IT'S easy to think there's nothing for kids to do in Johannesburg, but the city has a range of fun, interesting and instructive activities for them to get hooked on. Here are some suggestions to get you going.

The Zoo

A favourite place for children is the Joburg Zoo in Parkview, an animal paradise with lions and elephants, monkeys and gorillas, seals and polar bears. The farmyard section, designed for under-sixes, also has cuddly animals which can be picked and patted. Kids can also ride on the tractor ferry, do an organised trot around the zoo, or catch a moonlight tour . There's also a programme of educational events and a safe environment with green lawns and picnicking areas ensures plenty of space for running around. The zoo is open from 8.30am to 5.30pm, seven days a week and secure parking is available at the entrance on Upper Park Drive in Saxonwold.

Duck feeding

Ducks and geese are just waiting for small people to feed them at Zoo Lake, Emmarentia Dam and Gillooly's Farm. Adult supervision is essential to stop them falling in the water. All three venues also provide plenty of lawn space for children to play, fly kites or roller blade, and for parents to picnic. Parking for Zoo Lake is from Westwold Way, and parking for Emmarentia Dam is just over the bridge off Olifants Road. Gillooly's Farm is in Boeing Road, Morninghill (take the Linksfield off ramp from the N3). Other green spaces in the city include Wemmer Pan, Thokoza Park (Ntuli Street, Moroka), and the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden (Malcolm Road, Poortview, Roodepoort).
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Exotic birds

Get really close to some exotic birds at the Montecasino Bird Gardens in Fourways, where the kids can walk along elevated wooden walkways inside a large aviary. There are over 100 exotic species of birds, including spectacular Scarlet Ibises. Bird shows twice a day feature owls, cranes, pelicans and vultures and children can feed the interesting collection of small animals, including iguanas, marmasets, tamarins, snakes and colourful frogs. The gardens, accessible from William Nicol Drive in Fourways, are open Tuesdays to Sundays, 8am to 5pm. Phone 011&nbsp511-1864.

Animals galore

If your kids are into stroking and loving small animals, the city won't let them down:

• There are plenty of animals - monkeys, sheep, goats, ducks, rabbits, birds - and horse rides at the Lifestyle Family Garden Centre at the corner of Beyers Naude and Ysterhout Drive, Randpark Ridge. The centre is open from 8am to 5pm, seven days a week. Phone 011&nbsp792-5616.

• A fun place is Drake's Party Farmyard, where they can pat cows, bunnies and sheep, and have rides on ponies while parents enjoy tea under thatched lapas. There's supervised play for parties, which have to be booked in advance. Drake's is at 30 Beacon Avenue (entrance in Reid Road), Linbro Park. Open days are Mondays and Wednesdays when you'll pay R15 per head and get free tea and coffee. Other days are reserved for birthday parties. Phone 011 608 2703.

• Although you can't touch the animals, there are plenty of them at the Animal and Reptile Park Zoo in Muldersdrift where you book tours to see monkeys, lions, pumas, wolves, jackals, warthogs and many others. Once you've had your fill, relax in a tea garden next door. It's open seven days a week, 10am to 5pm and children under 2 years get in free. Phone Stella on 082&nbsp646&nbsp8792 to make a booking. The address is Plot 70, Nooitgedacht Road, Muldersdrift. Look out for the Mabulani Party Farm signboards. Check the website.

Exciting rides

Any kid who's anybody in Johannesburg would recommend the Gold Reef City theme park with its great, often scary rides - all 31 of them. Try out the anaconda, earthquake tunnel, miner's revenge, the tower of terror and the river rapids, for starters. There's also a funfair for under 10s with gentle rides on horses, shells, small wheel and Flintstones cars. Children over 6 can do an underground tour down a mine. Gold Reef City, 6km south of the city in Ormonde off the M1 South freeway, is open from 9.30am to 5pm every day. Kids under 1,2m get in free.

For rainy days, try some arts and crafts fun. At the Colour Café in Hyde Square in Hyde Park, 011&nbsp341-0734, kids can paint fairies, money boxes, mugs and vases. Tea and coffee is available, plus cakes and muffins. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they're open from 10am to 10pm, on other days from 10am to 5pm. Or check out what fun the Paintbox at 44 Stanley Road, Milpark, 011&nbsp482-2795, offers: fabric painting, decoupage and ceramic painting, from Tuesdays to Saturdays. There's a kiddies hour from 3-4pm on Fridays, when everything is half-price.

