Whether you are booking tours with me and would like to fit some of these activities in with your young ones, or are just browsing to pick up some tips for yourselves, I hope you and your kids have fun!
Feel free to pass it on and share.
Things change, so if you make any fantastic discoveries, you can let me know!

Jolly Roger Pirate Boat
Complete with live pirate performances on board!

Quay 5 at the V&A Waterfront, below Victoria Wharf shopping mall & restaurants.
021 – 421 0909
https://www.yacoobyachts.co.za/jolly-roger-pirate-boat

There are various other boat trips available from the V&A Waterfront – stroll along Quay 5 and see what’s on offer!

Two Oceans Aquarium
Two Oceans Aquarium in the V&A Waterfront: Feeding times of the various exhibits are fun & informative. Your ticket allows you to leave and return any number of times on the same day.

Feeding times: African Penguins daily @ 11:30 & 14:30.
I&J Ocean Exhibit daily @ 12:00 & 14:00.

Some other feeds take place but not at fixed times. Check the web site.

Dock Road, V&A Waterfront
021 418 3823
https://www.aquarium.co.za

The Scratch Patch & Cave Golf
Semi-precious stones at the Waterfront & outside Simon’s Town.

Dock Road, V&A Waterfront
021 – 419 9429

Dido Valley Road, Simons Town
021 – 786 2020

https://www.scratchpatch.co.za

Miniature Blue Train
Mouille Point Promenade near to Green Point Lighthouse
(Check opening times)
084 – 314 9200
https://thebluetrainpark.co.za

Putt Putt mini-golf
Mouille Point Promenade near to Green Point Lighthouse
021 – 434 6805
https://www.puttputtcapetown.co.za

Green Point Urban Park
Entrance across the road from Green Point Lighthouse, not far from the Miniature Blue Train & Putt Putt.

Has one of the best kiddies play areas anywhere, and there’s another kiddies play area right next to the lighthouse.

Sea Point Promenade
Miles of grass lawn with various kiddies playgrounds along the way, and the Sea Point Swimming Pool at the end. Mostly a rocky shoreline but a few patches of sandy beach along the way, en route to the beautiful Clifton & Camps Bay beaches.

You can also hire simple bicycles (no gears, back pedal brakes) from UpCycles at the Sea Point Pavilion next to the Sea Point Swimming Pool. They also have bases in the Silo precinct of the V&A Waterfront & at Camp’s Bay, enabling you to pick up from one place and drop off at another, if you wish.

074 – 100 9161
https://upcycles.co.za

Tidal Pools
Atlantic seaboard (colder water): Saunders Rocks (at the end of Sea Point), Maiden’s Cove (between Clifton & Camp’s Bay), Camp’s Bay.
A bit further away from the city on the Cape Peninsula east coast (warmer water): St. James, Dalebrook & Brass Bell at Kalk Bay, Woolley’s pool between Kalk Bay & Clovelly, and a few more which are further away.

Concrete walls enclose natural seawater in a part of the ocean, usually somewhat rocky, creating safe spaces for kids to play & swim, and friendly gathering places for locals.

South African Museum
Mainly a natural history museum.
Kids love the exhibits of whale skeletons, sharks and dinosaurs!

Queen Victoria Street, at the top of the Company’s Garden
021 – 481 3800
https://www.iziko.org.za/museums/south-african-museum

South African Planetarium
Fantastic new digital projection system following a recent renovation. Among its shows, some are specifically produced for a young audience.

Inside the SA Museum, Queen Victoria Street, at the top of the Company’s Garden
021 – 481 3900
https://www.iziko.org.za/museums/planetarium

Café Paradiso restaurant
This charming and GOOD Italian restaurant towards the upper end of vibey Kloof Street, has kids’ “projects” on the menu: making pizza, gingerbread men, cupcakes & cookies!

This can keep the little ones busy while Mom & Dad order and wait for the meal to arrive.

110 Kloof Street, Gardens
021 – 422 0403
https://www.cafeparadiso.co.za https://www.lovemycapetown.com/kids-cooking-cafe-paradiso

Castle of Good Hope
Key Ceremony & Signal Cannon
Mon to Fri @ 10:00 & 12:00
Sat: Signal Cannon only @ 11:00 & 12:00

021 – 787 1260
https://www.castleofgoodhope.co.za

Hint Hunt
A strategic live escape game, designed for small groups of 2 to 6 people.
You get 60 minutes to climb a mountain of puzzles and mysteries in a room. The goal is simple yet challenging: Get out in Time!

Minimum age: 9 years if coming with parents / adults or 15 if no adults.

Watershed Craft Market, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront
087 – 470 0114
https://hinthunt.co.za

There are other strategy / escape games in the same area of the Watershed.

Cape Town Science Centre
With more than 250 interactive exhibits and puzzles, the Cape Town Science Centre is a world of discovery under one roof.

