Please note: Costs mentioned were correct at the time of writing (2021) and are subject to change at any time. Please contact your desired destination directly to confirm entry fees, costs and operating times. 

Joburg

CityROCK

Let the kids climb the walls in a good way at CityROCK in Randburg. It's the biggest indoor climbing gym on the continent, and best of all, it has some of the best coffee in town too! So, if climbing isn't your thing, at least you can enjoy a good cuppa joe while the kids go climbing. The gym boasts 2 000m² of high-wall climbing, 124 top rope anchors, nine automatic belay walls, 500m² of bouldering, a well-stocked outdoor gear shop, a beautiful yoga studio, a training area and a dedicated beginners’ climbing area perfect for birthday parties, kids and courses. Not only is it fun, but it gets the kids active too!

CityROCK

Montecasino Bird Gardens

Spend quality time as a family and experience the beautiful vibrant residents of the Montecasino Bird Gardens. This is the only wildlife and bird park of its kind in Africa and is a must when you're visiting Montecasino. Here, you can wander along walkways, explore the manicured gardens and marvel at a menagerie of colourful birds, mammals, reptiles and unusual animals from around the world. Also, enjoy their walk-through aviary where you'll find over 60 species of birds, reptiles and small mammals roaming freely. Due to the COVID-19 restriction, the Bird Gardens will be open from Wednesday to Sunday between 08:30 to 17:00. Also keep in mind that their Fantasy of Flight shows are cancelled until further notice.

City Sightseeing Johannesburg

How much of the city have your kids actually seen? We don't mean all the fun places, their friend's house down the road or the mall. We mean all the significant and historic parts of the city, including Nelson Mandela Bridge, Constitution Hill, the Apartheid Museum and the Johannesburg Zoo. City Sightseeing Johannesburg is all about experiencing the city and 20 of Joburg's leading attractions from the comfort of a big, red, double-decker bus. Fun for the whole family!

Croc City & Reptile Park

Sure, scaly critters make our skin crawl, but this cool spot is worth the visit if you and your kids are braver than us and are looking for thrills, chills and a whole lot of fun in between. If your kids are fearless and up for experiencing anything (even holding a creepy, cold, icky creature that sends us running for the hills), then the Croc City & Reptile Park is just the place for them. They can touch a baby crocodile or a slithery snake and get up close and personal with a hairy tarantula. Eeeek!

RollEgoli 

Today's kids don't understand the fun, excitement and concentration that goes into rollerskating. This was THE thing to do when we were kids and RollEgoli is bringing it back with a bang! If you see us rollerskating too, don't judge us! This is the perfect activity to get the kids out of the house to a place where they can hang with their friends and be active, showing off their skater tricks (like we used to do, back in the day). Skating works up an appetite, which is why RollEgoli has some of the best wood-fired pizzas in town! And for the younger ones, they also offer a tree garden with a few shy chickens and a jungle gym with a trampoline.

Escape Room

Need something entertaining for older kids, let's say from 12 years upwards? Then why not challenge their cognitive skills with real-life room games at the Escape Room? This is the type of adventure where they are 'trapped' in a room with friends and family. This is real, not a computer game, so there are no cheat codes! They'll need to use their noggins to get out. Here are a few crucial skills that'll get them through this challenge: they must use their sense of adventure, imagination, lateral thinking, powers of observation and, of course, teamwork. Once they have cracked a series of stimulating, challenging and fun puzzles and solve the mystery, they'll be freed. They just need to keep in mind that they'll have to do this within the time limit. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

Top Escape Rooms In The City

Jozi X Adventure Centre

There is nothing like an adventure to get the adrenaline pumping! And to delight your kids' sense of adventure AND keep them entertained for hours on end, Jozi X Adventure Centre is a must. They have everything under the sun from bubble soccer, games of Arch Rivals, zorbing and loads of other fun and exciting obstacle courses. This makes for an epic day out for your kids and their friends.

Artjamming

We all know how kids LOVE making a big mess! So why not let them go bonkers with paint and creativity at Artjamming? Best of all, you don't need to worry about the clean up afterwards. Artjamming allows your little ones to indulge their inner artist and create their own inspired, colourful and interesting masterpieces. All they need to do is pick their canvas, decide what they want to paint and go wild.

party

Pretoria

Pretoria Zoo

Do you and the kids have a love for animals? Then we know just the place to visit! The 85-hectare Pretoria Zoo is the largest zoo in the country and the only one with national status. A staggering 9 500 animals call this popular destination home – ranging from mammals, birds and fish to reptiles and amphibians. There's also an aquarium and reptile park that forms part of the zoo. There's plenty for all ages to explore at the Pretoria Zoo. Visit their website and get your tickets now!

pretoria zoo

Image from Pretoria Zoo via Facebook.

