The Rainbow Nation South Africa is rich in Multicultural diversity. With the wonderful landscape and nature surrounding it is a must-place to visit. With great mountain ranges, wildlife flora and fauna, art and culture, shopping malls and themed park no one can be bored here. The exotic cities of South Africa are rich in tradition and culture. Not only adults but this place are a favourite for kids too. Here you will find the top 9 Johannesburg Entertainment Places for Kids.
Best 9 Johannesburg Entertainment Places for Kids
1. Johannesburg Zoo
- Address: Jan Smuts Ave, SaxonwoldJohannesburg South Africa2193
- Phone: +27 11 646 2000
- Website: http://www.jhbzoo.org.za
- Open Timings: 08:30-17:30.
- Price: Admission R58, children and pensioners R36.
Spread on 81 hectares this Johannesburg entertainment places for kids with plenty of pretty picnic spots and an impressive collection of creatures it is the most loved place for kids to visit. There are zoo tours and regular events such as nocturnal visits. If the distance is an issue for little ones, take a buggy to see the highlights that include polar bears, flamingoes, elephants, the reptile house, a lion enclosure, ‘crocodile country’ and a farmyard.
2. Gold Reef City Amusement Park
- Address: Cnr Northern Parkway and Data Crescent, Ormonde Johannesburg South Africa Phone: +27 11 248 6800
- Website: http://www.goldreefcity.co.za
- Opening Timings: 09:30-17:00 in school holidays (March 29-April 6; June 28-July 21; and October 4-12; and in December-January 10). Out of season Wed to Sun 09:30-17:00.
- Price: Admission R165. Group discounts are available.
Gold Reef City Johannesburg entertainment places for kids has the best amusement and theme park with rides and attractions for all ages. Extreme rides like the Anaconda, Jozi Express and Tower of Terror for brave kids. For the gentle ones, there’s the option of a gentle train ride around the park. Harking back to the city’s early history, you can also take a trip underground to visit a disused mine shaft within the theme park, try gold panning and take a tour of a recreated mining village. There is a restaurant to sit in and have yummy ice creams and other stuff to eat.
3. Sci-Bono Discovery Centre
- Address: Cnr Miriam Makeba St and President Sts, Newtown Johannesburg South Africa Phone: +27 11 639 8400
- Website: http://www.sci-bono.co.za
- Open Timings: 09:00-17:00, Sat, Sun 09:30-16:30.
- Price: Admission R20, kids R10.
The best place to organize kids’ parties and events. In this Johannesburg entertainment places for kids, learn some scientific things at the science museum, where the exhibits engage and entertain growing minds and there’s something for all ages. Regular themed exhibitions and talks are part of the programme. Enjoy the restaurant with some treats and good food.
4. Ride in City Sightseeing Bus
- Website: http://www.citysightseeing.co.za/joburg
- Phone: 0861 733 287
Open Timings: First bus leaves Park Station at 09:00, last bus at 15:40. Buses ply Mon-Fri every 40 mins, Sat-Sun every 30 mins. A non-stop tour on the red bus lasts approximately 2 hours. No tours between 22.12 and 07.01.
Price: 1-day ticket R170 (R130 online price), children 5-15, R80. 2-day ticket R270 (R230 online price), children 5-15, R170. Combined Red City Tour and Soweto Tour 1-day ticket R420 (R350 online), 2-day ticket R520 (R450 online price). Children under 5 ride for free.
Go out sightseeing and beautiful places in and around the city on a red bus. This open-top, hop-on hop-off red bus has an insightful audio guide to accompany the two-hour journey for zooming around many of the city’s biggest sights in one day.
The Red City Tour takes a circular route around downtown Johannesburg and the south of the city with 11 stops including the Apartheid Museum, Carlton Centre, Constitution Hill and the Origins Centre. Helpful information and self-guided walking tour maps are available to help you make the most of your time at the different stops.
