The best summer activities for kids in Cape Town

Short, sweet and exciting, harbour cruises are a hit with younger kids.

These 30-minute Zinathi boat trips give families a glimpse of Cape Town’s working harbour, from seals bobbing beside buoys to fishing boats heading out to sea.

It’s an easy, affordable adventure that feels much bigger than its price tag. Departures from the basin at Two Oceans Aquarium take in the sights up to the breakwater.  

Drive along the world-famous Chapman’s Peak Drive (Chappies) to step into a world of colour and sound at World of Birds. Let the kids wander at their will through aviaries and count the many cranes, hornbills, vultures, swans, owls, raptors, emus, and waterbirds galore.

Hide your earrings when you meet some 38 acrobatic, curious monkeys in a large walkthrough enclosure! Then photograph fascinating meerkats, marmosets, foxes, raccoons, porcupines and baboons. Grab a bite at the Hornbill Café or bring your own picnic to enjoy on Flamingo Terrace.

Enjoy the summer holiday vibes at Imhoff Farm, an original Cape Peninsula farm dating back to 1743, and order a blue milkshake at the Blue Water Café.

The Higgeldy Piggeldy Farmyard is a hands-on, wholesome treat for younger children who love animals and want to cuddle ponies, goats, pigs, rabbits and feathered friends. 

From balance bikes to confident riders, the purpose-built bike park at Constantia Uitsig caters for all skill levels.

Kids can safely build confidence while parents cheer from the sidelines at this brilliant outdoor option for active families. Established in 2015, the bike park zones in on berms, drop-offs, A-frames, rock gardens, bridges and jumps.

What’s more, the track is designed and built by former South African Mountain Bike Champ, Chris Nixon.

It’s one of the best kids' activities in Cape Town and it’s a classic destination that never disappoints.

From towering kelp forests hiding Nemo to grinning sharks and colourful reef fish, the Two Oceans Aquarium fascinates kids of all ages.

Feeding times add extra excitement in this home to more than 8,000 marine creatures, where immersive experiences rivet children of all ages as they learn and connect with the ocean. 

In Cape Town’s Deep South, kids will fall in love with Volea Sports City, a family fun hub.

Try padel for sporty teens or enjoy a relaxed round of putt-putt for younger kids, where friendly competition promotes easy laughs. This new facility boasts state-of-the-art courts and lessons for both beginners and advanced players.  

SEE: Where to play padel in Cape Town

Watch your children turn into mini chefs at fabulous hands-on cooking classes. From pasta and pizza to baking cakes and discovering international flavours, kids develop real kitchen skills while having loads of fun.

And they get to eat the results too! Watch them indulge in the intricacies of Mexican food as they cook up tacos and churros, and other spicy dishes. The grand finale starts with a surprise box that kids open then race to create incredible dishes in a thrilling kitchen competition.

Kids will gasp in awe at dramatic cliffs and rugged rock formations rising more than 200 metres above the crashing ocean in the most popular reserve in Cape Town. Take the bikes so the kids can ride all over this wild landscape on flat roads.

Cape Point never fails to amaze! There are bontebok, eland and baboons on the beaches while boats launch at Buffelsbaai to locate snoek and yellowtail. What fun it is to hop aboard the Flying Dutchman funicular for an easy ride up to the new lighthouse and panoramic lookout points. 

SEE: The 18 best day trips from Cape Town

Thrill-seeking teens will love the adrenaline rush of a guided quad biking adventure through the vast white dunes of Atlantis.

This high-energy experience allows older kids to power across rolling sandscapes on easy-to-handle quad bikes, with expert guides ensuring safety while maintaining high excitement levels. It’s the perfect mix of action, independence and brag-worthy holiday memories for adventurous teens. 

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