Kids from around the Western Cape stow away their pens, pencils, text and workbooks for three weeks of uninterrupted winter school holiday down time from Friday, 26 June until Sunday, 19 July 2015.
Take a look at these holidays activities in and around Cape Town:
Battlefield Live SA
Head out for an adrenaline-pumping day of outdoor laser tag with Battlefield Live SA, come rain or shine. The high-tech military simulation game features all the action of a paintball adventure sans the unsightly bruises and welts. The experience will not only have your little bunnies zooming around the combat zone, but it’s also a great way to get them off the couch and working in a team. Depending on the package, participants can look forward to two hours of gaming, vests, camo paint, up to five different scenarios, state-of-the-art equipment and so much more. COST: single player costs range from R185p/p.
City Sightseeing Winter Program (May – October)
For an extended holiday period (from May to October 2015), the City Sightseeing fleet of red tour buses offers a wallet-friendly 3-for-1 kiddies’ special: for every adult ticket purchased, two kids (under the age of 18 years old) can ride for free on the City Sightseeing bus or Canal Cruise boat. The activity is a great way to give your kids insight into what makes the Mother City so unique, and it encourages little ones to explore iconic sites, including the Castle of Good Hope, the District Six and Jewish museums, Table Mountain and many more. This special is valid from Monday to Sunday during the school break, over public holidays and on weekends.
COST: Tickets for the red city bus tour can be purchased online or at kiosks along the route; note that online tickets are discounted (prices are between R40p/p and R150p/p). For more information, contact +27 (0) 21 511 6000, info@citysightseeing.co.za or visit CitySightseeing.co.za.
King Tutankhamun Exhibition in Cape Town (2 Jun – 27 Sept)
Explore the gilded world of ancient Egyptian royalty when the Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures exhibition takes over the Grand West Casino from Tuesday, 2 June to Sunday, 27 September 2015. COST: Tickets are available online via Webtickets.co.za and at the venue on the day. Entry costs between R100p/p and R160p/p, depending on the ticket type bought (children under five get in for free).
School Holiday Specials at Cape Point (June – July)
Parents taking their little ones to discover the ‘Cape of Storms’ will be delighted with Cape Point’s awesome school holiday specials: kids get a free ride on the Flying Dutchman Funicular with every adult return pass purchased. Now, families can enjoy the beauty of the Table Mountain National Park and explore its many wonders without breaking the bank!
COST: Access to the national park costs R110p/p for adults and R55p/p for kids (between the ages of 2 and 11 years). A return adult ticket on the funicular costs R55p/p.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Show at Canal Walk Shopping Centre (27 June – 19 July)
Transport your kids to an idyllic childhood paradise at the school holiday production Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs that’s showing from Saturday, 27 June to Sunday, 19 July 2015 at the Canal Walk Shopping Centre. Shows take place from Tuesday to Sunday at 11am, 12:30pm and at 2pm.
COST: Tickets for the show are available via Computicket.com, Computicket outlets as well as at the ticket booth at the entrance and cost R75p/p. Children must be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian, and kids under the age of one get in for free, provided they are seated on an adult’s lap. Seats are unreserved, so arrive early for prime spots.
School Holiday Fun at Ratanga Junction (10 – 19 July)
Billed as the wildest place in Africa, the Mother City’s ever-popular Century City theme park opens for a 10-day jol from Friday, 10 to Sunday, 19 July 2015. The fun park caters to all ages with more than 30 attractions, from exciting kiddies’ rides to thrilling adrenaline-inducing rollercoasters. Join the adventure seekers in the queues or catch one of the snake or bird shows; no matter how you choose to spend your time, Ratanga Junction is sure to provide a fun-filled experience during the winter school holiday period.
COST: Rider tickets (those over 1.3 m) cost R172p/p, mini adventurer tickets (under 1.3 m) cost R90p/p and non-rider tickets are only R65p/p (all prices exclude access to the slingshot, which carries a separate fee of R55p/p). For more information, contact +27 (0) 21 550 8504, info@ratanga.co.za or visit Ratanga.co.za.
Mini Children’s Theatre Festival at the Artscape Theatre (26 June – 18 July)
Eager kiddies can look forward to seeing Noddy and the gang or Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox over the winter holidays. Kids can join Toyland’s most lovable ‘toon in More Adventures of Noddy at the Artscape Theatre Foyer from Saturday, 26 June to Friday, 10 July 2015. Based on Enid Blyton’s famous children’s book, the performance tells the story of the origins of the little wooden boy Noddy and the life he leads with the help of his extra special friends. COST: Tickets are available online via Computicket.com, from various Computicket outlets and from Artscape Dial-a-Seat by calling +27(0) 21 421 7695. Entry costs R70p/p and prior bookings are advised.
