If you need to escape the chocolate smears on the walls and carpets, or the kids are running amok fueled by chocolate sugar highs, get them out to one of these fun events. They can hunt for eggs, have their faces painted or play on pirate ships while you relax and they tire themselves out.
If you prefer to organise your own, then take a look at our suggestions for fun spots for an Easter egg hunt. Remember, adults enjoy Easter egg hunting just as much as kids! Although I could be speaking for myself here…
PS. Need help with the chocolate stains? Click here for a handy eco-friendly chocolate removal guide.
Easter activities for kids in Cape Town
Easter egg hunt with a view
Table Mountain
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway team has put together some awesome family activities for Easter Sunday on 31st March, so make a plan to get to the top in time for the start at 10h00! All the kiddies’ favourite Easter characters will be on hand, including the Easter bunny, Easter egg fairy and the Mad Hatter. The Easter egg hunt will include clues at different stations with small activities for the little ones to make the hunt more exciting. Other activities include fairy magic, making bunny faces, the Pick an Egg Competition, mini-Mad Hatter’s tea party table and discovering a chest full of yummy eggs. Note: If weather does not allow the event to take place, the alternative date is 1st April. Tel 021-424-0015.
Higgeldy Piggeldy Easter egg hunt
Imhoff Farm, Kommetjie
Imhoff Farm will be hosting their annual Easter Egg Hunt on 1st April, with the hunt starting at the Higgeldy Piggeldy Farmyard at 10h00. It costs R30 per child and includes entrance to the farmyard, the collected eggs and a drink. While the kids run around hunting for eggs, the rest of the family can enjoy a hearty breakfast and The Pickled Fish, The Coffee Shop or Blue Water Cafe. The event is always popular and booking is essential. Tel 021-783-2007.
Reuben’s Easter egg hunt and holiday progamme
Reuben’s at One&Only, V&A Waterfront
All kids from Reuben’s and Vista Bar & Lounge are invited to partake in a fun and festive Easter Egg Hunt at 15h00 on Easter Sunday, 31st March. There’s also a jam-packed daily programme at the KidsOnly Club. On Easter Sunday, kids can enjoy Easter egg painting, Easter sand art, the Easter egg hunt and many more themed activities. The KidsOnly Club is open from 10h00 – 19h00 daily. Tel 021-431-4511.
Easter at the Waterfront
V&A Waterfront
From 22nd to 31st March, little chocolate fanatics can enjoy a sweet experience and make their way through the Lindt Gold Bunny Maze in search of chocolaty goodness. It’s for free, but if you buy a Gold Bunny Milk Chocolate (100G), Lindt will donate R1 to the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Riverine Rabbit Programme. Join in for Cartoon Network fun at the amphitheatre between 5th and 7th of April and the petting zoo will be back in the Blue Shed Craft Market from 29th of March to the 7th of April. There’s also arts and crafts, face painting and Easter egg making workshops in the Easter Garden at the Craft Market. Don’t forget the Kids Ahoy playground next to the Ampitheatre with pirate ships, caves and lighthouses where they can jump, play and work off their sugar high! Tip : Parking is R10 for four hours at the Portswood Parking or Breakwater Parking garages. Tel 021-408-7600
Easter at Spier Wine Farm
Stellenbosch
When you arrive on Sunday morning, your kids will be invited to visit the chicken coup to collect freshly laid eggs, which they’ll get to paint and decorate. Once that’s done, a traditional Easter egg hunt will follow. Children’s Easter egg hunt starts at 10h30. Children aged 0 – 4 free, and 4 – 12 year olds are R100. Adults can enjoy a five-course Food Treasure Hunt (R295). Tel 021-809-1100.
Bay Harbour Easter Egg Hunt
Bay Harbour Market, Hout Bay
Kids can delight in scouring the specially-demarcated playground for tasty Easter eggs from 11h30 on Saturday, 30th March, while parents can browse and buy from the multitude of goodies on offer before settling down for a mouth-watering meal. There will also be superb tunes from South African Gospel House Music DJ and Producer/ Composer, DJ Prophet777. It’s the perfect place to be for a fun Saturday! Tel: 082-570-5997.
Easter activities for kids in Durban
Africa’s largest Easter egg hunt
uShaka Marine World
Get the family to the fifth largest aquarium in the world at 07h00 on 30th and 31st March to search for hidden chocolate treats throughout the Phantom ship wreck. It has plenty of nooks and crannies for the Easter Bunny to stow away his Easter surprises! After the Easter egg hunt, everyone can enjoy the Easter Dolphin Show with guest appearances by the Ocean Warrior Mascots; Delia the Dolphin, Slippy the Seal, Rusty the Penguin and Raggy the Shark as well as the Easter Bunny and uShaka`s world famous dolphins, of course. R100 per person, R50 for Platinum Pass holders.
