‘Haven of coolness’ awaits at Canal Walk

THE Ice Adventure at Canal Walk has become something of a holiday tradition. For the past three years, I have borrowed my bestie’s daughter and dragged her along to play in this cool installation in the mall’s centre court.

She was six when we began, which was quite terrifying for me. This year we are both older and wiser. The party included the bestie herself, and a playmate for the girl child. This meant mom and I could sit and chat while the girls ran around in a state of noisy activity, flushed with excitement.

There are two ice slides for the larger humans – including adults – and a small one for tiny children. These alone can keep the children entertained, but there must always be something new; this year, it’s huge Ice Age animals like wooly mammoths, sabre-toothed tigers and a screeching terror bird, as well as two creatures with unpronounceable names which can be ridden (for an additional fee of R20) and actually walk around.

When we spotted a door marked “Sub Zero Ice Chamber”, we asked the young man elaborately dressed in faux furs what was behind it. “A moose,” he said. Is it chocolate, I wanted to know. Anyway, the girls went in first, rounded the corner, and ran back shrieking, having unexpectedly found said moose. They later claimed this to be their favourite part of the experience.

Canal Walk’s marketing manager Vanessa Herbst is confident this year’s Ice Adventure will be lots of fun and engaging: “We’re delighted the word about Canal Walk being a haven of ‘coolness’ has extended beyond the borders of Cape Town and even time periods.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming all our special guests, and encourage everyone to pop in to extend their warm Capetonian hospitality and share in the fun.”

Ice Adventure is open daily from 10am till 10pm (except Christmas Day). Sessions last 45 minutes and begin on the hour.

Tickets are available from the on- site Computicket booth for R30 to R80, depending on whether you’re a spectator or a rider. As always, Santa sits in his sleigh outside, and will remain there until December 24 taking visitors, posing for pictures and listening to children’s wishes from 10am till 9pm.

The Canal Walk Express train runs around the mall from 10am till 5pm until January 8 and costs R10 a person. A gift-wrapping ser- vice is available in the Pick n Pay and Checkers courts from 9am till 10pm until December 23, and 9am till 9pm the next day. The Hyprop Foundation is donating profits generated from this service to Reach for a Dream.

For more information, see canalwalk.co.za