The Festive Season is here, and while most people look forward to a well-deserved holiday and going away, here are also places you can take your children to.
Here are a couple of tips to keep the youngsters occupied and out of mischief:
¦ Visit the Drakenstein Lion Park and Chimp Haven. Come and see captive-born predators that have been saved from very cruel circumstances bask and feed in the Boland sun. The Chimp Haven houses animals needing to be rehoused after the Tygerberg Zoo closed down. These include chimpanzees and tigers.
The Lion Sanctuary is open daily from 09:30 to 17:00 and the Chimp Haven from 09:30 to 16:30. Lion feeding times are on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 16:00.
Admission is R70 for adults and R40 for children per facility; you can purchase a combo ticket and visit both facilities for R100 per adult and R 60 per child.
¦ Butterfly World in Klapmuts is a wonderland swarming with exotic butterflies, energetic monkeys, small deer and iguanas in a tropical jungle.
Butterfly World is open seven days a week from 09:00 until 17:00. There is a restaurant with a scrumptious menu and interesting gift shop as well.
Entrance fee is R88 per adult, R49 for children under 18 (children under 3 enter for free).
¦ Go and see the crocodiles at Le Bonheur farm, just outside Paarl on the Simondium Road.
Le Bonheur is home to about 1 000 crocodiles. Interactive tours are offered every 45 minutes during which you can also get the opportunity to hold a baby croc.
The farm is open seven days a week from 09:00 until 17:00. Entrance is R60 for adults and R35 for children under 18. The fully licensed restaurant offers an interesting menu, including some crocodile delicacies.
You can also picnic on the lawns while doing some bass fishing.
¦ The Giraffe House Wildlife Awareness Centre on the Old Paarl road, provides easy access to some wonderful wildlife and bird species. Focusing on African wildlife, Giraffe House aims to provide a place for people to enjoy a family picnic complemented by some fresh air, while experiencing and learning about animals and conservation.
Daily animal encounters are very popular and are held at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00.
Entrance fees are R50 for adults, R30 for children (3 to 15) and pensioners, R35.
¦ Picnic or braai in one of the designated areas on Paarl Mountain, such as the flower garden or Christmas Camp.