Join the “Big Hunt”
Rhumbelow Theatre, Umbilo
The Rhumbelow Theatre in Cunningham Road will be keeping kids entertained during the holidays using fun and familiar sing-a-longs, dancing, crafts and painting. Plus a free Easter egg for each child! But if you think that’s exciting,.. there’s more! They’re not calling it The Big Hunt for nothing! The hunt is on for the golden eggs hidden on their quaint Easter trail. This is a fun theatre experience that will get your children actively involved, teaching them social interaction as well as group activity and independence. Shows will be run daily at 11h00, weekdays from Monday, 26th March to Thursday, 5th April. Tickets are R50 each and the show is suitable for ages 4-12. Tel 031-205 -602 or book at Computicket.
Easter egg hunting for a good cause at CROW
Yellow Wood Park, Durban South
Take the family for an educational and fun day out at this centre for the rehabilitation of wildlife. The day kicks off with a presentation and tour of the centre, followed by a variety of Easter activities including a clown show, dance show, jumping castle, face and egg painting, an Easter egg hunt and more. There will be boerewors rolls, light snacks and refreshments on sale. All proceeds of the day will go towards the care and enrichment of the animals in CROW’s care, so you will be supporting a worthy cause too. From 10h45 to 15h00 on Easter Sunday, 31st March. R25 per adult and R10 for children aged 12 and under. Tel 031-462-1127.
Easter activities for kids in Johannesburg and Pretoria
Easter eggs and roses
Ludwig’s Roses, Pretoria
Kids can join an exciting hunt searching for sweets and colourful items between the roses on Easter Sunday, 31st March. They can also meet the Easter bunny and have fun on the jumping castle. There will be free tractor trailer rides through the rose fields for both adults and children. Enjoy lunch afterwards at the restaurant or order your picnic basket to enjoy at their new picnic spots, scattered along the dam wall next to the rose garden. Registration and hunt starts from 09h00 and costs R120 per child. The picnic costs R165 per adult and R65 per child. Pre-bookings and payments required. Tel 012-544-0144.
It’s Easter all weekend at Stonehaven on Vaal
Vanderbijlpark
Easter festivities right on the banks of the river with complimentary Easter egg hunts, colouring-in competitions and a 45 minute river cruise down the Vaal River. Free entry, river cruise R45 for adults and R35 for children. Tel 016-982-2951.
Easter for all at Al Fiume
River Place Country Estate, Fourways
Celebrate Easter by the river at Al Fiume restaurant with fun for the whole family, including a 3-course menu, live entertainment, chocolate eggs and almost endless activities for the kids. The kids’ entertainment includes a mobile petting zoo, jumping castle, treasure hunt with the Easter Bunny, as well as sports activities, crafts and competitions. Prices are R325 per adult and R125 per child. The bambino menu is for children between the age of 4 and 10, and includes a main meal, ice cream and soft drink. Tel 079-886-9827.
Paint a pot and hunt for Easter eggs
Garden World, Muldersdrift
Garden World is a unique garden centre with magnificent display gardens. There’s also a children’s’ playground, animal farm, trading post and tea garden. On Easter Sunday the little ones can paint a pot and plant a seedling, and then set off on an Easter Egg hunt around the centre. R40 per child. Booking essential. Tel 011-957-2545.
Family entertainment at The Blades
Kameeldrift East, Pretoria
Have some Easter fun at The Blades on the banks of the Roodeplaat Dam, with an Easter Buffet Lunch and Entertainment for the whole family. On Sunday, 31st March, there’ll be an Easter Bunny, an Easter egg hunt, egg painting and a jumping castle. The adults can enjoy great food in a relaxed environment with live entertainment from Luan de Beer. Adults R285, children 10 years and under R95. Tel 012-808-9943/4/5.
Chocolate and trains
Cedar Junction, Pretoria
Cedar Junction Theme Park and Country Fair is a haven for kids with trains, peddle boats, swimming pool with slide, jungle gym, pony cycles, jumping castles, mini bike tracks, mountain biking, trampoline and more. Join them on Monday, 1st April for some Easter fun, including an Easter treasure hunt, face painting, balloon sculpting and Gerard the Clown with his Magic Show. The Easter Bunny will be there too. Picnic baskets to be pre-ordered four days in advance. R20 for adults and R20 for children (excludes train, bike hire and paddleboat fees). Tel 012-811-1183.
