Free things for kids in Cape Town I hear you laugh. Yip. And I do mean free. Cape Town is one of the great cities in the world especially if you are looking to enjoy the outdoors on a minimum budget (i.e. free) with your kids. Here are my five favourite things to do for free with my kids.
1. Hit the beach
Cape Town is blessed with some of the best beaches in the world and depending on how old your kids are you’ll find somewhere perfect. If your kids are really young (2 to 6) look to one of the sheltered beaches such as Muizenberg Corner or Boulders Beach on the False Bay coast. While no beach is 100% safe these are more sheltered generally and your kids are not going to be pulverised by hectic surf.
2. Take a walk
While much of the Cape peninsula is now part of the Table Mountain National Park and consequently you need to pay small entrance fees (Wild Card holders enter free www.wildcard.co.za), don’t let this dissuade you from tackling some of the epic day walks the city has to offer. My favourite is walking in Silvermine and depending on how old your kids are (or how fit you are to carry them) the circuit up to Noordhoek Peak overlooking long beach and back is an awesome day’s walk. If that’s too much to handle, saunter round the damn and if it’s hot enough go for a swim, as the water is refreshing. Don’t be off-put by the colour its brown from the natural tannins in the water. Note there are no lifesavers on duty and you need to watch your young-uns.
3. Check the seals
The V&A Waterfront is one of the cities most popular attractions (although most locals tend to shy away in busy tourist season). One thing I love doing with my kids is looking for seals frolicking and hunting in the harbour. They never seem to tire of watching them. If your family needs a junk food fix there are plenty of fast food joints to choose from.
4. Catch the train
Okay, okay so it’s not free, but its so affordable it still counts. One of the greatest train journeys anywhere in South Africa runs from Muizenberg (although you can catch it anywhere up the line towards the city if you are staying more centrally) and heads south to Simonstown. Its worth jumping on and off in St James to have a dip in the tide pool, Kalk Bay if you need a coffee and some scones from the Olympia Bakery and of course Simonstown. While you’re in Simonstown visit the Naval Museum, entrance is free www.simonstown.com, 021-787-4686. If you have real youngsters (less than five or six) hit the kiddie’s train at Mouille Point.
5. Hang out on Green Point Common
With a range of jungle gyms and activities for the youngsters, Green Point Common is a wonderful place to blow off some steam. You get to lie on your back and drink in the sun, they get to climb, slide, explore and so on. It’s free but you must have cash for ice-cream (oh, and enough for the kids otherwise they cry).
Do you know of cool free things to do with your kids where you live? Add your comments below.
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