With school vacations looming and summer breaks in the northern hemisphere it is often hard to think about what to do to entertain your children. My thoughts have been on the ocean for the last couple of weeks highlighting some of the awesome activity we have on our shores in South Africa! Some of my topics are perhaps a little “grown up” for the younger generation so I thought I would point out a couple of options in Cape Town that really do entertain the” lighties”! These are available for locals as well as international visitors to our shores!
Everyone who comes to Cape Town talks about the Two Oceans Aquarium at the V & A Waterfront. And rightly so! I don’t think I have ever heard a bad word said about this magical environment. For kids, they are entranced from the moment they walk in. As adults, we also still get to learn a lot!
From the Touch Pool to the Galleries, from diving to having your picture taken, learning about the contrasting oceans, and seeing a live Kelp Forest. If you time your visit right you can even watch the feeding activities……for sharks as well as penguins! This is an education for everyone, and so many opportunities exist for wonderful outings for the whole family. Their website is very comprehensive, and if you book online you save 10% too!
My other favorite is of course the Jackass Penguins that have made their home at Boulders Beach in Simonstown. These are a huge tourist attraction in Cape Town generally and such fun for kids. To be able to see these little guys in their “dinner jackets” waddling around, bouncing in and out of the ocean, whizzing underwater between rocks and all in the comfort of their natural environment, is a massive priviledge. If you can’t picture it – have a quick look at this clip!
Finally – although rather a smelly affair – trips out to Seal Island (Duiker Island is its real name) from Hout Bay Harbour, to see the Cape Fur Seal in its pristine ocean habitat, provides super close encounters as well as spectacular scenery for the older folks! Some of the charters offering these trips have glass bottomed boats, pushing the excitement to the next level!
Have a look through our Family Safaris if you’re looking for ideas for your family vacation!