I can still remember what it felt like: I would wake up and could barely contain my excitement, as my little eyes went crazy looking all over for signs of crinkly, brightly coloured wrappers and bunny-shaped treats! There’s nothing quite like the joy of stumbling across an Easter egg almost as big as you are, and then sitting around with your family comparing loot and guzzling goodies with a big smile on your face and telltale signs of chocolate smudged all around your mouth! Here are some of the top spots in SA to go egg hunting this Easter, which make me wish I was a kid again!
The One&Only
Cape Town
Enjoy a delightful menu suitable for even the most discerning of bunnies at the One&Only in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Indulge in the Easter Bunny Afternoon Tea Buffet which takes place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 April at Vista for R145 a person, and has a variety of bunny and Easter egg themed savoury and sweet treats on offer! On Easter Sunday kids are invited to partake in their own kiddies buffet (R75 a child) with a selection of delicious pastries and goodies available, including the scrumptious bunny patch cake. It will be an Easter they won’t forget with egg hunting, egg painting, Easter sand-art, and other themed activities and games.
Tel 021-431-5800/5888, email: [email protected]
Delvera: the outdoor village in the vineyards
Stellenbosch
The annual Easter egg hunt at Delvera in Stellenbosch is a much-anticipated event for the young and the young at heart! Spend quality family time together and enjoy the beautiful surroundings as you rustle up those eggs and ditch the diet! The magnificent agri-village has much to offer, with shops, restaurants and kids’ activities to keep you and your little ones entertained. The Easter egg hunt will be taking place on Saturday 7 and Monday 9 April from 9am.
Tel 021-884-4352, email [email protected], www.delvera.co.za
Lindt Chocolate Studio
Cape Town and Johannesburg
The Lindt Chocolate Studio in Cape Town and Johannesburg are both offering a special Easter egg decorating course for kids! Suitable for 10 – 16 year olds, it’s an hour-long session that costs R150 a child. The kids will each receive their own ready-moulded egg to decorate however they choose, with special paints provided by Lindt. Their eggs will then be packaged and they can take them home to enjoy on Easter!
Johannesburg: tel 021-831-0380. email [email protected].
Cape Town: tel 021-831-0360, email [email protected], www.chocolatestudio.co.za
Africa’s largest Easter egg hunt
Durban
Visit uShaka Marine World in Durban to take part in Africa’s biggest Easter egg hunt! The eggs are hidden all over the phantom shipwreck aquarium, which is the fifth largest aquarium in the world with plenty of places to hide tasty treats. Explore the underground viewing galleries which extend through four old ship wrecks, and then enjoy a special Easter dolphin show with guest appearances by uShaka Marine World’s 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. Tickets are available at Computicket and cost R70 for adults and R100 for children, booking is essential.
Tel 031-328-8000, www.ushakamarineworld.co.za
Easter Celebrations at Laborie Wine Farm
Paarl
Located right in the heart of Paarl, and surrounded by spectacular mountains, Laborie Wine Farm is seen as one of the precious jewels in the Cape Winelands. Over Easter there will be fun for the entire family on offer, with live entertainment for the adults, and plenty of room on the sprawling lawns for the kids to play on. The Easter Bunny will make a special appearance, and there will be face painting, jumping castles, a clown show, trampolines, balloon moulding and an Easter egg hunt where children hunt for golden coins which they can then exchange for a delicious hamper of chocolate eggs. Tickets are available at www.webtickets.co.za, it’s R60 for children and R100 for adults.
Tel 021-807-3390, email [email protected], www.laboriewines.co.za
The Sedgefield Slow Festival: the Easter bunny beach fling
Garden Route
The Sedgefield Slow Festival on the Garden Route is all about good old fashioned fun for the whole family! It celebrates what’s important in life- family, friends, fun, nature and delicious food. This year the Easter Bunny is travelling in style, using a winged delivery mode to drop 1500 chocolate eggs onto the beach! The Easter egg hunt is open to children ten years or younger. Children can watch a spectacular airshow performed by motorised paragliders and microlights that then deliver their eggs. There is also a wonderful Easter parade, and many other exciting activities and events, a lot of which raise money for deserving charities.
Tel 082-213-5931, email [email protected], www.slowfestival.co.za
Noordhoek Farm Village
Cape Peninsula
The Noordhoek Farm Village on the Cape Peninsula is having its annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday 7 April at 10h30. The Easter Bunny will be hiding lots of delicious treats all over the village for lucky children to find, and there are plenty of beautiful shops and restaurants to keep adults entertained. There will also be face painting, photos and awesome bunny-shaped balloons. Read about all the ‘eggciting’ events in this special letter from the Easter Bunny himself.
Tel 021-789-2812, email [email protected], blog.noordhoekvillage.co.za
Nelson Mandela Bay Big Splash
Port Elizabeth
This year Port Elizabeth will be hosting their biggest Splash yet! With fun activities for the whole family, music, water sports, children’s activities, theatre, delicious food and crafts, there is something for everyone at this awesome four-day festival. This year will feature the World Cup Surfski, the World Inflatable Boat Championships, a volleyball tournament and the Nelson Mandela Bay Buoy Challenge open-water swim. There will also be a fireworks display, multiple concerts showcasing a variety of musical styles and, of course, the annual Easter egg hunt.
Tel 041-393-4800, iportelizabeth.com
Mount Nelson
Cape Town
Enjoy a divine al fresco brunch at Oasis Restaurant, or indulge in a delicious afternoon tea. Children can enjoy their own special chocolate bunny buffet served in the garden, and parents can relax as professional child minders watch their little ones. The annual Easter egg hunt takes place at 03h00 in Nellie’s gorgeous gardens, followed by a spectacular show by the South African National Circus! Sunday brunch is R225 for adults and R105 for children under 12 years. Afternoon tea is R165 for adults and R105 for children under 12 years.
Tel 021-483-1948, email [email protected], www.mountnelson.co.za
The Rand Show
Johannesburg
Meet reptiles and raptors in the African Kingdom display and Flying Bird Show, learn from skilled chefs at the SA Chef’s Theatre, let the little ones loose in the farmyard and on the monorail, enjoy the funfair, the Kid’s Theatre, shopping, life-style related exhibits and spectacular daily Easter parades! Tickets are available at Computicket – it’s R80 for adults, R65 for pensioners, R20 for teenagers and free for children under six.
Tel 011-494-2894 / 011-494-3280 email [email protected], www.randshow.co.za
Splashy Fen
Drakensberg
With a fantastic line-up and fun activities for the whole family, Splashy Fen in the Drakensberg is a great place to be this Easter! While parents can enjoy top performances by well-known SA artists, they can rest assured that their little ones are in safe hands, enjoying the festive Easter program provided for kids, run by professional child minders. There are a wide array of outdoor activities suitable for the whole family, as well as delicious food and drink outlets and arts and crafts, all set against the spectacular backdrop of the Drakensberg Mountains. The cost is R500 for adults, R125 for children (4 – 11) and free for children under four.
Tel 031-563-0824 email [email protected], www.splashyfen.co.za
Images by aussiegall, erix, and Swiss County Tourism.
