Kids shouldn’t be at a loss this holiday

SUZANNE BELLING

PHOTOGRAPH SUPPLIED

Pictured : Some of the girls’ division of Gan Yisrael last summer.        

For Johannesburgers, the first thing that comes to mind is Camp Gan Yisrael which has become a household name throughout the Johannesburg Jewish community, and each year its attendance increases steadily.

This December over 650 have registered for the camp. “Many age groups fill up very fast and I have parents calling at all hours begging for a place for their child,” says Rabbi Pini Pink, who co-directs the camp together with his wife Rochie.

The children have a fun, action-packed and educational schedule, filled with Jewish-themed activities and games.

Head staff hailing from as far away as California, Montreal and Australia will lead a team of energetic leaders in giving the kids a memorable experience. The day camp caters for children from the age of three till the end of grade 6. From grade 6 till the end of high school, Gan Yisrael has an overnight camp, based at its campsite in KwaZulu-Natal.

For more info about the camp you can go to www.cgijoburg.co.za

Shopping centres are providing a variety of entertainment and activities.

Sandton City has a Lego pit, with 80 000 Lego bricks to keep kids entertained for hours, as well as four performances a day of the popular Paw Patrol series.

Balfour Park offers painting, rides, gaming and arts and crafts. Norwood Mall has many Chanukah-related activities until December 14.

Cavendish Square in Claremont, Cape Town, invites the young to decorate their own gingerbread man from 11:00 to 15:00 between December 14 and 23.

Each of the major cities has a lot to offer during the school holidays.

Among the Johannesburg suggestions:

• Yeesh Fun for Kids, Woodmead, with supervised play facilities and a coffee bar for adults – winner of the 2010 Leisure Options Best Indoor Party award;
• Red Bus City Tour, a hop on, hop off excursion to interesting spots in Johannesburg, with holiday specials for children;
• Cradle of Humankind, about an hour’s drive out of town, with an interactive and informative learner centre – this is where homo Naledi was discovered recently;
• Planetarium, showing the stars, with experts on-site to answer questions;
• The Sci Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown;
• Gold Reef City, with its exciting rides and exhibits;
• Johannesburg Zoo and Zoo Lake;
• Wild animal feeding zoo at Midrand.

  In Cape Town there is no end to amusement facilities:

• Picnic in the Company Gardens, ball games or feeding the squirrels;
• Cool-Runnings, Durbanville, for a thrilling but safe bobsled ride on a steel track;
• V & A Waterfront has special children’s holiday programmes, apart from its many regular attractions, including the aquarium.
• Mouille Point mini train, plus the adjoining park and promenade, ideal for walks and picnics;
• Museums, particularly the SA Museum and the SA National Gallery, both in the Company Gardens;
• Ode Molen Eco Village, Pinelands, with a jungle gym and slides, as well as pony rides, plus facilities for adults to eat and relax;
• Bugz Family Playpark, Kraaifontein, with both outdoor and indoor play area, with pedal cars, a train, horse rides and magic shows;
•  Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

  Durban attractions include:

• Day trip to Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve, on a 30-minute guided hike to see the many birds and mammals;
• Children’s play area at Moses Mabhida Stadium, with lawns and room for cycling and skate boarding;
• Fun World, with dodgem cars and aerial cableway over the city;
• uShaka Marine World and Sea World Aquarium and Theme Park;
• Virginia nature reserve in Durban North;
• PheZulu Safari Park with its crocodile and snake park;
• Groovy Balls Adventure Park with its rides and rolling in giant balls;
• Durban Botanical Gardens, with its “living fossil” cycads.

  Pretoria has its own set of attractions:

• Ludwig’s Rose Farm, a few kilometres north of Pretoria, with thousands of roses and tractor rides on weekends;
• Friends of the Rail, with rides on a working train;
• African Window Museum (formerly the National Cultural History Museum);
• Grove Mall Ice Rink;
• The Pretoria Zoo;
• Fountains, the picturesque picnic spot;
• Go Kart Fun and Menlyn Park.

Of course, if there is spare cash, there are some good holiday movies and some theatrical productions, including Janice Honeyman’s pantomime “Sleeping Beauty” at the Mandela Theatre.