370 B Main Road, Observatory
021 – 300 3200
https://www.ctsc.org.za

World of Birds
A large number of walk-through aviaries. Also a variety of mammals & reptiles.

Valley Road, Hout Bay
021 – 790 2730
https://worldofbirds.co.za

Seal Island Cruises
3 different companies run excursions several times each morning, from the Hout Bay fishing harbour, to view the colony of 10 000 Cape fur seals on Duiker Island and enjoy views of the magnificent coastline and mountains. A fun and educational experience for the whole family!

021 – 791 4441 / 082 – 658 7055
https://drumbeatcharters.co.za

021 – 790 1040
https://www.circelaunches.co.za

021 – 790 7278
https://www.nauticatcharters.co.za

Acrobranch
Let energetic little ones blow off some steam on Tarzan swings, nets, bridges and other fun obstacles. Several courses for different age groups, from as young as 3 years old on the easiest courses.

In the Constantia Nek Forest
086 – 999 0369
https://acrobranch.co.za/outdoor-activity-parks/cape-town-constantia

Muizenberg Beach
On the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula, warmer water than on the west.

A favourite swimming & surfing spot, safe from strong currents. Awesome eateries & coffee shops with a friendly local neighbourhood vibe. If the kids are old enough, you can even book surf lessons with Gary’s Surf School!

Gary’s Surf School, Beach Road / Surfer’s Corner, Muizenberg
021 – 788 9839
https://garysurf.com

From Surfer’s Corner in Muizenberg, it’s wonderful to stroll along Jager’s Walk, right along the ocean, via St. James (1.5 km), all the way to Kalk Bay (total 2.7 km) with its cute & colourful independently owned shops, galleries & restaurants. Altogether there are 3 lovely tidal pools to swim in along the way!

The Kalk Bay fishing harbour, a favourite place for locals to buy their fresh fish, is a fun place to stroll along the pier, see the colourful fishing boats and meet the friendly fisher folks – as well as the seals! But please keep your distance from them. There are some great fish & seafood restaurants ranging from basic to luxurious, all selling excellent fresh fish.

Planet Kids

Indoor & outdoor play areas & facilities.

3 Wherry Road, Muizenberg
021 – 788 3070
https://planetkids.co.za

African Penguin Colony
The really fun part here is visiting the swimming beaches: Boulders Beach & Middle Beach (south of Foxy Beach) where penguins often come to join the human visitors!

This can never be guaranteed, but the more time you have to explore, the better the chances. It’s usually less crowded than the main breeding colony at Foxy Beach where all the tourist groups go, and tends to be visited by locals more than tourists.

Boulders Beach is also a great spot for a picnic if the weather is good, and for a swim too, in the safe, sheltered little bay. Each beach has its own entrance gate and pay point (as it’s part of a national park), and tickets bought at either one are valid at both, so keep your receipt!

Easiest to move between Boulders & Middle Beach at low tide.

(Nearby is Water’s Edge Beach – no entrance charge, usually no penguins to see, but you might be lucky!)

021 – 786 2329
https://www.sanparks.org/parks/table-mountain/what-to-do/attractions/boulders-penguin-colony

Cape Point Ostrich Farm
Just outside the entrance gate of the Table Mountain National Park leading to Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope.
021 – 780 9294
https://www.capepointroute.co.za/moreinfoOther.php?aID=106

Cool Runnings Toboggan Park
Carl Cronje Drive, Tyger Valley

021 – 949 4439
https://coolrunnings.capetown

Cheetah Outreach
A serious conservation project with a long track record. “Cheetah encounters” (personal interactions) from 10:00 to 17:00 – the funds raised go towards conservation work supporting cheetahs living in the wild.

Paardevlei, between Somerset West & Strand
021 851 6850 / 083 364 6278
https://www.cheetah.co.za

Exotic Animal World
A tropical garden featuring butterflies, small mammals, reptiles, birds and more!

On the R44 just south of the N1 at Klapmuts.
062 – 879 4044
https://exoticanimalworld.co.za

Giraffe House
Meet and feed the friendly giraffes! (Must be pre-booked.) There are many other types of animals to be seen, and educational shows at set times.

On the R101 (Old Paarl Road) east of but very close to the intersection with the R304, not far south of the N1.
073 – 609 2670 / 071 – 873 2470
https://www.giraffehouse.co.za

Drakenstein Lion Park
On the R101 (Old Paarl Road) east of the intersection with the R44.
021 – 863 3290
https://lionrescue.org.za

Le Bonheur Crocodile Farm
Babylonstoren Road, off the Klapmuts – Simondium Road
021 – 863 1142
https://lebonheuradventures.co.za

Other Info
Some things which are favourites for kids, are among our most famous and popular attractions anyway, like the Table Mountain Cable Car.

Depending on age and ability, there are also many outdoor activities to enjoy like horse riding, quad biking, kayaking, surf lessons, cycling, and good old hiking.

Also see:
https://www.capetownmagazine.com/to-do-kids
https://www.capetownwithkids.com