The Best Kids Activities to Beat Boredom in Cape Town this School Holiday
Don’t let them stay bored at home. Read on to find out our top picks for kids activities in Cape Town including high energy adventures, learning experiences, and fun family trips.
Keep the kids engaged, inspired, and creative during the school break with various creative workshops held by the Norval Foundation Learning Centre. Each workshop takes on a different theme, and allows kids aged 7-12 to express their creativity and create art.
In celebration of 20 years of Willowbridge Shopping Centre this October, let the kids (aged 3-12) enjoy a hands-on garden party experience during the school holidays with the Party Shed Experience. Little gardeners and mini bakers can enjoy colour, crafts and candy-coated fun, while expressing their creativity and making sweet memories.
Each child attending the event will receive their very own 10cm terracotta flower pot to decorate with shared paint pens and garden-themed embellishments, before transforming it into a delightful edible garden. They’ll be given two large chocolate cupcakes, a container of rich chocolate ganache, and a piping bag of icing to create the “soil,” along with chocolate flakes to complete the look.
The Two Oceans Aquarium, in partnership with Guardians of the Deep, SANPARKS Honorary Rangers, and SANCCOB, invites Cape Town’s ocean-loving community to join a Waddle from Long Beach to Seaforth Beach in Simon’s Town. This public event aims to raise awareness regarding the plight of African penguins and an opportunity for people to show their love and concern for this charismatic species.
The 4km route winds through Simon’s Town, along the Boulders Beach boardwalk, and finishes at Seaforth Beach. Participation is free and open to all, and walkers are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes, bring water in reusable bottles, and pack snacks in reusable containers. Spot prizes will be up for grabs on the day, including an award for the best-dressed waddler.
Spring is Kidding Season at Fairview Wine and Cheese Estate’s Goat Tower, and an ultra-special time of the year for the most important residents of the farm. It’s when the estate welcomes their precious kids into the world, and visitors of all ages can join in on this special spring outing.
Add Fairview to your weekend plans, round up your kids, and say hi and get up close and personal with the farm’s playful and adorable kid goats. Stop by the Tasting Room to enjoy specially curated cheese and wine tastings and pop into the prized Deli and stock up on Fairview’s award-winning cheeses and other gourmet groceries.
Cost: Free entry
When: Saturday and Sunday only, between 9am and 12pm in September and October. Weather permitting. Please call Fairview first on 021 863 2450 to confirm that the baby goats will be out and about on the day of your visit
Where: Fairview Wine and Cheese Estate, Suid-Agter Paarl Road, Suider-Paarl
This school holiday, penguins are taking centre stage at the Two Oceans Aquarium. Every feeding sessions (11.30am and 2.30pm), three lucky visitors are selected to take part in the penguin feeding process, giving you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be close to these special birds. Make sure to arrive five minutes early to be eligible for feeding.
If you’ve signed up for membership during the school holiday period, you will automatically be entered into a lucky draw for the Penguin Experience. This experience allows up to two people to meet the Northern rockhopper penguins up close, learn how the penguins are cared for, and discover their unique stories.
Kids can also enjoy penguin-themed crafts, temporary tattoos and puppet shows throughout the holidays, teaching them about the wonders of these creatures and the importance of conserving them.
When: 3 – 12 October 2025
Where: Two Oceans Aquarium
Change your perspective with the mind-bending Museum of Illusions. Turning reality on its head, this museum uses optical illusions to transform the world around you. It’s a thrilling blend of fun and learning, where guests explore human perception, celebrate what makes us unique, and share unforgettable, laugh-out-loud moments.
Cost: R250pp (adult) | R200pp (children aged 4-12 and seniors) | R790 (family bundle – 2x adults & 2x children). Tickets are available for purchase on the website.
When: Daily | 9am – 7pm | Slots are scheduled 20 mins apart, but each visit is estimated to take between 45 and 60 minutes.