The Ditsong National Museum of Natural History

Explore South Africa’s natural heritage at the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History. This is the only natural history museum in Gauteng and one of the largest in South Africa. Here, visitors will be able to view collections and exhibits that includes hominid fossils from the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, other fossils, skeletons, skins and mounted specimens of amphibians, fish, invertebrates, reptiles and mammals and much more!

The Grove Ice Rink

For an easy entertainment solution perfect for both young and old, why not visit The Grove's Ice Rink for some cool fun on the ice? Hire some skates and take to the ice, race your friends with laps around the arena, practice your skills, or simply just have a great time. This is the perfect outing during the summer month when it's hot outside, the ice rink is sure to keep you cool and refreshed.

Ice Skating

Cedar Junction Theme Park

Make the most of our South African summer by visiting Cedar Junction Theme Park! Here, guests, both young and the young at heart, can spend the day hopping on train rides, making a splash with 16 water slides, dipping into four different pools to keep cool, floating down the Lazy River, climbing up and down Jungle Gyms, bouncing on trampolines and so much more! There's plenty of exciting outdoor activities to keep visitors entertained at Cedar Junction Theme Park.

Image from Cedar Junction Theme Park.

CryWolf

For an exciting day outdoors, filled with adventure and adrenaline, visit CryWolf in Irene. Here, visitors can spend the day doing exciting activities including two-speed go-karting ideal for both young and old, playing some paintball or laser tag (depending on whether or not you can handle being hit with a paint ball), or trying out laser clay pigeon shooting!

Cost: Click here for all the pricing details.

Venue: Smuts House Museum, Plot 53, Jan Smuts Avenue, Irene, Pretoria.

Paintball Johannesburg

Throughout Gauteng

BOUNCE Inc

Sitting on the couch with their eyes and hands glued to their cellphones is NOT the way kids should spend their school holidays, especially this festive season. They need to get out of the house, away from their gadgets and get active, which is why BOUNCE Inc is ideal. Not only does it offer a cure for boredom, but also loads of fun activities to keep them busy all day long. Think 3 000m² of interconnected trampolines, adventure features, padding and airbags, giving kids (and even adults) the chance to bounce around, throw balls, do backflips, show off their aerial skills and just have a blast.

Please note: All BOUNCE Inc venues will be reopening on 27 November 2020.

Acrobranch

Another great idea is to let the kids swing about and experience a treetop adventure at Acrobranch. There's something for all ages and all fitness levels, from ziplining and tricky crossings, to high ropes and much more. This is also a great family activity if you want to do something new together. There's no better place to get your kids out and about and reconnecting with nature than at Acrobanch. When last did you or your kids climb a tree? Hmmm, we thought so! Just make sure they wear the right gear — closed shoes, comfy clothes, long hair tied up and safety gear (provided by Acrobranch).

Papachinos

Sometimes, parents just need a bit of time-out. A place where they can relax unwind while letting the kids run wild and blow off some stream. Cue Papachinos. Not only is this an awesome hangout for mamas, papas, oupas, oumas and the little tykes, but it's a great place to grab a bite to eat (the pizzas are amazing) while the kids run rampant and blow off steam in the designated kiddies' play area. This is a family restaurant that caters to all your needs — kiddie entertainment, food, wine and chillaxing.

The Lion & Safari Park

Who doesn't love animals? And lucky for us, we don't need to drive too far to experience what South Africa is well known for — its wildlife! The Lion & Safari Park in Harties offers loads of outdoor activities for a fun day out for all ages. No need to travel all the way to Mpumalanga or the Kruger! Take your pick from interaction and walking experiences, guided tours and self-drive safaris. After all that excitement, relax and grab a bite to eat at the Bull 'n Buck Grill.

About Acrobranch

Ready for an exciting zip line experience or treetop adventure? If you answered yes, then be sure to visit Acrobranch! With nine Acrobranch parks throughout the country, they offer both children and adults a unique outdoor adventure, from tree to tree in lush, green forests.

Each of the parks boast their own unique and different obstacle courses, some ideal for young adventure seekers (AKA the kids) and some for reasonably fit adults and teenagers. All of the Acrobranch obstacles consist of awesome treetop high ropes and tricky crossings in the form of ladders, tunnels, walkways and bridges, as well as spectacular zip line thrills to top it off. You and your family will enjoy two hours of fun and adventure here, and let's not forget to mention the fact that you'll be getting active and burning off a few calories while you're at it!

