Stellenbosch and Winelands

Pack up the kids and head out to the Winelands for the 9th annual Stellenbosch Wine Festival from 1 to 5 July during the school holidays. Explore outstanding Stellenbosch wines in the very cellars where they were made via a unique shuttle service and have a jovial soccer feast while providing tons of entertainment for the kids, leaving no sour grapes during this fun-filled time.

Kids are invited to come meet Jerepigo the donkey at Middelvlei and experience one of his infamous cart rides around the farm as they make new friends with the animals including pygmy goats, geese and tortoises and feed them special treats that will leave their tummies full and satisfied.

For youngsters with a sense of adventure, why not saddle up for a 30 minute guided horse ride at Bellevue Wine Estate or get the whole family together for a tractor ride to the oldest commercially planted Pinotage vineyard in the world!

Then drive down to Villiera for a one hour express game drive and explore nature as you spot a wide variety of birds, Red Hartebees, Eland, Gemsbok, Springbuck, Bontebok, Bush pig, Zebra's and many more! Villiera also offers a supervised crèche, giving mom and dad a chance to experience a Cap Classique tasting.

Café de Paris at L'Avenir has delicious treats in store for growling tummies including croissants, crêpes and baguettes. All quarter final games can be watched live at the Chez L'Avenir Venue and while parents challenge one another to a game of social boules, kids can get rid of that extra energy on the indoor jumping castle.

Delvera is bringing fairy tales to life on Sunday at 12h00 with a performance of Cinderella. Enjoy the show with the kids or wander off to discover interesting and unique homemade-art on the farm's little shops.

Kids will also have the opportunity to get creative at Longridge with a Design-a-label competition. The winning label will be printed on a limited release wine festival bottle while a percentage of the funds will be donated to a charity. After all that work, your children can play games and watch a movie in the supervised kids entertainment section while parents try their hand at the Cellar Rat Race where they are expected to bottle, cork, pack and load a case of Longridge wine against the clock.

Drop the kids off at Bottelary Hills Wine Centre, where a dedicated kids area has been laid on so that parents can explore the wine farms in the area. With sand art, jumping castles, face painting and many more activities, children will never have a dull moment under the watchful eye of qualified supervisers and child minders.

From Milly May the piglet to Gerry the giraffe at Giraffe House in Stellenbosch. There are many other African animals to view as a lesson about our rich African wildlife heritage. Daily animal encounters take place at 11h00, 13h00 and 15h00.

Cape Town and surrounds

Two oceans aquarium at the V&A waterfront will be doing an interview daily about places you could go to which are kids friendly as well as activities for them to enjoy during the December school break. There are number of interactive exhibits for the kids to enjoy including puppet shows. An all day ticket allows you to enjoy the aquarium all day.

Artjamming at Wembley Square offers you a canvas, paint on tap and tools to create your very own masterpiece. A lot of enthusiasm but very little experience is required!

Stop by the Iziko South African Museum & Planetarium with special exhibitions for children like the Whale Well, African Dinosaurs, Shark World, Rock Art and Fossil stories for your future little paleontologist (studies fossils and dinosaurs) or marine biologist.

For the scientist in your child take them to the MTN Sciencentre at Canal Walk Shopping Centre to nurture a future Einstein.

Visit The Millstone Farmstall & Café at Oude Molen Eco Village in Pinelands for horse rides, meeting Milly May the piglet and fresh, organic produce.

The Barnyard Restaurant in Tokai is a wonderful family venue with a wide range of outdoor play activities, a petting zoo and close proximity to the Constantia Winelands for mom and dad.

For the adventurer in your child, Ratanga Junction in Century City and the Cool Runnings Toboggan Family Park in Tygervalley are ideal.

Outdoors
And if your wish is for your children just to be children, use their imagination, enjoy themselves and (hopefully) spend all of their energy in Cape Town's many outdoor spots:

Family friendly beaches include Boulder's Beach, Glen Beach is a very toddler friendly beach close to Camps Bay and Clifton, Small Bay in Blouberg is a refuge from the South-Easter, St James Tidal Pool, Fish Hoek Beach, Long Beach Noordhoek and Strand or Gordon's Bay for warm water, fewer waves and play equipment.

Parks and playgrounds like Rocklands or Deer Park in Vredehoek, Keurboom Park in Rondebosch, the Lighthouse Playground in Mouille Point, Sonstraal Park in Durbanville or Squirrel Lane in the Company's Gardens.

Take a mild family hike at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, Table Mountain, the Pipe Track, Newlands Forrest or the Silvermine Dams.

Zip Zap Circus School offers free training at their circus school and the wonderful social development programmes they offer Cape Town's kids. For more information, call Brent on 021 421 8623

(Sources: Stellenbosch Wine routes, Cape Talk)