Cape Town With Kids: Summer 2021-2022 picnics, movies, science shows and craft

Summer holidays are almost here. Whether you are a family who loves active activities, obstacle courses, educational experiences, animal encounters, shows or outdoor adventures, there will be no shortage of fun experiences for kids in Cape Town, the Northern suburbs and Cape Winelands.

Have you done any awesome things for fun with your children in Cape Town? We’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

ps. Scroll down to find some awesome giveaways, return soon as we will be adding more!

Activities with Kids: Cape Town

Updated Dec 2021 - Feb 2022

After another interesting year of uncertainty and change, we all hope for a little familiarity. We have contacted child-friendly businesses in the Western Cape to ask them what's on for families these summer holidays and we were happy to see that the below businesses have all endeavoured to provide a safe space for you to explore with your children. With school going children aged seven and nine, we love to explore wide-open spaces, time in nature and thus picnics. So here is some inspiration for families with young kids in Cape Town and surroundings.

Use the menu below for a quick jump to find kids activities in your area, or use search to find fun things to do near you. Always remember to phone in advance to ensure the business is still open and operating during Covid-19 lockdown regulations as these change regularly and you are welcome to check with them individually if you need more info on what protocols they have in place.

City Bowl + Atlantic Seaboard
Southern suburbs
Northern suburbs
Winelands
Cape West Coast
Overberg
Home Entertainment
Plan a getaway

(See what's on in Johannesburg, Things to do in Durban for kids this summer  )

Cape Town City Bowl + Atlantic Seaboard Kids Activities

The Atlantic Seaboard, also known as Cape Town’s ‘Riviera’, stretches from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront north of Table Mountain all the way down the west side of the cape peninsula to Hout Bay. Taking a stroll down the promenade is one of my families' favourite free leisure time activities.

Spend the evening at an outdoor cinema (City Bowl, Winelands and Northern Suburbs)

Looking for activities to keep the kids busy this holiday? From Disney classics like 'Aladdin' and new releases like “Jungle Cruise”, The Galileo Open Air Cinema has got you covered! Not only will these child-friendly movies be screened throughout the December and March holidays, but there’s also a whole host of activities on offer to ensure that the little ones are entertained before the movie begins; relax on the lawns with a picnic or enjoy a giant game of Jenga for a little inter-family competition. The Galileo has you covered for a safe family night out and is also a great option for a kiddies birthday party!

When: Thursdays to Sundays

Where: Various locations in and around Cape Town & Cape Winelands

Who: All Ages

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE

Have a family date-night at Ster Kinekor (Nationwide)

When middle-schooler Emily Elizabeth (Darby Camp) meets a magical animal rescuer (John Cleese) who gifts her a little red puppy, she never anticipates waking up to find a giant ten-foot hound in her small New York City apartment. While her single mom Maggie (Sienna Guillory) is away for business, Emily Elizabeth and her fun but impulsive uncle Casey (Jack Whitehall) set out on an adventure that will keep you on the edge-of-your-seat.

When: Release date is 10 Dec 2021, just in time for school holidays

Where: At a SterKinekor near you

Who: All ages, but parental guidance is advised (PG V)

Book your picnic-style show with Zip-Zap Circus

Has the pandemic got you feeling down and out? Looking for the perfect pick-me-up before the festive season starts? Step right up and let the Zip Zap team share the circus magic and joy with you at Slapstick. This fun-filled, family show will transport audiences back to the era of Swing, Gypsy Jazz, The Three Stooges, Buster Keaton, and Charlie Chaplin. A celebration of the origination of Slapstick comedy, when ‘a pie in the face’ was popularized and exuberant colours were high fashion. With a performance daily at 18h30 from 15 to 22 December, the dome will be transformed into a magical picnic site with all COVID regulations implemented so pack your picnic blankets and your sense of humour, and get your tickets & picnic boxes today!

When: 15 to 22 December 2021, daily at 18:30

Where: Zip Zap Dome at the Artscape precinct

Who: Children of all ages will enjoy this show

Things to do with kids in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town (Durbanville, Tyger Valley, Brackenfell, Kuilsriver)

Durbanville is a family-friendly paradise for kids, and it is not just because we stay on this side of Cape Town:) Durbanville boasts with free open space for picnics, like the Vygeboom dam and Sonstraal dam. You can also visit the Rose Garden on Durban Road. This garden provides a play park and easy Sunday stroll areas.

