The Great Outdoors
When the weather's too good to waste indoors, get out and enjoy the sunshine (but don't forget the sunblock). Head for the hills and enjoy the sunshine on easy walks on the mountain, from Silvermine to Table Mountain.
Around the Cape Peninsula, try Groot Constantia, where there's plenty of space to roar around while you enjoy lunch, or Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden for picnics, lawns for games, nature walks and ducks on the ponds.
But for some real action, get hooked up to a cable for a 900 m waterski around the lake (or wakeboarding and slalom) at Blue Rock in Somerset West. There's also freshwater scuba-diving, beach volleyball, mini-golf, a restaurant and a children's playground.
Beach Babies
Pack a picnic, brolly and loads of sunscreen and head for the beach. Boulders, past Simon's Town, offers safe, calm bathing amid huge boulders, with penguins to keep you entertained. (Entrance fee charged.)
There are more safe seas at Fish Hoek, with rock pools to explore off Jager Walk and a jungle gym near the restaurant where you can have a meal while the kids let off steam.
Surfer's Corner at Muizenberg attracts board riders of all ages, with miles of beach and safe swimming. Don't forget the tidal pools at St James, Kommetjie and Dalebrook. Closer to Cape Town there are several places to access the beach along the Sea Point beachfront, although the shoreline's a bit rocky.
Furry and Feathered Friends
If you're travelling out towards Stellenbosch and Paarl, lookout for a variety of wild beasties, all fairly close to the N1 highway, at the Drakenstein Lion Park, Butterfly World, Le Bonheur Croc Park and Animal Zone. Visit Imhoff's Country Craft Farm in Kommetjie to enjoy the petting zoo, or head to Hout Bay's World of Birds, where you can see over 3 000 birds in natural surroundings.
And on a slightly larger scale, have a look at South Africa's biggest bird at the Cape Point Ostrich Farm. Up the N2 to Somerset West, stop at Monkey Town, a primate rehabilitation centre, to come face to face with our closest relatives from covered walkways, as the monkeys roam freely. Firlands Farmworld is a little further, where you can wander among all sorts of farm animals, as well as a llama or two. You can also visit young and adult cheetahs at Cheetah Outreach in Somerset West.
For bird lovers, there’s also Sanccob, the world-famous rescue centre for injured or oil-soaked coastal birds, and the West Coast Ostrich Ranch where you and your kids can learn about these birds, sit on one, and try standing on one of their huge eggs.