Entertaining the the kids in South Africa : 5 things to do for under R100

Most of us are itching to get outside after the cold winter to have some fun. The trick is to keep you and the kids entertained without breaking the bank. We’ve done the searching for you and have a must-do list of fantastic fun activities for the whole family for under R100.

1. Top of Africa in Johannesburg (R15 for adults and R10 for those under 12): Grab your camera and enjoy spectacular views from the viewing deck at the top of the tallest building in Africa. The Carlton Centre still hosts a sprawling shopping centre downstairs.

2. Visit the Johanneburg Planetarium (R38 adults; R25 for kids): Enjoy a Sky Tonight or Space Travel show for kids 5-8 years old in the beautiful dome. The schedule of shows is available on their website. With 400 seats available, you probably won’t need to book in advance.

3. Ice skating (around R65 including skate hire): Rinks are scattered around the country; find one near you with a simple online search. Of course, if you love it and want to do it regularly, you can find secondhand skates on a ad website like Gumtree.

4. Mapatiza underground mine tours in Johannesburg: With experienced guides, this is an unforgettable experience to see how gemstones are mined, cut, and polished. There is a large scratch patch for the kids to enjoy while you take a breather at the coffee shop after the underground tour.

5. Ditsong National Museum of Natural History in Pretoria (R30 for adults and R15 for kids): The museum is filled with wonders for little people to marvel at, starting with the giant dinosaur skeletons outside and continued throughout with interactive displays.

Image by Chris Eason under Creative Commons licence. View from the Top of Africa.