardens
Set amid the eastern slopes of Table Mountain is Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. Kirstenbosch places a strong emphasis on the cultivation of indigenous plants, being the first botanical garden in the world with this ethos. The garden includes a large conservatory (The Botanical Society Conservatory) exhibiting plants from a number of different regions, including savannah, fynbos, karoo and others. Outdoors, the focus is on plants native to the Cape region, such as the national flower, the Protea. Clients and their kids can take a stroll through the beautifully manicured lawns, enjoy a picnic lunch or amble over the Boomslang tree canopy walkway to make the most out of their family outing in the gardens.
Table Mountain Cable Car
Summiting one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World from the comfort of the Table Mountain Cableway is sure to be a family highlight for any client’s visit to the Mother City. Perfect for families with young children, the journey to the summit is a mere five minutes and promises spectacular views of the city, mountain and ocean below. Little ones can also catch a glimpse of the resident ‘dassies’ that call the slopes of Table Mountain home. Once clients reach the top, they can explore one of the three trails on the plateau, indulge in a meal at the Table Mountain Café or browse the ‘Shop at the Top’ for gifts or souvenirs.
Jolly Roger Boat Cruise
Invite the little ones to test their sea legs on board Cape Town’s only authentic pirate ship. Departing daily from the V&A Waterfront, the Jolly Roger offers families an adventure-filled cruise around the bay. Your clients can choose from an early morning sunrise cruise or an afternoon cruise – perfect for the cooler part of a hot summer’s day. In addition to the daily cruises, the Jolly Roger Boat Cruise also offers a sundowner cruise with stunning sunset views that incorporate the bay and the spectacular mountain ranges that surround it.
Green Point Urban Park
Positioned between Cape Town’s iconic FIFA World Cup stadium and the famous Sea Point promenade, lies the spacious Green Point Urban Park. The park offers a scenic wetlands area, an incredible biodiverse garden filled with fauna and flora, hundreds of endemic plant species, two play parks for kids, an art park for special events, a tea garden, nursery and exercise circuit ideal for jogging, cycling and walking. This expansive green space is a haven for locals and travelers alike and is one of the city’s best-kept community parks. If your clients happen to be in Cape Town over the weekend, we recommend that they enter their family into the Saturday Park-run to experience this space at its best.
Eco Bikes Tours, Sea Point Promenade
Whizzing through the Atlantic seaboard neighborhoods and the promenade has never been easier for clients and their kids than on an electric bicycle, commonly referred to as the eco-bike. Electrically-powered and easy to ride, the electric bicycles do all the man power, leaving the exploring and sightseeing up to your clients. This is an ideal family activity for those who appreciate being outdoors.
Seal Island Cruise
Departing from the Hout Bay Harbor, the Seal Island Cruise is a 45-minute trip bound for ‘Duiker Island’ – colloquially known as Seal Island. Clients will be treated to views of Chapman’s Peak on one side and the Sentinel Mountain on the other before the kids can spot hundreds of seals beached out on the rocks surrounding the island.
Kayaking Sea Point
Sea kayaking in Cape Town is fast becoming one of the most popular activities to do in the city. With an ideal launch site in Mouille Point, client’s kayaking trips will take them along the Table Bay coastline, past the Green Point lighthouse, the wrecks of the Seafarer and onto one of the favorite hangouts for the endemic Heaviside’s dolphins – the trip’s most common companion. The experience starts with a comprehensive introduction to kayaking and safety guidelines from an expertly trained and certified guide. After suiting up with life jackets in toe, clients can begin to enjoy this exciting outing on the Atlantic Ocean.
Good to know: children need to be at least eight years of age and older to join in on the sea kayaking experience.
Get in touch with one of our travel experts at Grand Africa Safaris today to plan the ultimate Cape Town vacation for your client and their whole family!
