Warm up with loads of fun times

THERE is plenty keep you busy these holidays – visit the city’s new gigantic fish tank or a reptile exhibition, a snow park with creatures from the Ice Age, theatre and magic shows.

● Intrepid treasure hunters can head up Table Mountain. Until September 30 children under 18 years ride for free when accompanied by an adult who buys a return ticket for R240. Children will receive a treasure hunt map at the ticket office and vouchers to get fun freebies and sweet treats at both the Shop at the Top and at the Table Mountain Café.

● Cape Point has great specials on offer. Two kids will ride for free with every adult who buys a return ticket on the Flying Dutchman Funicular. The Two Oceans Restaurant will serve you a free kiddies meal with each main meal an adult orders, if you whisper the phrase “kids meal deal” to the waiter.

● Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden offers a range of activities from recycling workshops to walks through the gardens. On July 13, from 9 am to 1pm, children, aged 10-12, will learn about the country’s rich biodiversity through group activities and a walk in the garden. Back at the Gold Fields Education Centre they will use items, usually slides. The one offers a nippy downward spiral of 40m, the other a radical dipper slide of 35m.

For the adventure junkies the snow box offers a real snow tubing experience at temperatures of a chilly -3ºC. You will also be able to learn how to snowboard. The snowboarding ticket offers a lesson and all the gear needed on a dedicated snowboard slope while Mom and Dad can watch through the windows from the coffee deck.

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to meet a woolly mammoth, now’s the chance.

Wonder through an exhibition of some of the more famous animals from the Ice Age.

These animals, set in simulations of their Ice Age environment are brought back to animatronic life with movement and sounds.

Snow World is open on Wednesday and Thursday noon-10pm, Friday noon- 11pm, Saturday 10am11pm and Sunday 10am-9pm.

Tickets range from R50 to R140 for different activities.

● The V&A Waterfront is determined not to let rain end play this winter, with a full line-up of activities to keep children busy come rain or shine.

At the Reptile Garden fascinating reptiles of all shapes and sizes will be on show in the Jubilee Hall at the Watershed until July 18. It’s an exciting excursion where parents and children will learn more about Rock Monsters, Monty the Giant Python and the twin Boa Constrictors on display.

You can learn a little more about these scaly creatures via short films, read fascinating facts and stats at the pop-up Reptile Lab, and meet experienced snake handlers at the snake shows. Access to the Reptile Garden also includes activities such as sand art, Lego tables and a PlayStation terminal.

The garden is open daily from 10am to 6pm and tickets are available from www.webtickets. co.za

● The skill-building pumptrack is a 50m track where the rider uses a pumping motion to propel the bicycle or scooter instead of pedalling, providing the perfect tool to improve balance, learn skills and improve confidence on a bike.

The track is open from 10.30am to 3.30pm daily and helmets, bikes and scooters will be provided free of charge. It is open until July 17.

● The Innovation Station at the Waterfront’s Centre Court will offer workshops that focus on encouraging exploration and stimulating children’s imaginations and problem-solving skills as they tumble around in a safe and stimulating environment.

This year’s workshop theme is recycling and seeks to instil a positive, environmental appreciation message in young minds.

The daily workshops will focus on designing, making and playing with recyclable materials. It costs R20 per child per day. It will run to July 10 between 11am and 6pm. No bookings are required and entry can be paid for on arrival.

Depending on demand play time at the Innovation Station may be limited to one hour per child.

● At Rugbytots future Springboks will enjoy sporting sessions. Rugbytots will develop children’s rugby skills such as running with the ball, finding space, kicking, catching, scoring a try, and much more. There will be two holiday clubs the first – July 4-8 and the second – from July 11-15. Each club will have three classes per day, organised by age group. Sessions have been organised for children aged 2 to 3, 3 to 5, and 5 to 7, and will take place on the Croquet Lawn at the V&A Waterfront at a cost of R300 (for one week’s worth of sessions) or R550 (for two weeks’ sessions) per child. Pre-booking is essential. More inside