Top 20 Things to do with Kids in Cape Town

Cape Town is a natural playground for families: penguins, peaks and picnics rolled into one dazzling itinerary. Whether you’ve got teens or toddlers in tow, the city serves up a feast of family fun: marine life at the V&A Waterfront, mountain adventures, gardens, and the odd dose of adrenalin.

Here’s our freshly updated guide to the Top 20 Things to Do with Kids in Cape Town. In Part 1 of this two-parter article, we’ve outlined the top 10 experiences in the V&A Waterfront and outdoor areas, updating them with  2025/26 pricing and local tips from the Cedarberg Africa team, so you can plan with confidence.

Upfront Notes

Our two articles are focused more on older kids (from 6 upwards, as that’s mostly the age of our family clients) but there are plenty of things which are perfect for little ones as well.

We’ve divided our list into four sections. (Some activities could fit into more than one section.)

Part 1 – Waterfront
Aquarium * Watershed Arts & crafts * Scratch Patch * Boat Trips * The Cape Eye

Outdoors Adventure
Cable car * Walk on Table Mountain * Abseiling * Kirstenbosch & Skywalk * Red City Bus

Part 2 – Museums & Indoors activities (Great for rainy days)
Planetarium & Company gardens * HintHunt * Science centre * Clay Play

Cape Peninsula
Seal Island Boat Trip * Imhoffs Farm * Cape Peninsula Lighthouse * Swimming with penguins * Toy Museum

Price Range Key:

Low – typically means less than $26 or £20 for a sample family of 2 adults and 2 kids under 12 years
Moderate – typically less than $52 or £40 for this sample family of 4
OK – typically less than $95 or £75 for a family of 4
Pricey – is over $95 or £75 for a family of 4

Pricing and telephone numbers were correct at time of this update (Late 2025) with current exchange rates but are subject to change.

This Part 1 focuses on the V&A Waterfront and Outdoor Pursuits, Click here for Part 2 which focuses on Museums and Outdoor Pursuits

Start at the Harbour: Family-Friendly Fun at the V&A Waterfront

1) Two Oceans Aquarium

A perennial winner for children of all ages, exploring the unique marine life of the Cape. Highlights include the predator tank, penguin exhibit and interactive touch pools. Very young ones will enjoy the inter-active Kids Centre. Older kids (8 +) can book a Penguin Encounter for a close-up experience. (at extra cost) which is an informative and exhilarating encounter with these unique birds. Try to time your visit to coincide with their feeding times (see their website).

Opening hours:  9.30am to 6pm daily

Age Range:  3 years upwards. Penguin Encounter suited to older kids of 8 years upwards

Price Range:  Moderate (R250 per Adult, R115 per child under 12)

Contact details:  021 418 3823, V&A Waterfront, www.aquarium.co.za 

Tips: Buy tickets online: valid for 90 days from purchase, to skip the ticket queue.

2) Watershed Craft Market

A bright indoor market of 365+ stalls showcasing South African design: ceramics, textiles including lots of funky kids’ clothing, toys and quirky gifts. While the grown-ups browse, kids can enjoy the creative vibe and buskers outside on the Waterfront Amphitheatre.

This may or may not be your family’s cup of tea depending on how much you like ‘retail therapy’. Really easy to part with your money here!

Opening hours:   Open 10am to 7pm
Contact details:   021 408 7600 or www.waterfront.co.za

3) Scratch Patch & Mini Golf Cave

This doesn’t really pass the ‘Only in Cape Town’ rule (that I set myself). But it is so close to the Aquarium and Watershed; And my kids used to love it, so I succumbed…

The Scratch Patch: Children dig through glittering semi-precious stones, filling a small or large bag of favourites. You pay a varying fee depending on how large a bag of stones they collect.

Mini-Golf – Next door is a glow-in-the-dark mini-golf course to keep the whole family entertained.

It’s directly opposite the Aquarium and Watershed with very easy parking (as one of the main car parks is right beside it).

Yes, I know it’s kitsch. (But it’s fun, especially when people’s latent golfing competitiveness comes out. I speak from experience…)

Age Range: 4 – 8 years for the Scratch Patch: 4 years upwards for the mini-golf.

Price Range: Free to enter the Scratch Patch (you pay for stones). Golf Price: Low (R50 per person)

Contact details: 021 419 9429, Parking Level 2, Portswood Ridge, Dock Road opposite the Aquarium, www.scratchpatch.co.za

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4) Boat cruises from the Waterfront

From half-hour harbour jaunts to longer 1½ hour romantic sunset catamaran sails, there’s a cruise for every mood. Families love the Jolly Roger Pirate Boat with its playful crew and sea shanties. This promises swashbuckling adventure and surprises during its hour-long cruise.

We can pre-book the boat cruises for you (if you are booking a trip with us), which is recommended in peak season.

Bring sunscreen, even if the clouds are brooding like a teenager’s mood. Cape Town weather can change quickly.

