Treating the whole family over the festive season can be a great challenge. You have to think of the kids who are looking to run free, play and make new friends. Then there are the adults, who need to be able to relax and keep an eye on the kids at the same time. You also have to think of breakfast, lunch and dinner, depending on what time of day the outing takes place. All these prerequisites can have you in a pickle, so to help out with some new ideas, we bring you our list of places that provide entertainment for whole family and also have a decent restaurant close by. Have fun and happy holidays!

Johannesburg

Bambanani
There are child-minders, daily activities, a covered outdoor play area with four storey jungle gym, sand art, dress-up area, mini nail bar and hair braiding station, Xbox, PlayStation and Wii room, library and toys.

Emmarentia Dam
There’s a small café inside the park that serves light meals, alternatively take a picnic. Entertainment for the family includes duck feeding and a park.

Gold Reef City
Take the kids on the Anaconda and the Raging River Rapids, or play a more sedate game of putt putt before refuelling at one of the many restaurants:
Back O’ the Moon
Boston BBQ
Boston Express
Maestro
News Café
Ocean Basket
The Pavilion

Lion Park
Adults and children can enjoy guided children’s parties, including guided game drives in a safari vehicle, entrance to cub world, jumping castles and free balloons. It’s also open in the evenings.

Montecasino
Bird Gardens, arcade, movies, a kids playground between 13 and 22 December, an Xbox gaming area, a Lego play area, face painting, colouring in, Skoobs book store storytelling, jumping castles, a Velcro wall, inflatable twister, a human bowling alley, interactive games, competitions and buskers will keep everyone entertained. There are also plenty of restaurants to choose from, so there’s something for every price range:
@Monte Restaurant
Aarya
Barcelos Flame Grilled Chicken
Beira Alta
Billy G Buffet Restaurant
Cantare Dinner And Dance
Ciao Baby Cucina
Coco Bongo
Col’Cacchio
Donatella’s
The Gourmet Garage
John Dory’s Fish and Grill
Kai Thai
La Scala
Medeo Restaurant
Montexo Spur
Primafila Mastrantonio
Punchinellos Restaurant
Red Dot Café
The Meat Company
The Met Grill
The Raj Indian Restaurant
Verdicchio
YuMe

Moyo Zoo Lake
Enjoy African dances, story time, learn traditional African games and crafts.

The Oak Leaf
While adults can enjoy their meals, kids are entertained with a supervised play area, full time child minders, party facilities and a jumping castle. There’s also a breastfeeding room for new mothers.

The Silver Birch Restaurant
A play area and kiddies pizza corner will keep the little ones entertained while you enjoy a meal.

Tres Jolié
Everyone can enjoy the touch and feel farmyard, jungle gym, sand pit, jumping castle, swing, pony rides and camel rides.

Pretoria

Centurion Society of Model Engineers
The society meets at Kwikkie Crescent Street, Zwartkops, every Sunday. After all the model train excitement, parents can go for Sunday lunch at one of the following places nearby:
Primi Pulse
Simply Asia
The Godfather
Spur

Pretoria Zoo Cafeteria
Both parents and kids can enjoy the zoo and cableway.

Voortrekker Monument
The whole family can partake in a stroll through the nature reserve and museum before a meal at the restaurant.

Durban

Cargo Hold
uShaka Marine World offers water slides, Sea World where there dolphin shows, seal shows, penguin presentations, shark dives and ray feeds. There is also an interactive section for kids aged two to 12. Head to Cargo Hold, where you can watch the sharks in their tanks, for lunch or dinner.

Piggly Wiggly
The country village has a putt putt course as well as lawns for the children to play on and shops and a nursery for adults to browse.

Moyo (uShaka)
Drums and beanbags add African warmth to this large restaurant with its great views of the ocean. A great option after a trip to uShaka Marine World.

Yellowwood Café
Yellowwood Country Estate offers paintball shooting, exploring, animal petting and hearty country food at the restaurant.

Cape Town

Bamboo Garden Restaurant
Bugz Family Playpark is situated at the Cape Garden Centre. It is the largest playpark in Western Cape and has a huge outdoor playground and a magnificent indoor play area for children from 2 to 10 years old. Rides are open during weekends, public holidays and school holidays, while the restaurant is open daily.

Blue Water Café
The Imhoff Farm, where Blue Water Café is located, offers first-rate food, organic produce, unique shops, beach rides and animal encounters.

Grand West
It may be a casino, but Grand West also offers a games arcade, movies and an ice-rink. Try one of these restaurants:
BellaGina
Beijing Orchid
Bukhara
Cape Town Fish Market
Union Castle Club
Quarterdeck Restaurant
Silver Dollar Spur

Moyo (Blouberg)
There are ponds beneath some of the outdoor tables for paddling, as well as a sea view and open grass outside for the kids to run free.

Moyo (Kirstenbosch)
Located in Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, it is an ideal setting for a family outing where the children can play in the garden and adults can enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the backdrop of nature.

Shoreline Café
A tour around the aquarium with the whole family can work up quite an appetite. Visit the café just in the Two Ocean Aquarium’s foyer.

Table Mountain Café
After a trip in the cable car or a strenuous walk take in the view and have a bite to eat at the café.

Two Oceans Restaurant
Climb Cape Point’s summit while working an appetite for lunch at the restaurant.

Winelands

The Farmers Kitchen
Pick strawberries in season, trawl the farm shop and marvel at the huge array of colourful scarecrows. Then try the French toast with strawberry compote, mascarpone, toasted almonds and bacon or indulge in some of the freshly baked goods.

The Goatshed Restaurant at Fairview
The winery is no longer offering the junior cheese masters course, but kids will love the goat tower (no pun intended) and adults can stay invested with wine and cheese tastings, and a relaxed meal at the Goatshed Restaurant.

Jungle Leaf Café at Butterfly World
In addition to a wide variety of exotic butterflies, there are tropical parrots, marmosets, duikers, reptiles, a tarantula display, meerkats and tortoises to be seen. Refuel in the café on site.

Mountain Breeze
Strawberry picking is the main attraction here, but there is also a farm stall for lunch.

Moyo (Stellenbosch)
Located at the Spier Wine Farm, there are various activities that can take place, like picnics, walks, wine tasting for adults, and the gardens provide wonderful entertainment for the kids.

Garden Route

Adventure Land (Plettenberg Bay)
A wide range of waterslides, trampolines, and jungle gyms will keep the kids entertained. There’s a takeaway kiosk, but if you prefer to bring your own food there are also braai facilities.

Elephant Sanctuary at The Crags (Plettenberg Bay)
A meeting with the elephants is quite pricey, but unforgettable. Wood-fired pizza is available for hungry kids.

Trees Restaurant at Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours (Storm’s River)
Take bigger kids for a zipline adventure through the magnificent indigenous forrest and stop in at Trees Restaurant for a light lunch afterwards.

Cafe Struisvogel at Cango Ostrich Farm (Oudtshoorn)
Take a 45 minute ostrich tour, with a chance to touch, feed and ride the ostriches and then refuel in the café. Larger groups can also prebook at Rietkraal for a set menu.