Family activities for a summer in Cape Town

Getting everyone out of the house on a beautiful summer’s day can be a mission, especially when the TV and air-conditioning are on.

But Cape Town is full of wonderful outings and activities for the whole family to enjoy. You just need to know what’s out there and where to go.

Cool Runnings

For some adrenaline and plain old fun, head down to Cool Runnings at Carl Cronje Drive, Tygervalley. Here you can expect to find 1.25km of curving steel half-pipe with twists and turns for complete fun. Downhill tobogganing is a combination of speed and skill that brings a smile and rush to both parent and child. The more you ride, the cheaper it gets and children from the age of three can ride (with an adult), so everyone can have a good time.

Buy your tickets online or at the door and while you’re there you can grab a bite to eat and something cool to drink as you rest between rides.

Kirstenbosch Gardens

Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts are an option for the family if your children are maybe a bit older and will be happy to lounge on the grass and watch musicians perform, but for the little ones, it may not hold their attention for very long.

But Kirstenbosch Gardens is still a great place to bring the family to anyway. There’s plenty of space for the kids to run, areas where they can learn about different plants, a tree canopy walkway, various sculptures and art to find around the garden, as well as the perfect shady spots for a picnic basket set-up and sit-down lunch. It’s a place where the parents can relax and where the children can let their all energy out at the same. You are surrounded by the sights, smells and sounds of nature. With 528 hectares to explore, it can be a whole-day family activity.

Clay Café

For the more arts and crafts types of families, the Clay Café in Hout Bay is the perfect place to be. With a wide variety of bisqueware to choose from, parents can paint items for their home and the kids can paint Hello Kitty, Batman or Minions (amongst others) for their bedrooms.

There is a calm in being creative and having the freedom to make your own masterpiece, and when the children start getting restless from sitting down for too long, there’s a whole garden and playpark waiting for them outside, while you continue making your salad bowl in peace. While you’re painting you can order a drink and something to eat to keep your energy and concentration levels high, you are creating a work of art, after all.

When you’re done, it will take three weeks for them to fire and glaze it and then you can come back to pick it up… and maybe make something new!

Lion’s Head

The perfect summer activity for the family is a healthy hike up Lion’s Head. It’s not too challenging a walk and doesn’t take more than two hours maximum to get up and come back down.

If you’re feeling strong enough for the whole family, you can hike up with a picnic basket or packed lunch for everyone to enjoy when they reach the top. Take your time enjoying the view of the ocean and the city of Cape Town before slowly making your way back down to the car. Then you have the rest of the day to wander around the city or head home for an afternoon nap.

Head to the sea

If you prefer the water to the land, there are many ocean-inspired activities for the family to take part it as well.

• Aquarium: The Two Oceans Aquarium by the V&A Waterfront is one way to experience the life of the sea. With penguins, fish, sharks, stingrays, spider crabs, eels, jellyfish and a tidal-pool touch display where you can feel the sticky sea anemones and hold a starfish. Everything you would normally only find way out at sea in Cape Town is all on display here at the aquarium and everyone can enjoy the ocean’s wonders.
• Boulders Beach: Simonstown can be a far drive for some, but it’s definitely worth the day’s adventure. Besides the Navy Museum and fresh seafood restaurants, they have beaches and penguins. Boulders Beach is a popular one in particular because it’s where the penguins come onto the beach and swim in the water with you. Children love it and what parent is going to complain about lazing on the beach, working on a tan and reading a good book? The beach is also another perfect spot for a family picnic.

• Robben Island: And if you want to be out on the sea, take a 30-minute ferry ride to Robben Island and enjoy an island tour. This is a fun, educational and must-do activity for any and all South African families.