Six fun places to take your kids this holiday season

The December holidays can be quiet long, especially if you do not have fun activities planned to keep your children occupied.

The good thing is that the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces have lots of places for kids to go and have a blast.

If you don’t know where to go, we've got you covered. The below places promise to be quiet refreshing.

Gauteng:

The Carousel

If you stay in Gauteng, head to The Carousel this festive season. The entertainment place offers fun activities all week long for children between the ages of 3 and 12. The activities range from jumping castles, tunnels, live entertainment, The Magic Company, and movies. This is sure to leave your children entertained. There are also Giraffe, Kudu, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Blesbok, Bushbuck, Impala and many other animals to see and learn about.

Hartbeespoort Dam Snake and Animal Park

If you are looking for a place where you can have lots of fun as a family and get to see and interact with animals, then Hartbeespoort Dam Snake and Animal Park is the place to be. It offers animal exhibits and shows, boat/jet-ski rides, and weekend ferryboat cruises.

Pretoria Zoo or Johannesburg Zoo

The holiday season is a great time to take your children to see the amazing Big Five.

If you reside in Pretoria, you can visit the Pretoria Zoo, which happens to be the biggest zoo in South Africa. You can even have a braai as a family after seeing the animals. Adults pay an entrance fee of R110, while children pay R70.

Visit their website  for more on the Pretoria Zoo. 

For Joburg residents, the Johannesburg Zoo is really a great way to enjoy the great outdoors. The Zoo has variety of animals and displays. The zoo offers different daily holiday fun activities which include animal feeding, crafts, and games. Entrance fee for adults is R80, while kids and pensioners pay R50. For more on the zoo, visit their website. 

KwaZulu-Natal:

Fun World

Situated near the beachfront, Fun World has more than ten fun rides. From swing boats to the popular Funworld's Cable Car, which allows you to enjoy a scenic view of the beachfront from the air, this is a perfect place to entertain your kids. Prices for the rides range from R16 to R25.

uShaka Marine World

uShaka Kids World found in uShaka Marine World is one of the greatest places to entertain your children during the holiday season. It is packed with fun activities and adventures for children, and the good thing is children under three years of age don’t pay the entrance fee. And for those kids who just want to play, the Kids World is the perfect place. Entry into Sea World & Wet 'n Wild costs R209 for adults, while children and pensioners pay R168.

Groovy Balls Adventure Park

If you are not into animals or rides and want something different, consider zorbing. Groovy Balls Adventure Park has one of the best zorbing parks.

If none of the above appeals to your children, consider the following:

Buy a TV game

Invest in buying your kids TV games. The good thing about having TV games is that every time your children are bored, they can easily just play a TV game without you having to spend any more money. 

Skipping rope

Skipping rope can be lots of fun, especially if you play with mom and dad. It’s also a nice way to exercise.

Hire a jumping castle

You can hire a jumping castle and a water slide, and have it set up in your own yard. This can be lots of fun for your kids and they can even invite their friends and cousins over to play together.   

Also read: Four options for pet care while you’re away on vacation