Acrobranch

Where Is Your Nearest Branch

Since we are in Johannesburg, we will focus on where you can find different Acrobranch locations within Gauteng. If you want to know where you can find Acrobranch in Cape Town and KwaZulu Natal, click on the respective links.

As for Joburg and surrounds, you can find your nearest Acrobranch at these destinations:

Acrobranch

Why You Should Visit Acrobranch 

It'll get you active. Instead of sitting on the couch and being lazy, Acrobranch will get you up off the couch, out and about, and have you moving and using those muscles. In case you didn't know, you need at least 30-minutes of moderate physical activity every day. So, why not count this towards your daily goal?

It's fun for all ages. From kids and teenagers to adults and the young at heart, Acrobranch is loads of fun for everyone. There are obstacles ideal for all ages, and best of all, you don't need to have experience or a high fitness level to enjoy this outdoor activity.

It's affordable. Depending on the obstacle difficulty and age of participants, the cost of this outdoor entertainment activity varies, but you certainly won't bust the bank. From as little as R190*, you'll enjoy two hours out treetop adventure and fun. That's a great deal if you ask us.

It's perfect for team building and parties. From challenging and adventurous aerial team building activities to fun-filled birthday parties and events with a treetop twist, planning an unique excursion at Acrobranch is always exciting. Visit their website to see what they have to offer when it comes to corporate team building sessions and special celebrations.

Acrobranch

What To Wear When You Visit

Acrobranch has a dress code guide to let you know what you should wear when paying a visit to their exciting outdoor obstacle course.

Acrobranch

For More Information

For more information about Acrobranch and their various outdoor obstacle courses, visit acrobranch.co.za.

You can also contact them on [email protected] or 086 999 0369.

Don't forget to follow and like them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up to date with the latest news, offers and information.

Jump For Joy 

BOUNCE inc offers a fun and exciting way to keep the kids (and even yourself) entertained and active. This trampoline park gives young and old a place to jump, sweat and most importantly, have fun. Kids will have a blast jumping from trampoline to trampoline, playing a little dodgeball, throwing a few baskets, climbing a high wall at various difficulty levels and showing off tricks mid-air. There are loads of activities at BOUNCE inc to keep your little ones happy.

Swing From The Treetops 

Get the kids away from their PlayStations and Xboxes and take them on a treetop adventure at Acrobranch. An engaging and exciting way to enjoy the outdoors, children (and adults too) get the opportunity to zip line from tree to tree, tackling tricky crossings and being challenged by a variety of obstacles. Acrobranch will have your kids climbing, swinging, balancing, exploring and abseiling their way through a number of different courses to test their skills, while keeping them entertained. Or try Go Ape in Modderfontein where you can spend hours doing obstical courses in the trees.

kids-2

Don’t Need Snow To Ski 

Who says you need snow to do a little skiing, snowboarding, bum boarding and tubing? Come rain, shine or snow (just kidding), Avalanche at Cedar Square in Fourways offers kids and parents the opportunity to experience exciting winter sports — minus the snow and chill. Arrive for a day visit, book skiing lessons or host your child's birthday bash here. Definitely different and always exhilarating.

Get Down & Dirty

For a change, have some fabulous fun with the whole family. Pull on old clothes, gather the kids and head to Boot Camp SA for an energising day out, military-style. The outdoor activities accommodate all fitness levels, whether you’re a beginner or a fitness fundi. The various exercises require both physical and mental participation and are designed to teach new skills. They also cater for team-building events, birthday parties and social group outings. Bookings are essential.

kids 2

Take a Shot

There is nothing more thrilling than playing a round of paintball at Woods Paintball. Kids can spend the afternoon ducking, diving, running and hiding behind objects to avoid being ‘hit’ by a flying paintball. For safety, they are kitted out with protective masks, overalls and chest protectors. If paintball is a little too extreme for your kids, then check out Black Ops Tactical Laser Tag. Bookings are essential at both venues.

Hit The Raceway

On your marks. Get set. GO! There's something for children of all ages at the Randburg Raceway. Whether your kid likes speed or prefers to hold his own Grand Prix or race it out in an Endurance Race, it's all possible here. Safety is a top priority, so everyone gets balaclavas and full-face crash helmets. Then there's a crash course (excuse the pun) of the rules, procedures and flag signals. But the raceway isn't only for the young ones; it's a great outing for anyone aged between 7 and 70! Bookings are essential.

kids

Reach New Heights

We all know how children love to climb jungle gyms and even all over the furniture. Take them to CityROCK to put their skills to the test. There are three climbing options which vary in height: bouldering (2m - 4m), the automatic belay wall (8m) and top rope climbing. Kids over the age of five are allowed to climb but must be under the parent's/guardian’s supervision at all times.