More on Yacht Cruises

Departure:  Varies by boat, generally throughout the day, every 30-60 minutes

Age Range:  No age limit

Price Range:  OK to Pricey

Contact details: www.waterfront.co.za/activities/sea

5) Cape Wheel

A firm family favourite — the Cape Wheel gives you a bird’s-eye view of the city, harbour and Table Mountain in a smooth, 12-minute spin. The new location near Breakwater Boulevard has a livelier, more spacious setting with cafés and ice cream stops right beside it. It’s also wheelchair- and pram-friendly, making it an easy finale to a day at the Waterfront.

Opening hours: 10am to 10pm

Age Range: All

Price Range: Moderate (R200 per adult, R100 per child | Under 4 free)

Tip: Time your ride for sunset — the city glows, the mountain turns pink, and even teens will put their phones down for a few minutes.

Website: www.capewheel.co.za

Getting Active: Outdoor Adventure for Kids Around Cape Town

6) Table Mountain by Cable Car

A must-do Cape Town rite of passage so I won’t spend too long persuading you. Book online to dodge the first of two queues – to get your ticket. Why not consider booking the afternoon ticket and going much later in the day?

BUT even with pre-bought tickets, this is the NUMBER ONE thing to do in Cape Town. So you can still expect to queue to get into the cable car itself. Especially in the summer months.

Queuing for hours with small kids is not pretty, so follow our ‘survival’ tips below:

Our ‘Survival’ Tips

• Consider upgrading to Fast Track tickets. Yes, they are very expensive but worth considering if the queue is ridiculously long. You can upgrade your tickets when you get there if the queue looks bad. Or simply buy upfront.  (This less of an issue in the winter months.) Note that the Fastrack one way is R700 per person and R1100 for a return.
• EITHER head up there really early – so that you are there at least 30 mins before the first car up. (i.e. ahead of the tour buses who seem to arrive as the cable car starts).
• OR head up Table Mountain in the afternoon or early evening in summer. (As all the tour groups do Table Mountain first thing in the morning.) BUT it is sometimes windy and so the cable car can close BUT the queue is much shorter.
• Check the Table Mountain website. It shows the current waiting time at the bottom and at the top. (The queue to get down is usually quick e.g. 5-15 minutes)
• Sometimes – there is an afternoon or evening special price – but this is no longer guaranteed.

More on Table Mountain by cable car

Opening Hours: 8 am to up to 9pm (seasonal – see below)
Ages: All

Pricing: OK – Online R450 adult | R225 child | Under 4 free; Fasttrack Tickets: From R700 one way
Website: PLEASE book tickets online! www.tablemountain.net
Contact Details:  PLEASE book tickets online! www.tablemountain.net

Seasonal Opening hours: 

• Dec to January (Peak): 8am to 9pm with last cable car UP at 8pm
• Feb to March: 8am to 8pm with last cable car UP at 7pm
• April: 8am to 7.30pm with last cable car UP at 6.30pm
• May to Aug: 8.30am to 6pm with last cable car UP at 5pm
• Sept to Oct: 8.30am to 7pm with last cable car UP at 6pm
• Nov: 8am to 8pm with last cable car UP at 7pm

7) Kid-Friendly Hikes on Table Mountain

I am always amazed at how little people are prepared to walk. Yes, there are stunning viewpoints close to the top of the cable car but also lots of people! If you are happy to walk just 20-30 minutes away from the crowds, you’ll feel for the majesty of the mountain.

With Older Kids: Escape the crowds with a 2-hour round trip to Maclears Beacon, the mountain’s highest point at 1088 metres (3,570 feet). Take snacks, warm layers and a dash of parental persuasion when legs get tired.

We recommend getting the All Trails App which shows this route.

Route: Follow the trail marked on the map (which you are given with your tickets) which is signposted with yellow footprints. After about 15 mins, the trail does a slightly tricky little descent. (This is fine for most people, but grandparents may struggle). At this point most people give up!

So as you continue to Maclears Beacon, the wilderness of the mountain is apparent. You can come back the same way or take the ‘front’ trail which heads along the front edge of the ‘table’ with stunning panoramic views of the city below. The distance to Maclears Beacon and back is approx. 6 km / 3½ miles. It should take around 2 hours at a leisurely pace, quicker if you are all active.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do NOT start this Maclears Beacon walk if there is fog on the mountain as there are many paths and without sight of your destination, it would be very easy to get lost!

What to Pack

• Daypack with sunblock
• Plenty of water especially in summer
• Snacks for the children
• Trail map or All Trails App on phone
• Warm clothes (as weather on Table Mountain can be very changeable).

There are several walking routes UP Table Mountain, but I would NOT recommend them for children. If you have fit teenagers, then do some research. Platteklip Gorge takes 2 to 2.5 hours – depending on fitness (3 hours is not uncommon too!)  