Get Creative at Canal Walk’s Festive Family Fun Crafts (Century City)

Canal Walk will once again get crafty by offering a selection of Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and the brand new Disney movie Encanto-inspired crafts for kids to complete.

The Family Festive Fun craft area will be in Canal Walk’s Centre Court from 15 December 2021 to 9 January 2022. Tickets cost R55 per craft and will be available from Webtickets or the box office at the event area. Sessions run from 10am – 6pm (last session starting at 5.30pm)

Additional puzzle games will also be in the craft area for all to enjoy.

Visit the Disney, Marvel, Pixar & Star Wars character and Eflie Selfie photo stations in the Centre Court to capture the festive fun.

Appropriate safety procedures and protocols will be in place and will be enforced, for all activities.

When: 15 December 2021 – 9 January 2022

Where: Centre Court, Canal Walk Shopping Centre

Win a R500 Voucher and two tickets with Canal Walk- Enter here [Winners: Nadiya and Brigitta]

Visit Cape Town's most loved indoor play park (Kuils River, Northern Suburbs)

This summer holiday Playalot will be offering Kraftalot Workshops and a Holi-Yay Club (half & full day). With the extensions of the holiday, it is going to be challenging to keep the little ones entertained. Kraftalot Workshops includes bath bomb-, slime making and tie-dye workshops. Their Holi-Yay Club is short term solution for shopping parents and the full-day option is perfect for working parents. The fees will include play, fun workshops & lunch/juice.

Keep an eye on their website and Facebook/Instagram pages for the dates/fees of each offer or jump the gun and join their Events WhatsApp Broadcast Group to get notified first

https://chat.whatsapp.com/HWRZUQWyGWMKIXhbWMpSeV

When: School holidays (December 2021 until January 2022)

Where: Playalot Indoor Play Park, Kuils River, Cape Town North

Who: Parents and kids of all ages are welcome at the park, workshops cater primarily for primary school kids

Cape Winelands child-friendly activities

The Cape Winelands district is a landlocked area in-between the West Coast and the Overberg coasts, including Drakenstein, Stellenbosch, Witzenberg, Breede River Valley, and Langeberg Winelands. Some of the larger towns in this region further include Somerset West, Paarl, Worcester and Wellington. Here you will see nature showing off mountains, sea, vineyards and more.

Have a magical time at Somerset Mall: From our Home to Yours

Enjoy a Disney inspired maze filled with multiple activities including a MARVEL inspired obstacle course with a climbing wall, net crawls & tunnels, trampolines and skipping. Find yourself posing for a photo or two on the moon swing, fly away at the photo booth inspired by the movie UP. Get lost in the enchanting Frozen inspired castle in the snow and create your own necklace or slime superhero at the Encanto inspired craft area.

Plus, win instant prizes to the value of R5000 at the secret Star Wars inspired wall

R50 gets you in!

When: 10 December 2021 – 9 January 2022

Where: Somerset West, Somerset Mall, Edgars court

Who: preschoolers and primary school children (4 – 12 years old)

See where your food comes from on Self-harvest Saturdays at Spier (Stellenbosch)

The Spier Food Garden's delicious and nutrient-rich produce is used in Spier’s restaurants and can be purchased online and from the Spier Farm Café. Now you and your family can get in on the action and harvest your own (?) directly from the garden. For just R150, take home a box crammed full of seasonal goodness to nourish you in the week ahead. Advanced bookings are essential.

When: Self-Harvest is available daily from 09:00 to sunset.

Where: Spier Wine Farm, Spier Food Garden 

Who: All ages are welcome

Flow through the forest with Scootours (Stellenbosch, Cape Town and Franschhoek)

Create memories at Acrobranch outdoor play parks (Stellenbosch, Cape Winelands and Constantia)

Did you know that you can "feed" your appetite? Just as we guide our children through academics and create a love for learning we can also guide them to make healthy choices. By spending time outdoors, in nature and by being active you are actively investing in your child's "appetite" for healthy living. Take a look at all their birthday specials as well as their loyalty club. They have play parks all over South Africa, so feel free to share this with your friends from Gauteng and KZN too!