Kids on Quads

If you're looking for outdoor fun for your little ones, why not make it a day trip? Saddle Creek Adventures in Hekpoort offers mini quad biking, and while you sit back and relax in the lapa, the staff take care of your kids. For a greener option, there are pony rides on the farm. Safety is of utmost importance and all rides are assisted and supervised. Other activities available at Saddle Creek Adventures include mountain biking, go-karting and archery.

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Go For a Slide

Croc city in Dainfern gives your children the opportunity to zip line for 150 metres over crocodiles. They have well trained staff that will go over the procedures with you and your kids to ensure their safety. It is also a requirement to wear a harness, sling and lanyard that connects to the cable to make sure you don't become croc food.

Catch a wave

For all the water babies, Stoke City is the place to be. This water park offers various water sports for the whole family. Their cable park has motorized water-sports, water-skiing, kneeboarding, wakeboarding and wakeskating. They also offer lessons for beginnings and hire out all equipment. They also have an Aqua Park which has swings, ramps, jumps, ladders, a trampoline, a slide, and bridges.

waterboarding

Remember that our “Top Picks” are not paid for and are compiled at the discretion of the journalist. We only write about what we love. Please call venues to find out about costs and bookings. 

Get a FREE Night on Them– STAY 3 | PAY 2

No idea what you're going to do this Easter weekend? Well, don't you worry, all your Easter plans are sorted thanks to African Pride Irene Country Lodge, Autograph Collection®! Let's start off the celebrations with their amazing accommodation deal, allowing you to pay for two nights’ accommodation in one of their amazing guest rooms and receiving another one night for FREE! So, what are you waiting for? BOOK NOW! Space is limited.

And for the little ones, their Kids Experience package includes deluxe accommodation with an interleading room, with a full breakfast buffet. And let's not forget the Easter Sunday Lunch Buffet at the Meadow Green Restaurant on 21 April 2019, which includes a welcome drink and an Easter egg hunt for the children. There's definitely something for everyone at Destination Irene over the wonderful Easter weekend.

Irene

Wait... There’s More!

The Camdeboo Day Spa is offering an Easter Choc Meltdown treat! This indulgent package includes a rejuvenating chocolate detox back exfoliation, a soothing full body massage and  a tantalizing scalp massage. It's exactly what the Easter bunny ordered!

And if you need to catch up with your girls this weekend, take advantage of the Friends for Keeps  package at Camdeboo Day Spa! Spend some quality time with your girlfriends while treating yourselves to a Full Body Massage, two bottles of bubbly and a snack platter to share for just R2 999*. Complimentary use of the Camdeboo Day Spa facilities is also included.

Irene

A Besties Gin o’ Clock

Relax with your besties and enjoy the some well-deserved me-time with one of Destination Irene treats. The Besties Gin O Clock is the perfect packages for this occasion. This deal includes superior accommodation, Friends for Keeps experience at Camdeboo Day Spa, a buffet dinner and breakfast, gin/beer tasting at The Barn Restaurant, and two bottles of Gin O’ Clock.

African Pride Irene Country Lodge, Autograph Collection® are also offering a 20% discount offer which would be ideal for those unexpected guests. If you book two nights or more, you will enjoy a 20% discount and its even valid throughout the holidays.

Hello, Destination Irene

Nestled in the historical village of Irene lies the Irene Farm and African Pride Irene Country Lodge, Autograph Collection®. This is a fabulous countryside escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, one can expect to find luxury accommodation, dining, relaxation, beauty and so much more in this haven of peace and tranquillity.

Enjoy a good game of golf? There are two local courses within close proximity to the lodge. For the more adventurous, paintball at Smuts House is a fun option for the whole family. Acrobranching at The Big Red Barn is another popular action-packed option, along with mountain biking, laser tag, go-karts and clay pigeon shooting. Of course, being in Africa, the Rietvlei Nature Reserve is just around the corner offering fantastic wildlife sightings and a true bush experience.

A visit to Destination Irene is an adventure in itself. There is so much more to this quaint little village.

Irene

For More Information

For more information or bookings at African Pride Irene Country Lodge, Autograph Collection®, visit their website at www.irenecountrylodge.co.za. You can also contact them on [email protected] or
012 667 6464.

Don't forget to give them a like or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Terms & Conditions apply.

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