Festive Frontier Feasting at Elemental Kids (29 June – 3 July)
Kiddies can thoroughly embrace their inner frontier explorer with Elemental Kids, an interactive children’s program in which different workshops are set up to facilitate a child’s inner creativity. In the start of the school holidays, the Greenpoint Biodiversity Park becomes the home for this exciting venture. Children set up camp for a week and learn how to be self-sufficient in the heart of the City Bowl. The theme of this workshop is “Fire” so the activities will all be inspired by that. To book a spot at the week-long activity or simply to find out more about the company email 4elementalkids@gmail.com .
COST: For more information visit ElementalKids.co.za or email 4elementalkids@gmail.com.
School of Rock’s Winter Camp (29 June – 2 July; 13 – 16 July)
If you think your teen or little one would be keen to learn how to do an intense guitar riff or get behind a sick set of drums, then School of Rock has the perfect winter camp for just that! The school has a dedicated team of professionals who are more than keen to teach your kid the foundation for playing their chosen instrument running from Mondays to Thursday This year, let your child choose between guitar, vocals, the saxophone, drums or the keyboard and see them conquer an instrument (and classes are open to adults as well!) Book your spot by emailing Claremont@schoolofrock.comor calling +27(0) 21 671 9620.
COST: Classes are R400p/p for a full day (from Mondays to Thursdays) and R200p/p for a two and half hour session on Thursdays only. Classes run from 10am – 3pm.
Burgers and Milkshakes at Protea Fire and Ice Hotel (June – July) . Spend a day out with the kids in the heart of the Mother City and grab a mouthwatering blue cheese burger or dive into crispy bacon and melted cheese burger. Nevertheless if the food doesn’t keep the kiddies happy, then the entire family can make their choice from a selection of 36 milkshakes!
COST: Burgers range from R125p/p and milkshakes cost R55p/p. For more information visit Proteahotels.com.
Goldilocks and The Three Bears at the Nassau Theatre (1 – 11 July)
See this classic fairytale come to life when the popular Lilliput Children’s Theatre puts on a production specifically aimed at the little ones set to run from Wednesday, 1 to Saturday, 11 July 2015. Parents can accompany their kids to the Nassau Theatre (Groote Schuur High School) and see the Three Bears (as well as naughty little Goldilocks) strut their stuff on stage.
COST: Tickets are available online via Computicket.com and from various Computicket outlets. Entry ranges from R60p/p while children under one enter free!
Traditional Children’s Magic Festival (2 – 5 July)
Inject some spellbinding joy into the dull school holidays with a visit to the 2015 Traditional Children’s Magic Festival at the Cape Town College of Magic from Wednesday, 1 to Saturday, 4 July 2015. Kids can look forward to an awe-inspiring four-day fiesta of mystery and intrigue that’s jam-packed with magic tricks, sleight-of-hand acts and professional clowns, mimes, magicians, escapologists, jugglers and more. There will also be exciting treasure hunts and magic workshops on the cards. So, take a look behind the curtain and discover a world of enchanting entertainment ideal for all ages.
COST: Tickets to this spectacular event cost a mere R75p/p. There are two shows each day, one at 10:30am and another at 2:30pm. For more information, contact +27 (0) 21 683 5480, info@collegeofmagic.com or visit Collegeofmagic.com.
Stretch ‘n Grow Holiday Program at the West Coast Church (29 – 30 June)
Let the little ones get active and let loose with these kid-centric fitness classes in Blouberg. This year, Camp Fit is hosting stretch ‘n grow sessions on Monday, 29 to Tuesday, 30 June 2015. Parents can enroll kids in Frozen -themed 40 minute classes(specifically for three to six year olds) or the full hour boot camp style class set up for six to ten year olds. The sessions vary from fun fitness to relay races, speed drills and more!
COST: Entry ranges from R30p/p for the Frozen themed classes to R40p/p for the full hour boot camp sessions. Call +27(0) 83 650 3353 or email michelle@stretch-n-grow.co.za.
Kidz Season at the Table Mountain Cableway (June – October 2015)
This winter season, Table Mountain Cableway are making sure the little ones beat cabin fever this holiday season. Little ones can experience the cable way with the upcoming promotion which allows two children to travel for free when an adult return ticket is purchased over weekends, public and school holidays. The kid-centric vibe also includes free treats and a treasure hunt. So bring your little ones to see some of the beauty of Cape Town and see some of our pretty city’s natural habitat.
COST: The Kids Season ticket special sees two kids under18 years of age ride for free when an adult ticket is purchased for R225p/p.
How Stories Began Play at Masque Theatre (30 June – 3 July)
This June/July holidays sees the premiere of an all new play at the Masque Theatre in Muizenburg. How Stories Began has a uniquely South African twist, focusing on the tale of Manzandaba and Zenzele, a married couple, are two of the first people existing in a world before stories were told. They go on an adventure in search of stories that lead to magical creatures under the ocean. The show also includes a workshop that allows kids to express themselves on stage and will get to take home a book detailed How Stories began after the show.
COST: Entry is R70p/p and includes the free workshop. Tickets can be booked by calling +27(0) 21 788 1898 or email bookings@masquetheatre.co.za