Where: 10 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town
Down the Rabbit Hole is a fast-paced and contemporary retelling of the Lewis Carroll classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, brought to life by The Masque’s dynamic Youth Theatre Club members. Directed by Melanie Horn, this is a family-friendly show that is fun for children, young and old.
Tumble into a Wonderland where classic fantasy meets the digital age, full of curious caterpillars, chaotic tea parties, magic mushrooms and unfair trials. You can expect to experience a touch of tech-madness in this telling of a maddening but meaningful adventure in Wonderland, with its familiar characters and that’s more relatable than ever.
Rush Extreme Sports involves more than just jumping. Rush is an innovative activity and entertainment centre for all ages, featuring adrenaline-pumping trampolines, obstacle courses, climbing walls and much more.
Grab a coffee and chill out in the designated seating area, while the kids jump and play to their heart’s content.
Enjoy a relaxed day in the sun in Norval Foundation’s iconic Sculpture Garden, as the museum opens its doors for Garden Day. Each ticket includes access to both the Sculpture Garden and the museum itself, allowing you to explore both the beauty of the garden and the inspirational exhibitions.
Live entertainment sets the scene for the day, and various kids entertainment and a Scavenger Hunt will keep the kids happy. There are also two slots available for flower crown workshops (tickets sold separately), which allow attendees to create and wear their own beautiful flower crowns, under expert guidance.
Cost: R250pp | R125pp (Norval Foundation members) | kids enter free | R220pp (flower crown workshop). Book tickets on Webtickets.
When: 12 October 2025 | 11am – 3pm
Where: Norval Foundation Sculpture Garden, 4 Steenberg Road, Tokai
The Jolly Roger, the only pirate boat in South Africa, offers the young at heart an authentic adventure-filled experience on the high seas. Ever-popular among adults and kids alike, the Jolly Roger offers scenic views of Cape Town and a pirate experience like no other.
With multiple scheduled trips daily, the Jolly Roger is the perfect place to host a celebration or to let the kids explore their wild side.
Cost: Winter Family Package: 2 Adults plus 2 Kids (under 12) tickets for just R660 (save R440). The offer runs from 27 June to 22 July 2025 and excludes the sunset cruise. Book here.
When: Daily
Where: 7A, 5 W Quay Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town
Rabbit Heart invites families to step into a world of delightful nonsense, peculiar characters, and magical mayhem at the Rabbit Hearty Party Circus – a beautifully bonkers, interactive experience like nothing else in town.
Known and loved for their wildly creative boutique festivals, Rabbit Heart is packing all their signature whimsy, wonder, and weirdness into a single unforgettable day of interactive theatre, circus antics, and family fun.
Be.UP Park is an indoor family fun centre with a wide variety of activities including a trampoline zone, a toddler zone, climbing walls, an exclusive ALTIGAME and a kids maze for kids.
Join in the fun with the little ones, or sit back and answer that work call in the cafe. If you’re looking for a party venue for the kids, look no further – be.UP Park offers party packages that promise heaps of fun.
Please note, the Pinelands branch is closing its doors on 27 July 2025.
Artjamming is an experience for kids (and adults) to express their creativity by creating a unique, full colour piece of art in a relaxed and creative environment.
Artjammers (from age 5+) are provided with a menu of canvasses, easels, non-toxic acrylic paints, brushes and tools to paint, sponge, spray or simply splash with. No skills are required, but for those who would like a helping hand or some inspiration, there are qualified artists at the studios to assist.
Book your kid’s birthday party at Artjamming and let the little ones run wild with their creativity.
Cost: R185 – R1 200pp (event-dependent). More info on the website.
When: Daily | 9am – 6pm (V&A Waterfront) | 9am – 5pm (Somerset West)
Where: V&A Waterfront (above Toy Kingdom) | Lourensford Wine Estate, Lourensford Road, Somerset West
Located inside Canal Walk, Freedom Adventure Park promises an exciting day out for kids of all ages. The park hosts South Africa’s first-ever Freedom Ninja Run Obstacle Course, as well as multiple trampolines, rope courses, zip lines, and more. If work calls, the park offers private work pods free of charge, so guests can attend to last-minute emails or conference calls in a quiet, comfortable space.
