Animal encounters are always fun and exciting for the kids. Cape Town has many places to offer where children can meet, interact with and get educated about the different wildlife species. Visit animals in their Cape Town homes and enjoy a fun day with the entire family at one of the many animal parks and petting zoos.
1. See lions at The Drakenstein Lion Park
Visit lions, tigers, caracals and chimpanzees at this genuine sanctuary that gives their animals a lifetime home and loving care. You can even adopt an animal of your choice and add a new family member (not to your private home of course). The animals will be forever grateful and you can help making a difference. The Park holds a huge lion population including the rare white lions. Visit them during their feeding times on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 16:00! Find out more: DRAKENSTEIN LION PARK
Open: Monday to Sunday 09:30 – 17:00
Cost: SA Residents: R80 (Adults), R40 (Children) / Non-Residents: R150 (Adults), R75 (Children)
Location: Paarl, https://lionrescue.org.za/, Phone: +27 21 863 3290
2. Visit Gerry and his friends at The Giraffe House
Meet Gerry and his many friends at The Giraffe House. Learn all about the various animals at this place and even take part in an interactive creepy crawly encounter if you dare. The encounters are held at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 on weekends and during school holidays. It gives the visitor the opportunity to meet and hold some interesting creatures. Find out more: THE GIRAFFE HOUSE
Open: Monday to Sunday 09:00 – 17:00
Cost: Adults: R80; Children (2-15 years): R50; Seniors: R50
Location: Muldersvlei, http://www.giraffehouse.co.za/, Phone: +27 73 609 2670
3. Feed an Ostrich at The Ostrich Ranch
Balance on an ostrich egg, meet cute little ostrich babies, feed the biggest birds in the world and even sit and pet one of them if you dare. Take a tour at The Ostrich Ranch, grab some real good ostrich meals at the restaurant or meet the other animals at the farm in the little petting zoo. Find out more: THE OSTRICH RANCH
Open: Monday to Sunday 09:00 – 17:00
Cost: Children (2-6 years): R55; Children (7-16 years): R98; Adults: R109; Pensioners/Students: R65
Location: Philadelphia, http://www.ostrichranch.co.za/, Phone: +27 (0)21 972 1669
4. Get a photo with a Cheetah at Cheetah Outreach
Take a general tour and meet and greet some of those beautiful wild cats at the Cheetah Outreach. If you’re looking for a very special experience, you can book different kinds of cheetah encounters, where you can come very close to them and even take once in a lifetime pictures with you and the big cat. The less brave can also book a feeding tour or bat-eared fox encounter. Find out more: CHEETAH OUTREACH
Open: Monday to Sunday 10:00 – 17:00
Cost: Entrance fee R10 per person during the week, R5 on weekends, Special Rates for Cheetah Encounters
Location: Somerset West, http://www.cheetah.co.za/, Phone: +27 (0)82 872 4007
5. Dive into another world at the Two Oceans Aquarium
Enter a unique underwater world with over 3,000 creatures to discover. You can explore various exhibits and experiences during your stay and we promise, it won’t get boring! Whether you scuba dive with the sharks, enjoy an interactive penguin experience or watch the aquarium from behind the scenes – you and the kids will absolutely love it! Find out more: TWO OCEAN’S AQUARIUM
Open: Monday – Friday 09:30 – 18:00, Saturday – Sunday 09:00 – 18:00
Cost: Adults = R220, Children 14 to 17 = R165, Children 4 to 13 = R105, Children under 4 = Free
Location: V&A Waterfront, http://www.aquarium.co.za/, Phone: +27 (0)21 418 3823
6. Feel like Crocodile Dundee at Le Bonheur Reptiles & Adventures