Age Range: Depending on your children
Price Range: Free – You only pay for the cable car
Contact Details: Check out the Table Mountain National Park website – https://www.tablemountain.net/come-explore

8) Abseiling off Table Mountain

Thrills without the hike. Cape Town Abseil (Wild Frontiers) a offers the world’s highest commercial abseil — 112 m down a sheer cliff with jaw-dropping views. Followed by a 20-minute hike back to the top.

This is the highest commercial abseil in the world. I have done it and thoroughly enjoyed it. Adrenalin courses through you as they make you lean back over the edge and put your hands in the air, but once you get going, it is fairly easy with epic views (if you are feeling relaxed enough to take them in!), The hike back up gives you a taste of walking the mountain without having to slog up Platteklip!

We recommend booking ahead. As otherwise you could have to wait before they can fit you in. In winter, when the weather is variable, I recommend ringing them to check that they are operational as they won’t offer abseiling in poor conditions.

More on abseiling

Age Range:  10 years upwards
Price Range:  Pricey – R995 per person if you book online (this excludes your cable car ticket)
Contact Details:  https://www.capetownabseil.co.za/ or 021 065 0301 or [email protected]

9) Kirstenbosch & the Sky Walk

Even kids who “don’t like gardens” love Kirstenbosch. The Tree Canopy Walkway (nicknamed the Boomslang) snakes through the treetops; lawns invite picnics; the cafés keep everyone happy.

I know when I was a child, looking around public botanical gardens was not really my idea of fun. But here’s three reasons why Kirstenbosch is one step ahead!

1) The 130m skywalk snakes its way through the forest canopy of the arboretum
2) After enjoying the gardens, you can head up the foothills of Table Mountain to walk along the Contour path through the forest. If you have teenagers, you can even get up onto Table Mountain via the steep but shaded Skeleton and Nursery ravine trails. More on this, click here.
3) There’s a choice of eating options in the Gardens. A time-honoured favourite is to take a family picnic.

Opening Hours: 8am to 7pm from Sept to March. 8am to 6pm from April to Aug. The conservatory is open from 9am to 5pm
Age Range: All ages
Price Range: Moderate – R250 adult, R40 children
Contact Details: https://www.sanbi.org/gardens/kirstenboch/visitor-information/information/

Click here to head to rest of our Cape Town pages

10) Red Topless Sightseeing Buses

Hop-on, hop-off loops through the city, beaches and Constantia vineyards. The Mini-Peninsula Tour includes Kirstenbosch and Hout Bay — perfect for a full family day out.

Nowadays children love buses as they rarely go on them. sightseeing buses. I like these buses as they remind me of London but with much better weather!

These are ‘hop on, hop off’ bus tours. You buy a ticket for a particular day and can then spend as long as you like at the various attractions en route.

The time given below is the bus time component. But most people spend the best part of the day. You can start the tour at any of the designated bus stops on the route so enquire from your hotel where the nearest one is. 

Classic Tour (City & Table Mountain) – takes 90 minutes for the loop with 11 stops including the V&A Waterfront, Jewel Africa (for the Bo-Kaap quarter), Table Mountain cable car, Camps Bay beaches, Sea Point and back to the V&A Waterfront…

Premium (over 2 days) – 3 Hop on, Hop-off tours, walking tour and a harbour cruise

See the following tours on their website:

• Stellenbosch Wine safari
• Cape Point Tour 
• Winelands Tour

Opening Hours: The first stops start at 8am in summer with the last tour starting at 5.15pm
Age Range: All ages
Price Range: OK, Buy tickets online for a 10% discount: Classic Adult R315, R215 for kids
Contact Details: Buy your tickets online at www.citysightseeing.co.za

Practical Tips

• Book ahead for summer (Dec–Feb): cable car, abseiling, boat cruises.
• Pack layers: Cape Town weather loves surprises.
• Bring binoculars: spotting whales, seals or a mischievous dassie keeps kids entertained.

Head to Part 2 of Top 20 Things to do with Kids

Why not turn this list into a real itinerary?

1. Chat with a Cedarberg Africa consultant.
2. We’ll match your family’s ages and interests to Cape Town’s best spots.
3. Add nearby safari lodges or Garden Route adventures for a seamless family holiday.
4. Relax — planning is what we handle best.

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“Top 20 Things to do with Kids in Cape Town Part 1” – was written by Mari of Cedarberg Africa

Mari is part of Cedarberg Africa’s specialist travel team, with a deep love for Cape Town and the Cape Winelands. Having explored much of Southern Africa with her own family, she understands what makes a trip effortless for parents and exciting for kids. Her calm, practical approach and insider knowledge help families discover the Cape at its most relaxed and rewarding.

Cedarberg Africa is a specialist tour operator for Southern and East Africa focusing on upmarket tailormade safaris for discerning and busy people. Contact us if you’d like a tailormade safari quote for your family.