Freedom Adventure Park is the perfect place to let the kids run wild this holiday season, with deals taking place on most days.
Cost: R150/hour (full park access) | R85/hour (toddler area) | R400 (full day pass) | non-participating individuals get free entry.
When: Monday – Sunday | 9am – 9pm
Where: Freedom Adventure Park, Level Two Canal Walk Shopping Centre, 490 Century Blvd, Century City
Let’s Entertain U is the one-stop shop for entertaining activities in Cape Town. Featuring pool tables, an arcade, a kids play area, and the iconic bowling lane, their mission is to provide entertainment for all.
The popular Let’s Go Bowling has 10 lanes and BOSS scoring, with facilities for both kids and adults. Let’s Go Bowling also has the latest technology sure to entertain guests, synthetic lanes, an entertainment scoring system, and more.
Founded in 1825, Iziko South African Museum is the country’s oldest museum. The museum has exhibitions of more than 1.5 million specimens, accumulated over almost 200 years, including ancient fossils and stone tools, rock and meteorite samples, lifelike recreations of South Africa’s indigenous people, as well as marine and wild animal displays and features. The museum also has on display the Wale Well, a unique collection of whale skeletons, including a giant 20.5-metre blue whale skeleton.
A small entrance fee applies.
Opened in 2015, Bounce World is the largest indoor inflatable play area in South Africa. Suitable for kids aged 1 – 9, it is the perfect place for the young ones to let all their energy out as they bounce around the inflatable venue. Bounce World also offers a variety of party packages, such as the Cricket/Soccer Party, the Astro Soccer Party, the Double Party and the Bounce World Party.
Overseen by trained staff, Bounce World is a safe and exciting play experience for young kids.
Normally only open on the weekends, the Bounce World team have opened their doors daily during the school holidays, to ensure fun every day of the week.
The Two Oceans Aquarium provides a fun and educational space for kids to learn about the ocean and the creatures that reside within. Different exhibits house different creatures, including penguins, sharks, turtles, various fish and more.
There are plenty of ways to interact with the creatures inside the aquarium, from viewing exhibits to waddling around with penguins. Visitors also have the option to be guided through all the ‘behind the scenes’ aspects of the Two Oceans Aquarium and chat with some of the members of the amazing team.
Cost: General entry R250 (adults), R185 (pensioners, students, and children 14-18), R115 (children 4 – 13). FREE for children U4. Book general entry here. Annual memberships are priced at just over the cost of two visits, and allow for unlimited visits, plus benefits.
When: Daily, 9.30am to 6pm
Where: Two Oceans Aquarium, Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
The Shred is one of Cape Town’s most trendy indoor skateparks, bringing the best of extreme-sport culture and the local community together in one setting.
The experienced staff members also host one-on-one and group skating lessons for kids and older riders. The team are on hand to provide a safe and enjoyable skating activities guiding kids through the basics in skateboarding.
A visit to Le Bonheur Reptiles and Adventures allows for the daring to get close to various types of cold-blooded creatures, from snappy crocodiles to sneaky snakes. Take a guided tour of the crocodile ponds and learn more about Africa’s largest reptile, or take a look at the snake and lizard exhibit.
Finish off your visit with a meal at the Lakeview Restaurant, which serves wood-fired pizzas made the Italian way, as well as a variety of classic light meals served by the friendly team.
Cost: Crocodile Tour: R152pp (adults) | R98pp (children aged 17 and younger) | Snake Showcase: R105pp (adults) | R95pp (children)
When: Open daily | 9am – 5pm
Where: LeBonheur Adventures, Babylonstoren Rd, Paarl
Cape Town has a vibrant and engaged Lego community, and no better time than the holidays to get kids building. Check out Canal Walk’s Lego Store or Kiddiwinks to get started on your Lego journey, or visit Brick Haven for second-hand Lego sets. Mini-Me also allows you to create your own Lego minifigure, based on your own appearance or that of a friend or family member.