This is not for the faint-hearted. When you visit this place, make sure you don’t mind crocodiles and reptiles of all sorts as you will get close to them! Take a Crocodile Pond Tour, visit a Snake Exhibition & Show or even go Crocodile Cage Diving! This is real fun for the entire family. Find out more: LE BONHEUR REPTILES & ADVENTURES
Open: Monday – Sunday 09:00 – 17:00
Cost: Adults = R100, Children = R65, 2y and under = Free, Special Rates for Various Experiences
Location: Paarl, http://www.lebonheuradventures.co.za/, Phone: +27 (0)21 863 1142
7. Meet naughty monkeys at The World of Birds & Monkey Park
This beautiful park in Hout Bay is home to a large variety of birds, monkeys, mammals and reptiles. It’s also the largest bird park in Africa and bird lovers can enjoy a huge amount of different species. A highlight for the kids is probably the monkey jungle which is open daily between 11:30 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 15:30. Wander along 38 agile and highly inquisitive New World monkeys and make direct contact with them! Find out more: THE WORLD OF BIRDS
Open: Mon – Sat 09:00 – 17:00, Sunday 09:00 – 16:00
Cost: Adults = R130, Children (age 3-16) = R50, Children (under 3) = free, Pensioners & Students = R85
Location: Hout Bay, https://worldofbirds.co.za/, Phone: +27 (0)21 790 2730
8. Walk among the animals at Exotic Animal World
Walk through a tropical garden and discover many exotic animals along your way. If you’re lucky, some of them might end up on your hands or shoulders for a really unique memory. They have it all: from cute to cuddly, creepy and crawly. A great indoor and outdoor experience for the entire family. Find out more: EXOTIC ANIMAL WORLD
Open: Monday – Sunday 09:00 – 17:00
Cost: Adults = R88, Children = R49, Kids under 3 = Free, Students/Pensioners = R79, Family (2 adults/2 kids) = R225
Location: Stellenbosch, https://exoticanimalworld.co.za/, Phone: +27 (0)60 646 1048
9. Everybody loves Alpacas at The Alpaca Loom
Meet a herd of over 300 Alpaca cuties at The Alpaca Loom! You can feed them or even take a tour and get some interesting information about these cuddly, fluff animals. The Alpaca Barn Tour is R100 for adults, R70 for children and kids under the age of 3 join for free. Find out more: THE ALPACA LOOM
Open: Monday – Sunday 09:30 – 17:30
Cost: Feeding = R20 per person, Special Rates for Tours
Location: Paarl, http://www.alpacas.co.za/, Phone: +27 (0)84 793 3666
10. Make a choice between cute farm animals or the Big Cats
At Vredenheim you’ll have the choice! You can either visit the Animal Farm with cute farm animals and an amazing playground or you’re on the wild side and visit the Big Cats and some game at the Big Cats Park. It’s all in one place and a pure bliss for the little ones. If you cannot decide what to do, simply do both while you’re there. You won’t regret it! Find out more: VREDENHEIM ANIMAL FARM & BIG CATS PARK
Open: Animal Farm = Mon – Sun 10:00 – 16:00, Big Cats Park = Mon – Sun 09:00 – 17:00
Cost: Animal Farm: Adults = R30, Children = R50 / Big Cats Park: Adults = R100, Children (under 13) = R65 / Game Drive: Adults = R300, Children (under 13) = R200
Location: Stellenbosch, https://vredenheim.co.za/, Phone: +27 60 387 5593
11. Encounter primates, snakes and other animals at Monkey Town
At Monkey Town, you cannot only visit monkeys and apes and learn more about these primates, but you can also meet and greet many other animals and even encounter snakes and reptiles! But there is more – outside the door steps of Monkey Town, you will also find braai and picnic facilities and a small waterpark for the children! Spend a fabulous day with animals and have massive fun in the water! Find out more: MONKEY TOWN
Open: Mon – Sun 08:00 – 17:00
Cost: Adults = R105, Children = R80, Toddlers = R40, Pensioners/Students = R90
Location: Somerset West, https://www.monkeys.co.za/, Phone: +27 (0) 21 858 1060
This is a very useful information i am taking my kids here months end.