When: Throughout the year

Where: Constantia, Stellenbosch or pick from 7 more parks across the country

Who: Ages 3 to 99+

West Coast Wonders

Wacky Adventures

Wacky Adventures is an epic adventure for the whole family to enjoy. Situated just outside of Hopefield on the West Coast, within driving distance from Cape Town, it’s easy for you to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Create unforgettable memories zipping down a variety of water slides, splashing in the pools or getting that adrenalin pumping on the go-kart or quad bike tracks.

When: Open Saturdays, Sundays, Public Holidays and December/January School Holidays from 9 am to 5 pm.

Where: Wacky Adventures is located on the R45 between Hopefield and Langebaan.

Who: They offer activities for all ages. There is no age limit to be Wacky with them!

See Sing 2 this Christmas (National)

This holiday season, the new chapter in Illumination’s smash animated franchise arrives with big dreams and spectacular hit songs as the ever-optimistic koala, Buster Moon, and his all-star cast of performers prepare to launch their most dazzling stage extravaganza yet …all in the glittering entertainment capital of the world. There’s just one hitch: They first have to persuade the world’s most reclusive rock star—played by global music icon Bono, in his animated film debut—to join them.

What begins as a dream of big-time success becomes an emotional reminder of the power of music to heal even the most broken heart.

When: From 24 Dec 2021

Where: SterKinekor, Nationwide

Who: All ages, parental guidance is advised (PG V L)

Enter the SterKinekor giveaway online!

Travel to Overberg

Go on a family adventure! (Overberg, Elgin)

Get R100 off per person when you book your adventure with Cape Canopy Tours. For hours of continuous fun and time spent in nature, be sure to visit Cape Canopy Tours in the Overberg. Just enter the coupon code “WithKids100” to get R100 off each. Preschooler or teen, everyone is keen on this outdoor adventure.

When: Throughout the year

Where: Overberg, Elgin

Who: Ages 5 to 75

Home Entertainment Ideas and Products

Build your own Obstacle Course

Prefer to stay at home. How about building your own little obstacle course as Tracey did during lockdown level 3.

Visit a family-friendly resort or go camping

Everybody loves camping! Well, most of us do, especially since glamping became an option for spending time in nature. Read our blog dedicated to Child-friendly camping spots and Western Cape resorts for more ideas. Here are some of our favourites.

Get closer to Nature this Summer!

Summer Time, Adventure Time. Explore the vast open spaces at one of Cape Nature’s 25 Nature reserves situated across the Western Cape for your perfect summer getaway.

CapeNature aims to keep its holiday destinations affordable and accessible for as many households as possible and wants to see more locals explore and experience the rich natural heritage exclusive to this province.

With so many different destinations and activities to choose from, you will most likely find more than one favourite. They have an array of activities to do, ranging from hiking, mountain biking, swimming bird watching and so much more.

Cape Nature reserves offer a wide selection of self-catering accommodation and campgrounds inclusive of wilderness, basic pop-up and luxury tented glamping campsites.

When: 1 December - 28 February 2022

Where: All CapeNature reserves situated across the Western Cape

Who: All ages are welcome

Kuzuko Lodge Junior Ranger Programme (Addo, Eastern Cape)

Kuzuko’s Junior Ranger Programme was created to inspire future generations. Children who are signed up for the programme are allocated with a dedicated ranger the moment they check in. This ranger will answer all their questions and teach them about plants, birds, navigation and ‘spoor’. During their two or three night stay junior rangers go on nature walks and sit up front with the game ranger on game drives where they learn how to work with the radio and spotlight. Book at Kuzuko and register your child for an unforgettable childhood experience.

When: throughout the year

Where: Kuzuko Lodge is located on the northern border of the Greater Addo, on the edge of the Karoo in the Eastern Cape. 

Who: Children,  6 - 12 years old accompanied by their parents/guardians

Visit Somerset Gift Getaway Farm, Swellendam

My family was blessed with a getaway to this absolute gem. We love the privacy the farm offers and we recommend staying in the lodge or manor house for bigger families. Click on the link to read our full Somerset Gift Farm review here.

Go Camping at Kam'Bati , Swellendam

Kids love camping and to add to the fun of getting out and experiencing nature with your family, Kam’Bati River Resort also offers exciting child-friendly adventures. Older children can hire a canoe and explore the river with mom and dad, or engage in a game of putt-putt. The landscaped outdoor pool area has slides of different heights and speeds- with the largest of the three, offering a 6-meter drop. An exhilarating experience for young and old. Read more about camping at Kam'Bati here.