There are loads of activities lined up to keep children entertained these Easter holidays; try the theatre, the Rand Show or the zoo for starters.

Children will be able to get up close with animals at the zoo

IT'S school holidays and many parents are dreading a cry of boredom from their kids; well, stress no more, there is plenty of adventure on the cards for kids this holiday season.

The Johannesburg Zoo has plenty of entertainment lined up to keep children busy.

Animaniacs is designed for all animal "maniacs". Kids can join the zoo crew for the programme, which the zoo promises will be filled with "fabulous festive fun".

There are two programmes, one for three- to six-year-olds, running on 10 and 24 April from 10am until 12pm; prices are R55 per child and R36 for adults. Those two days will include a ferry ride, an animal demonstration and story-time. Refreshments will be provided and parents are asked to accompany their children.

The second programme is for seven- to 13-year-olds. It runs from 7 to 11 April, and from 21 to 25 April from 9am until 1pm. Children pay R55. Dress up in old clothes and good walking shoes, and bring a hat and lunch.

Myth Busters Tour
On 9 and 24 April, there is the zoo's Myth Buster Tour. Visit nocturnal animals and listen to stories around the bonfire. Prices are R70 a person and the tour starts at 5.15pm.

Booking is essential for all programmes.

The zoo is also staging the final round of the Gauteng Orienteering Sprint Series on Sunday, 30 March. Orienteering is a running sport that involves navigation with a map or compass. Competitors have to determine the fastest route around a number of control points through quick decision-making and correct route choices.

Athletes compete over short sprint courses of three kilometres; there are separate courses for men and women.

The Joburg zoo is an ideal place for sprint orienteering, as it has a safe, intricate and interesting environment for courses set among the animal enclosures, says Sandra Hlungwani, the reserve's public relations and marketing officer.

Starting next to the zoo's main entrance on Upper Park Drive, Parkview at 8am, registration opens at 7.35am. For more information visit RAC Orienteers website or call David Pilling on 072 236 6561.

Parking is available at the zoo car park for R10 a car. Entrance to the zoo is R21; entrance is free for season ticket holders and toddlers under three years old. Refreshments will be sold.

Gold Reef City has a number of programmes lined up to celebrate its 21st birthday (Photo by Walter Knirr)

For more information telephone the zoo's education centre on 011 646 2000 extension 216 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit the Johannesburg Zoo website.

Gold Reef City
Gold Reef City has a number of programmes lined up to celebrate its 21st birthday, with 21 days of celebrations taking place at the Theme Park.

There will be street parades, music, giveaways, Lipizzaner shows and much more. The party started on 21 March.

For more information or a complete schedule of activities, visit the Gold Reef City website or telephone its call centre on 011 248 5000.

Big Green Maze
Across town, in Fourways, the eBucks Big Green Maze has been designed by the well-known horticulturalist, Keith Kirsten. The maze is the first of its kind in the country and has been constructed out of nearly 2 500 indigenous plants.

Visitors can navigate through its many passages and learn more about the flora used to build "this impressive maze", or they can "simply come and marvel at the spectacular design of this eco-friendly wonder", reads a press release.

After the event, the trees and shrubs used to build the maze will be planted in an underprivileged community.

The eBucks Big Green Maze is located on the corner of Montecasino Boulevard and Witkoppen Road in Fourways, and will be there from 21 to 30 March; it opens from 10am to 6pm daily and entrance is free. For more information visit the eBucks website.

Region G
Region G's sports and recreation department is hosting nature walks at Melville Koppies East from 7 to 11 April. Children pay R20 and accompanying adults enter for free. Walks start at 9am and end about 11am.

Booking is essential, so phone Wendy Carstens on 011 482 4797. The region is in Joburg's extreme south, and comprises the suburbs of Greater Ennerdale, Lenasia, Eldorado Park, the Protea areas, Orange Farm and Weilers Farm.

City libraries
City libraries also have entertaining programmes lined up for kids. On Thursday, 27 March, the Michaelis Art Library hosts a Children's painting workshop, from 10am until 12pm.

On Tuesday, 1 April Blackheath Library hosts a Make an Easter bunny with sweets programme, from 10am until 11am. The following Tuesday, 8 April, it has a programme on making a bookmark, again starting at 10am and ending at 11am.

And on Friday, 18 April, the Roodepoort Library stages a treasure hunt for kids, from 10am until 12pm.

The Rand Show
There is also the annual Rand Show, which turns 113 this year. Entertainment is laid on for the whole family, with animal shows, comedy, Disney, exhibitions, fashion, music, theatre, shop-til-you-drop more.

