Must-visit places for the school holidays

Make the school holidays memorable with these must-see places the whole family will love!

 

Young or old, it’s always fun to try something new – and the school holidays is the perfect time to do just that. Family fun comes in all shapes and sizes, and we’ve compiled a list of a little something for everyone! Get ready for painting,  puzzles, hiking, game drives, dinosaurs, and so much more!

Before getting into it, why don’t you find out about the best hikes in Namibia?

Solve puzzles

Work together to solve puzzles, get to the bottom of riddles and trigger hidden mechanisms to help you escape! MindGame Escape offers stimulating escape rooms that are ideal for families with kids over eight years old. The rooms are challenging and require teamwork, making this a great way to bond and learn more about one another’s hidden skills! This experience packs mystery and collaboration in one thrilling adventure. It’s important to note that the rooms are not scary or small. The rooms are spacious and designed to excite, not scare. Just around the corner, you can still the hunger at Mary & Joe restaurant with their menu that brims with delicious breakfast, lunch and drinks options.

Where: Umhlanga, Durban

Get creative

The Clay Cafe is a crowd-pleasing stop where you can learn a new skill, enjoy delicious food and spend some quality time with your loved ones. From flower pots to mugs and everything in between, you and your family can paint on your choice of ceramic dish for hours on end. The cafe glazes and fires the ceramics to make them durable and dishwasher-safe. Once fired, you collect your masterpieces, leaving you with one-of-a-kind holiday keepsakes; plus, prices are affordable and dependent on what you choose.

Will your child be returning to school soon? Or are they starting at a new one? If you’re still looking, see how much you wouldn’t want to pay with this guide on the most expensive schools in South Africa!

 

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Where: Gauteng: Irene, Wolwespruit, Lonehill and Montana

Cape Town: Hout Bay, Paarl and Cape Town City Centre

Spend some time outdoors

The picturesque Cradle Moon Lakeside Lodge has something for everyone! Soak up a sliver of winter sunshine by hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, taking a boat cruise or canoeing. And for those interested in our nation’s beautiful biodiversity, there are also guided and unguided nature walks, as well as game drives on offer. Best of all is that there is accommodation and a restaurant at the lodge too! So, whether you’re just keen to break away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a couple of hours or make a whole weekend out of it, the lodge has you covered.

Where: Muldersdrift, Johannesburg

Travel back in time

Take a walk on the wild side at the Sudwala Dinosaur Park, where you can mingle with life-sized models of prehistoric animals! Only 30 minutes out of Nelspruit, this unique park is set in a lush subtropical forest garden, where monkeys and cuckoos abound. There is also a cool interactive app that helps you learn as you explore the dinosaurs. If you’re caught confused, the app can easily let you know what it is you’re looking at! We love that children under five enter for free, making this the best place to take your curious little aspiring paleontologist, adventurers and nature buffs! A quick 15-minute drive will take you to Eric’s Stall Restaurant for a chow after the day’s adventures.

Where: Near the Sudwala Caves, Mpumalanga

ALSO SEE: For the kids: Stamped cookies recipe to keep them busy during school holidays

For the kids: Stamped cookies recipe to keep them busy during school holidays

Written by Valerie Lomas for Food&Home Winter 2022 issue.

Feature image: Unsplash