Family Activities For a Rainy Day in Cape Town

Cape Town has a reputation for having coldThe Victoria and Alfred Waterfront (V&A
winters, but there are many warm and windlessWaterfront) is the most popular attraction of
days where the temperature rises to 70 degreesCape Town. On a bright sunny day there is plenty
F. Cape Town enjoys mild winters, and thefor kids to see, do and eat. Activities include a trip
average daytime temperature usually rangeson a pirate sailing ship. For the rainy days,
from 10 to 18 degrees C. There are many dayshowever, there is a Scratch Patch here, but kids
and weeks with no rain and lovely, sunny days.will be sure to enjoy a visit to the Two Oceans
Cape Town is however a winter rainfall area, so itAquarium. There are many fascinating and
can rain for several days on end.colourful fish and marine exhibits in tanks, but
Winter is the time of the annual whale migration,children enjoy watching the large fish and sharks
and many whales are to be seen in False Bay,swimming past the glass sides of the ocean tank.
Cape Town, from June to October. TheThe penguin feedings and river walks dotted with
experience of being able to see these hugefrogs and other creatures are another enjoyable
creatures close up, makes a holiday in the soattraction.
called Secret Season worthwhile. In SeptemberThe Cape Town Planetarium is an interesting place
the whale capital of South Africa, which isto visit when the day is rainy and cold. It is
Hermanus, hosts the eagerly anticipated annualcheaper than a movie and more educational, in a
Whales and Wheels festival- a weekend offun way. There is a great show about Table
festivities and carnival atmosphere.Mountain. The show explores the geology of
Here are some ideas for child friendly activities toTable Mountain and the southern skies centered
keep your family occupied when the sunny dayson its celestial counterpart. The show is on every
are replaced by a cold, blustery, wet day.day from 2 pm.
The Warrior Toy Museum in Simonstown will beCanal Walk is just a short drive toward the West
enjoyed by children as well as collectors of toys,Coast highway from Cape Town, and a great
especially model cars. There is a permanentplace to spend the day for both kids and adults.
exhibition of toys, dolls, Meccano sets, model cars,The MTN Science Centre, which is the first
boats, trains, soldiers, airplanes and other toys.world-class interactive science centre in South
Kids enjoy watching the trains working modelAfrica, is an enjoyable venue for the family. This
train display. The toy museum offers a wideis a place where kids can have fun, while learning
range of die cast model cars and other toys forabout scientific discoveries and technological
sale.innovations. It has over 300 interactive displays,
Scratch Patch, Dido Valley Road, Simonstown.and the Science centre at Canal Walk is great
This gemstone factory produces and offers forplace for hands-on learning, where one does not
sale high quality semi-precious gem stones andhave to keep saying 'do not touch' as everything
artworks. The whole lower section comprises ais there for that very purpose.
garden stream and a huge cave, with the floorCanal Walk is the largest regional shopping mall in
strewn with polished semi-precious gem stones.Africa, with an enormous range of shops,
For a small cost your little one can fill a cup or arestaurants and cinemas which can easily keep
pail with gemstones to take home. Children canyour family occupied for the whole day. Kids will
easily while away an hour or two scrabbling forenjoy the Place of Play, reputed to be the largest
real gems to take home. Parents can enjoyindoor and outdoor play park in South Africa. It
watching the kids from the restaurant & coffeehas every fun thing under the sun, from a huge
shop which is adjacent to the scratch patch.jungle gym and laser beam room, right down to a
Castle of Good Hope: The Castle is a popularteddy bear stuffing machine, and all activities are
attraction for both children and adults on holiday incompliant with international standards of safety,
Cape Town. This impressive stone fort with itssecurity and cleanliness.
distinctive pentagram shape was built by theGroot Constantia is another enjoyable place to
Dutch settlers between 1666 and 1679, who settake the family. This beautiful wine estate which
up a provision station for passing ships. Theincludes a 300 year old manor house, presents
attractions include the dungeons, military andoccasional treasure hunts give kids the
nautical exhibits of past eras and a massiveopportunity to explore and learn more about the
collection of historic art and artworks.historical Estate, as well as popular Cellar Tours,
Cape Town has many museums. The mostwith juice available for youngsters. Entrance to
popular of which for chidren will be the Souththe manor house is inexpensive and will enable
African Museum situated in the Company gardensyou to view this magnificent example of Cape
at the top of the city. Kids are bound to beDutch architecture, housing a fine collection of
amazed by a huge skeleton of an herbivorousperiod furniture and ceramics, with the emphasis
dinosaur, as well as the massive skull of aon Cape Furniture.
carnivorous one. The exhibition includes otherBy the time that your family has got through only
dinosaur skeletons and crafted dinosaur scenes.half of these activities the sun will be shining again,
There is a collection of whale and skeletons, to beand they can take to the wonderful outdoors. It
seen from all floors, which includes a 20 metreis a local joke that Cape Town has no climate,
blue whale skeleton, and casts of Killer and otherjust weather, and one can experience all 4
whales. The Shark World exhibit is one of theseasons in one day.
world's best exhibits. A key attraction is the lifeYou will be sure to find holiday accommodation to
size, 2 meter high model of the jaws of asuit your budget by taking advantage of low
Megatooth Shark, which is probably the largestwinter special rates offered by accommodation
predator the world has ever known.establishments in the winter season.