Fun ideas for the school holidays
Not sure how to entertain your children during the long winter holidays? Look no further.
THINGS TO DO IN PRETORIA
Looking for fun things to do with the kids over weekends and in school holidays? The City of Tshwane recently posted some great, affordable and fun options for the whole family. From family-friendly events to party venues, playgrounds and wildlife, and there are more to beat the holiday blues!
THEME PARKS AND ADVENTURE
Cedar Junction Theme Park is the biggest train theme park in the east of Pretoria, situated 8 km east of the Solomon Mahlangu (Hans Strijdom) intersection on Lynnwood Road, Zwavelpoort. It offers fun activities for young and old alike, with train trips and walking trails around a lake, peddle boats on the lake, mountain bike trails for all ages, ziplining, an animal farm, jungle gyms and jumping castles. Entrance fee from R20 per person for adults and R30 per person for kids.
The Ice Rink
Corner Lynnwood and Simon Vermooten Roads in Pretoria East. Entrance fee: R55.
https://www.thegrovemall.co.za/ice_rink
RESTAURANTS WITH PLAY CENTRES
Jingle Jangle
Jingle Jangle is a tranquil tea garden situated in Moreleta Park, Pretoria East. Parents can enjoy a superb but affordable menu while kids tear around the jungle gyms, trampolines, a jumping castle, sand pits, slides, a mini bike track and even a petting zoo.
Irene Dairy Farm
Get out of the concrete jungle and into a serene farmyard environment that will be a hit with the kids. Explore the sights, smells and sounds of a working dairy farm as well as family-friendly restaurants, or simply bring your blanket and enjoy a picnic on the grounds. Located in Irene, Centurion.
Ludwig’s Rose Farm
Ludwig’s Rose Farm has a dazzling variety of over 1 000 roses. Dine at the Spiced Coffee Restaurant and shop for rose products in the “Thorns ’n Things” boutique while the young ones are entertained in the kids’ playground. Adults can learn the art of flower arrangements through the Floristry workshops.
Eduplex Primary School
Eduplex, in Queenswood, offers a holiday program for learners with a variety of fun activities, lunch, an afternoon snack and supervision. The program is open to learners from other schools as well, from gades 1-7. The program costs R90 per learner. For more information or reservations contact Tracy at 012 333 7143 or tracy@eduplex.co.za.
WILDLIFE EXPERIENCES
Pretoria Zoo
The Pretoria Zoo, more formally known as the National Zoological Gardens, is the largest zoo in South Africa and is regarded as one of the top zoos in the world. There’s more to do in the zoo than visit the animals – there’s the zoo train, cable cars, restaurants and kiosks as well as braai facilities. If you’re looking for an adventure, do the night tour or sleep over on a camping tour. The zoo also runs exciting holiday youth programmes that are both educational and fun, from R100 to R250 per child.
Dinokeng Game Reserve
This is the only residential game reserve in an urban area in the country and possibly in the world. There’s plenty of caravan sites as well as self-catering, tented and fully catered accommodation. Highlights of the myriad of available activities include game drives, boat cruises, hot air ballooning, quad biking and spa experiences. Located in the north of Pretoria about 25 minutes from Wonderboom Airport, the game reserve is perfect for a weekend safari without having to travel too far.
Mystic Monkeys
Mystic Monkeys and Feathers Wild Animal Park hosts one of South Africa’s largest private Primate collections featuring 44 species, in addition to a large number of beautiful exotic Birds and Predators such as White Lions, Bengal Tigers and Cheetah. We are situated 85km north from Pretoria, close to the Carousel Casino. Mystic Monkeys and Feathers Wildlife Park is home to the first two Angolan Black and White Colobus and Bearded Saki’s babies born in captivity in the country as well as Chimpanzees and White-Handed Gibbons, two of the “Big 5? in the “ape” world.
THEATRE
Pretoria Youth Theatre
The Pretoria Youth Theatre is the largest youth theatre in Gauteng and the only youth theatre in the area to give children an opportunity to act for the public on a large stage. In addition to watching one of the shows, parents and kids alike are welcome to join the theatre’s drama classes too! The latest production is The Emperor’s New Clothes, which will be running during the June/July 2014 school holidays in Irene Village Theatre.
The Barnyard Theatre Parkview
Warm up your evenings with live musical shows and entertainment for kids and families in a warm, relaxed atmosphere. Parents will enjoy a trip down memory lane with shows such as the production of the popular 90’s South African TV series Pumpkin Patch, while the tweens and teens rock to the Bieber & Buddies Never Say Never musical, which will be running through June/July 2014.
CULTURE AND HISTORY
Ditsong National Museum of Natural History
Formerly known as the Transvaal Museum, it is South Africa’s leading natural history museum and offers a memorable educational experience for the whole family. The museum’s collections and exhibits include hominid fossils from the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, including the famous Mrs Ples (the nickname for a fossil skull believed to represent a distant relative of all humankind). It also houses a huge collection of associated fauna. The Discovery Centre on the property provides a hands-on experience to make learning about nature and science more enjoyable. Entrance fees are R20 for adults and R10 for children, learners and students.
www.ditsong.org.za/naturalhistory.htm
Friends of the Rail
Friends of the Rail offers fun vintage steam train outings for the entire family, bringing back the old South African railway history and technology in a living museum that is located in a real working railway environment. The train ride promises an absorbing educational and entertaining experience for the whole family. The Tshwane Xplorer lets you see the city as never seen from the road, while the vintage steam train goes as far as Rayton, Cullinan and Bela Bela with interesting stops and a buffet lunch along the way.
Public Libraries
Many of the public libraries in Tshwane will have story time for crèches by arrangement and general holiday programmes, which is a great way to encourage children to read, keep them happily busy and off the streets. Call your nearest community library to find out about their holiday programmes via the list on the link below:
Voortrekker Monument
The Voortrekker Monument will be offering free tours from the 7th of July. These tours, that will be focused on pioneering and the architecture of the monument will start on 11:00 and 14:00, from Mondays to Fridays and will be roughly one hour long.
OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE MARKETS
Pretoria Boeremark
The Boeremark has been operating for around 18 years, long before the explosion and current popularity of outdoor food markets. You’ll find fresh fruit and vegetables, authentic South African fare, baked goods and crafts in a family-friendly environment. Open every Saturday from 05:00 to 10:00 at the Pioneer Open Air Museum, Silverton.
Hazel Food Market
The Hazel Food Market is a European-style food market that sells all types of food products from fresh fruit and vegetables to ready-to-eat food. It is held every Saturday at the Greenlyn Village Centre in Menlo Park. Parents will enjoy savouring the many flavours while the kids enjoy the jumping castle, jungle gym and kids play area.
Do you know of anything else to do in and around Pretoria, please let us know by sending an email to editorial@rekord.co.za.
