The winter school holidays are around the corner and keeping the kiddos busy in the cold weather takes some proper planning. If you’re looking for somewhere to go that is fun for the little ones, and allows you to get some much-needed shopping done at the same time, there are plenty of kid-friendly activities happening in the malls all around the city.
Irene Village Mall
If your kids love the Despicable Me characters as much as ours do, make sure you take them to Meet the Minions. Gru and Mel, at Irene Village Mall on 25 June from 13:30 pm to 15:30. A selfie with a minion might just make their day!
What we love most about Irene Village Mall is that it doesn’t feel like a mall. The open-air design with the splashing fountains and trendy statues that double up as jungle gyms make it a super kid-friendly setup. The Spur has a huge open-air kiddies play area and Acro-bungee trampolines are regularly set up near the fountains during the holidays. Irene Village Mall is open from 09:00 to 20:00 daily.
Details: 012 662 4446 / www.irenevillagemall.co.za
Centurion Mall
Transformers have been and probably always will be a hit with boys of pretty much all ages. Centurion Mall is hosting the sensational travelling Transformers Animatronics Exhibition opening on 10 June. This unique exhibition is in South Africa for the very first time. So make sure you book your tickets well in advance! Ticket prices range from R80 to R135 and are available at transformers.centurionmall.co.za. The exhibition will be open every day from 10:00 to 19:00.
Details: 012 663 1702 / www.centurionmall.co.zaMenlyn Maine Central Square
BOUNCE is an indoor trampoline park located on the second level of the new Central Square shopping complex in Menlyn Maine. This awesome trampoline centre has a free jump area, trampoline Slam Dunk, Big Bag and Dodgeball. The Central Square branch also has the first-ever Adventure Challenge Course, X-Park Where climbing, jumping and zip lining are combined to form a fabulous obstacle course adventure.
BOUNCE is open Monday to Thursday from 11:00 to 20:00, Friday from 11:00 to 22:00, Saturday from 08:00 to 21:00 and Sunday from 09:00 to 19:00. Prices vary according to peak and off-peak times, whether you purchase two consecutive sessions and if you have a multi-visit or family pass.
Details: 012 361 7758 / www.centralsquare.co.za
The Grove Mall
Kids are spoiled for choice at The Grove Mall. The Grove Ice Rink is the first eco-friendly rink in Africa. Entrance fee, including skate hire, costs R95 and the rink is open for daytime sessions from 10:00 to 17:00 seven days a week, and for nighttime sessions from 19:30 to 22:30 every day except Monday.
Also in the Grove Mall is Fun Company. This is multi-attraction entertainment complex for the whole family with activities like bumper cars, ten pin bowling, arcade games and a 4D cinema. If you think your kids will be frequent visitors to the Fun Company this holiday, it’s worth checking out their VIP programme as it offers some great discounts and will help Mom’s money stretch a bit further. The Fun Company operates from 09:00 to 19:00 on weekdays and 09:00 to 17:00 on weekends.
Details: 012 807 0963 / www.thegrovemall.co.za/ice-rink.htm
Menlyn Park
Menlyn Park also has a Fun Company complex and in true Menlyn style it’s bigger and better. With the added attractions of a glow-in-the-dark mini-golf course, a laser quest maze and a super-fun photo booth, the Menlyn branch can provide hours of entertainment for the entire family.
Details: 012 348 1719 / www.menlynpark.co.za
Kolonnade Shopping Centre
Kolonnade Shopping Centre has plenty of kids’ entertainment and activities from which to choose. The Magic Company is an entertainment complex that offers ten-pin bowling, arcade games, kiddie rides and X-rider – a 3D simulator experience. The ten pin bowling costs R50 per person per game. While the bowling alley is open from 09:00 to 23:00 during the school holiday.
Another attraction at the Kolonnade Shopping Centre is K1 Karting: an indoor go-karting circuit located on the upper level of the undercover parking arcade. Karting prices are determined by the amount of time you decide to spend on the track with the minimum required purchase of five minutes, about 10 laps, costing R90 and the maximum 30 minutes, about 80 laps, costing R280.
Details: 012 548 1902 / www.kolonnadecentre.co.za
By Jana van der Linde