From the Gold Reef City stop there’s an option to take a two-hour tour of Soweto on the Soweto Red Bus, a mini-bus that makes a whistle-stop tour of this most famous township stopping by various key sites such as Vilakazi Street. The Soweto Red Bus leaves every hour from 10:00.
From the Carlton, Centre stop there is also a Maboneng shuttle which links you to a 1.5-hour walking tour of the fashionable inner-city district which is full of interesting shops, galleries, cafes and street art. The Maboneng shuttle and walking tour are available Thu-Sat at 10:00 and 12:00 and on Sun every 30mins between 10:00 and 13:30.
5. Zoo Lake
- Address: Prince of Wales Dr, Parkwood Johannesburg South Africa2132
- Phone: +27 11 646 1131
- Open Timings 10:00–21:00.
Another Johannesburg entertainment places for kids is the beautiful lake with so much of greenery around where you can feed the ducks, set up a picnic, or eat at the child-friendly African theme restaurant Moyo. This place is loved by all not only kids. You can hire a rowing boat and visit the fountain and protected bird island. There are two large jungle gyms and play areas for smaller and older kids. Ice cream sellers roam the place and vendors sell kids’ toys and novelties. On holidays and summer weekends, families and large groups visit this place and there is a bit of a crowd too. You can even sit at a restaurant and have meals and your favourite ice creams and cold drinks or listen to some loud music.
6. The Pappachino
- Address: Cnr Cullinan Close and Rivonia Rd, Morningside Johannesburg South Africa
- Phone: +27 11 783 1090
- Website: http://www.papachinos.co.za
- Open Timings: 08:30-21:00, Sun 08:30-16:30.
Good place for a family gets together with kids. Here kids get to make their own pizzas, select from their own menus and scream around the fun activity area, while adults are happy in their seats. A wide and varied menu with meat dishes, pasta, wraps and salads along with the aforementioned DIY pizza, plus a cocktail section. Kids just love to be creative here.
7. Montecasino Bird Gardens
- Address: Montecasino Blvd, cnr William Nicol Dr and Witkoppen Rd, Fourways Johannesburg South Africa, Sandton
- Phone: +27 11 511 1864
- Website: http://www.montecasino.co.za
- Open Timings: 08:30-17:00 Sat 08:30-18:00. Closed on Christmas Day.
Price: Admission adults and children over 10, R53, Pensioners and children under 10, R30
Kids as well as adults will just love to watch the birds with so much variety and colour. With hundreds of fascinating bird species, from domestic to exotic, birds of prey plus a huge pelican and a sloth who gives slothfulness a good name this is a super attraction. If possible, visit in time for the extraordinary Flight of Fantasy bird shows, on weekends and public holidays at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00. There is a restaurant to sit in and have group fun enjoying the eateries as well there is the casino to play games.
8. National Children’s Theatre
- Address: 3 Junction Ave, Parktown Johannesburg South Africa
- Phone: +27 11 484 1584
- Website: http://www.nationalchildrenstheatre.org.za
- Price: Tickets from R90 (for cushions, best for children who enjoy sitting upfront and being able to interact with the story), chairs R110. Children under 1 year free.
Great way to see kids performing at the theatre in groups and presenting a regular programme of classic productions as well as taking part in theatre workshops. The productions are of good quality and the theatre space is cleverly designed to let the smallest kids get a perfect view of the action on stage.
9. Munch at the Garden Shop
- Garden Shop, cnr Main Rd and Halifax Rd, Bryanston Johannesburg South Africa
- Phone: +27 11 463 7056
- Website: http://www.munchcafe.co.za
- Open Timings 08:00–17:00.
Perfect for brunch or tea in a picturesque green setting, the kids will love feeding the bunnies, and ogling the reptiles, snakes, spiders and fish in the shop at this garden centre. Plus there’s plenty of space to run around safely.
There is another place popular to visit i.e Lion Park where you can feed the lion cubs with your own hands. But since it is believed that these innocent cats are tamed here in cages for canned hunting, it is not advisable to visit there which serves not a good cause.
Any other places loved by kids! Do share.