Lego is also a great educational tool with sets like Technic and Mindstorms showcasing just what you can do with bricks. Finding a Lego League is a great way for children to take their love of building to the next level while learning useful skills. Programmes are open to ages 4-16 and teach kids problem-solving and STEM through hands-on learning. You can learn more about how to get involved on the FIRST SA website.
The original – and now world-famous – Scratch Patch is a place where visitors can have loads of fun “scratching” for their favourite tumble-polished gemstones.
Visitors purchase a bag, then get to sift through and collect thousands of polished stones that quite literally cover the floor. The selection of stones include a wide variety of tumble-polished gemstones with mostly popular Southern African stones such as Tiger’s Eye, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Jasper, Agates and Crystals.
Robertson is a great family destination, offering a variety of kid-friendly activities that will keep children engaged and entertained. Enjoy the water slide and activities at Avalon Springs, visit some furry friends at the Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary, or gallop through biodiversity with Robertson Horse Adventures.
Allow kids to explore the beautiful area of Robertson while having fun.
Born and bred in Cape Town, Kent Lingveldt is a father, boardshaper and photographer, as well as the revered ‘godfather’ of Cape Town’s skateboarding community and the founder of Alpha Longboards at 18 Buiten St in the Cape Town CBD.
Guests meet Kent at the Queen’s Beach parking lot in Sea Point, from where they can easily access Sea Point’s famous promenade – a spot beloved with skateboarders, which also offers a scenic backdrop for those wishing to get photographic evidence of their skateboarding achievements.
With 30 years of experience, Kent is a skilled, gentle instructor who is experienced with all levels. In this lesson he spends an hour with the guests, teaching the basics of longboard skateboarding, or intermediate skills as required.
With all boards and safety equipment provided, make sure to book your slot and learn the basics of longboarding against the beautiful promenade backdrop.
Total Ninja is Cape Town’s must-visit spot for adrenaline-pumping, fun adventure activities, with large inflatables and obstacle courses inspired by the global phenomenon TV series Ninja Warrior.
The Park is designed to cater to individuals of all ages and fitness levels. Whether a seasoned athlete or a beginner, there are obstacles and inflatables suitable for everyone. From towering inflatable slides to challenging ninja warrior courses, the park offers a variety of activities that will keep you entertained and engaged.
The Waterfront Duck Co. presents an exciting combined bus and boat tour in Cape Town that takes you along some of the city’s top scenery. This amphibious city and waterfront bus trip is the country’s first and only all-in-one land and water trip that blends bus and boat exploration in a single vehicle. Trips take you through the Waterfront, Green Point, a section of the city, and the harbours of Cape Town.
See and feed the animal kingdom’s tallest creature at Giraffe House. The centre provides easy access to some of the continent’s wildlife and bird species.
Focusing on African wildlife, Giraffe House aims to provide a place for people to enjoy the outdoors, whilst experiencing and learning about animals and why they are special.
As well as giraffes, animals at the centre include meerkats, caracals, crocodiles and porcupines, among others. Bring a picnic and make a day out of viewing some of nature’s most incredible wildlife. More information here.
Soak up the last few weeks of the sun in Cape Town with various water-based activities. Explore the coastline on a stand-up paddleboard with SUP Cape Town, teach the kids to surf with Surf Emporium in Muizenberg, or let the kids play in the pool at the iconic Sea Point Pools.
Cape Town’s iconic coastline provides many opportunities for the family to explore the ocean and all it has to offer.
The iconic Cape Town Science Centre is the perfect place for kids to keep their brains engaged and to have fun during the school holidays. Children can engage in science and nature-based activities, aimed at promoting accessible science to kids of all ages.
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