Cape minstrels add colour to this year's Rand Show

The Disney zone features interactive arenas catering for toddlers through to teens, and comprises entertainment such as the Mickey Mouse Club House inflatable; Winnie the Pooh's 100 Acre Wood bouncing castle; JoJo's Circus inflatable; Little Einstein's rocket ship; Disney Princesses dress-up parlour; Jungle Book jungle gym; High School Musical; Hannah Montana dress-up and a Pirates of the Caribbean life-sized pirate ship - and more besides.

Character parades are also back, with clowns, carnival performers, Cape Minstrels and a Scottish pipe band. There is also a flea market.

The Rand Show is being held at Nasrec, from Friday, 21 March to 6 April. Gates are open from 10am to 8pm daily. Tickets are R55 each for adults and R25 for children under the age of 12. Entrance is free for people over the age of 60, if they have a valid identity document, and for children under the age of two. Parking is R15 a car.

For more information, visit the Rand Show website or telephone 011 894 2767 or 084 426 0410.

Old Mutual Theatre on the Square
The Old Mutual Theatre on the Square, in Sandton, has two-week theatre workshops lined up to delight kids from 25 March to 4 April.

They are hosted by Daphne Kuhn, the theatre's owner.

"The theatre ... encourages students to audition for film and TV programmes. Agents will be called to attend this production," reads a press statement.

Classes take place each morning from 9am until 12pm. They focus on the intricacies of theatre, including acting, improvisation and movement.

"A fun-filled and safe environment will be provided for the encouragement of self-confidence, group interaction and the development of communication skills, self expression, articulation and creativity. Improvised and prescriptive scripts, theatre games, monologues and dialogues will all be part of the fun in the nurturing of young talent."

The workshops cost R1 200. For further information call the theatre on 011 883 8606.

National Children's Theatre
Theatre workshops are also being held at the National Children's Theatre (NCT), directed by the multi-award winning Joyce Levinsohn.

"These workshops have produced many well-known stars both in South Africa and overseas. [The theatre's] highly experienced, dedicated and specialist teachers [or] actors facilitate these exciting workshops," says Sydwell Koopedi, its media liaison officer.

The NCT holds challenging, innovative and stimulating theatre workshop classes on a weekly, year-round basis for children aged seven to 17, irrespective of cognitive, physical and financial circumstances, gender or race, Koopedi explains.

He notes that the workshops give children the opportunity to develop their communication skills, unleash their imagination and create a new world of self-confidence and expression. The syllabus includes drama, improvisation, script reading, singing, musical appreciation, mime, physical theatre and public speaking.

Modern, hip-hop and African dance, and a TV presentation course, are offered on request.

The Saturday morning theatre workshops are presented at the National Children's Theatre, 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown, Johannesburg. They run every Saturday, from 3 May to 14 June from 9.30am to noon, and cost R60 per child per session.

For more details, contact Sue on 011 484 1584, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit the National Children's Theatre website.

"Theatre is thrills, lights, laughter and tremendous fun. It's imagination and excitement," Koopedi adds.

The theatre is also bringing to the stage the magical world of Peter Rabbit and Friends, which opened on 3 March. The show ends on 26 April. Performances during school holidays are on Mondays to Saturdays at 10.30am and 2.30pm.

Tickets are R55 for children and R65 for adults. Block bookings and specials are available for schools, groups and birthday parties. Booking is essential through Computicket on 083 915 8000 or the theatre on 011 484 1584.

For more information, visit the National Children's Theatre website or email Sydwell Koopedi on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The theatre also caters for children's birthday parties, which can be arranged directly with the theatre management on 011 484 1584; they cost R45 per person, with a minimum of 20 guests.

People's Theatre
Join Dorothy, the witches and Munchkins, Scarecrow, the Tin man and the Cowardly Lion on an enchanting journey to the magical Land of Oz.

The theatre adaptation is based on the classic tale by Frank Baum, published in 1900. The Wizard Of Oz tells the story of a lonely farm girl, Dorothy, who, yearning for a better life, gets caught in a tornado and ends up in a mysterious, imaginative land.

The show runs at the People's Theatre, inside the Johannesburg Civic Theatre complex, until 19 April. Performances during school holidays are at 10.30am and 2.30pm from Monday to Saturday.

Tickets are R75 for non-members and R50 for Kids Club members, with accompanying audience members paying R65. Booking is essential through Computicket or the theatre on 011 403 1563.

For more information on the show visit the People's Theatre website, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact Jill Girard or Keith Smith on 011 403 1563 or fax 011 339 1091.

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