Kommetjie with Children

Boulders Beach penguins — Simon's Town

Boulders Beach is home to a colony of over 3,000 African penguins — the only penguin species on the continent. Boardwalks wind through the colony, and at Foulden's Beach you can even swim among the penguins. An unforgettable experience for kids.

💡 Come in the morning (before 10am) or late afternoon (after 3pm) — penguins are most active then and the crowds are smaller.

Imhoff Farm — Kommetjie

Imhoff Farm is a family favorite right on the doorstep: a petting zoo with farm animals, camel rides, the Snake Park, and a playground — plus Blue Water Café for the parents. A perfect half‑day outing for families with little ones.

Cape Point — Baboons, ostriches & wildlife

Cape Point is a wild playground: Chacma baboons, ostriches, Cape mountain zebra, bontebok antelope, and more than 250 bird species. The Flying Dutchman funicular to the lighthouse thrills kids just as much as the dramatic cliffs and the view from the tip of Africa.

💡 Caution: Baboons can be aggressive if they smell food. Keep car windows closed and don’t display any food.

World of Birds — Hout Bay

World of Birds in Hout Bay is Africa’s largest bird park with over 3,000 birds across 400 species. Walk‑through aviaries get you up close — and the Monkey Jungle (with squirrel monkeys) is a kid favorite.

Hout Bay Seal Island Cruise

A short boat ride from Hout Bay Harbour to Duiker Island, where thousands of fur seals laze on the rocks. The 20‑minute cruise also takes in The Sentinel and the cliffs of Chapman’s Peak. Kids love the seals.

Eco Pre-Primary — Preschool in Kommetjie

A special tip for families spending several weeks in Kommetjie: Eco Pre‑Primary is a caring preschool in the heart of Kommetjie that also welcomes children from visiting families — even for just a few weeks. Kids play in a natural setting with indigenous plants while parents work, surf, or explore the region. A genuine unique selling point for Villa Austral.

💡 Enquire early — places are limited. Teachers speak English and Afrikaans. Children usually settle in quickly.

Kommetjie Tidal Pool

The tidal pool next to Kommetjie Lighthouse is perfect for kids: a naturally sheltered seawater basin with calm water, rocks to scramble over, and tiny marine creatures to discover in the rock pools. Free and accessible year‑round.

Muizenberg Beach — Surf lessons for kids

Muizenberg is the best place in Cape Town to learn to surf: shallow water, gentle waves, a sandy bottom, and plenty of surf schools offering kids’ lessons. The colorful beach huts are a photo favorite, and the beach is protected by shark nets and Shark Spotters.

💡 Gary's Surf School and Surf Emporium offer 90‑min kids’ lessons from R500. Board and wetsuit included.

Long Beach — Kite flying & sandcastles

8 kilometers of almost empty beach right on your doorstep — perfect for sandcastles, kite flying, and beach runs. Long Beach is so vast it never feels crowded. The firm sand at the water’s edge is ideal for little feet.

Two Oceans Aquarium — V&A Waterfront

The Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront showcases the marine life of both oceans (Atlantic and Indian) that meet at the Cape. Touch pools, a shark exhibit, penguin feeds, and the I&J Ocean Exhibit are kid highlights. The underwater tunnel lets rays and sharks glide overhead.

Iziko Planetarium & Science Centre

The Iziko Planetarium in the Company’s Garden projects the southern‑hemisphere night sky with a state‑of‑the‑art digital system. Weekend kids’ shows explain constellations and planets playfully. Next door, the South African Museum features dinosaur skeletons.

Cape Town Science Centre — Observatory

The Cape Town Science Centre offers 250+ interactive exhibits: physics, chemistry, biology, and technology you can touch and test. Regular science shows and workshops turn learning into adventure.