Take them to a fantasy world of fairies, gnomes and unicorns at Unicorn Wish in Sun Valley. There's a fairy garden, a restaurant, and a shop for littlies to spend their pocket money wisely, and one for adults. Pony rides, candle making, fabric and bisque painting will keep them busy, or they can enjoy the llamas, camels, and an owl. Parties for 2- to 14-year-olds can be booked. It's open 8am to 5pm weekends, and 10am to 5pm weekdays but closed on Wednesdays. It's in Partridge Road but phone for directions: 011 464-2424 or 084 546 4701.

Adventure zone

If your kids can't contain their energy, take them to the Adventure Zone at the Norwood Shopping Centre, corner 6th and Grant Avenues. Phone 011&nbsp483-3833. There's stacks of stuff to keep them busy: from jumping castles, jungle gyms, trampolines, soccer fields to lego and chicco toys. It's open 10am to 5.30pm seven days a week, and admits kids from 3 to 10 years.

Ice skating

Try something more skilful at the Northgate Ice Arena in the Northgate Shopping Centre, entrance 6, Olievenhout and Northumberland avenues, Northriding. Phone 011&nbsp794-8706. It's open seven days a week, 10am to 5pm, and 7.30pm to 10.30pm. If they can't skate, the arena runs a skating academy with 8-week courses held on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. Phone Colleen or Mike on 011&nbsp463-4239.

Theatre freaks

Let them learn theatre skills at the Johannesburg Youth Theatre, at 3&nbspJunction Avenue in Parktown. Phone 011&nbsp484-1584, There are classes every Saturday morning from 9.30am to 12 where they'll have instruction in music, movement and drama and may be selected to perform in one of the four annual productions.

Star gazing

Take them star-gazing at the Johannesburg Planetarium, 011&nbsp717-1392, in Yale Road in Braamfontein. Every Saturday morning at 10.30am there's a space travel show for 4- to 8-year-olds. Otherwise, there are shows on Fridays (8pm), Saturdays (3pm) and Sundays (4pm). Check out the details on the website.

Quad bikes

If the kids feel like some noisy motorised action, try the quad bikes at Daytona Adventure Park in Fourways. There are 18 quad bikes of various sizes, catering for children of 4 years and upwards. For older kids there's a guided outride into the bush and across rivers. You can book for birthday parties too. The park is open from 9am till dark, and is at Plot 12, R511 Riversands, Fourways. Phone 011&nbsp795-1091.

Miniature Johannesburg

Look down on the miniature town of Johannesburg at Santarama Miniland at Wemmer Pan. There are mini trains, jumping castles and fairy boats, plus an indoor play centre. It's open 9am to 5pm 7 days a week, and is at 183 Rosettenville Road, Pioneer Park. Phone 011&nbsp435-0543.

Lions and cubs

Go on a lion-spotting drive around the 300-hectare Lion Park in Lanseria, 30km north west of Johannesburg, then play with the cubs. There's also a restaurant in the park which is open from 8.30am to 5pm, seven days a week. The park is on the corner of Hans Strydom and Old Pretoria Roads, Lanseria. Phone 011 460-1490.

Water fun and sun

For the best fun ever, go to Sun City, where the sun always shines. Here the kids can spend days playing in the water: from the Valley of the Waves, with its 2m waves that splash onto a simulated beach to rides on a 17m high chute. More outdoor fun includes horse riding, quad biking, riding an elephant, archery and flying in a Tiger Moth. Indoor fun includes a games arcade for all ages. Get to Sun City via William Nicol Drive, after the Fourways Mall follow the signs. Phone 014 557-1000 or visit the website.

Back-to-nature walks

For back to nature walks through indigenous grasses and shrubs, visit Melville Koppies. It's open three Sundays a month, for three hours, and kids and parents can take a guided tour along the many paths, or just find their own way around, enjoying the wonderful views of the city and suburbs. Stop at the Iron Age furnace, or admire the 400-year-old Tswana stone walls nearby. Secure parking is available at Marks Park on Judith Road. Click here for the open days. Phone 011&nbsp482-4797 for more details.

Paintball mania

One of the latest crazes to hit the kids' scene is paintball , even for under 10s, in which participants don protective overalls, hire guns and masks, and line up in teams behind barricades, with the aim of eliminating the opposing team by shooting M&M-size paint bullets at them. There are two venues in town: Paintball City is on Main Reef Road, Knights, Germiston. Phone 011&nbsp828-7583 for directions and bookings, or visit the website. Or, River Raiders is in Craigavon. Contact Roy on 082 447 1554 for directions and to make a booking.

Lustrous Lipizzaners

Take them to see the quite amazing lipizzaners - pure-white performing horses with roman ancestry. The horses are bred in KwaZulu-Natal, and at three years the stallions are moved to Kyalami to begin their training. The Lipizzaner show is on every Sunday at 10.30am at 1 Dahlia Road, Kyalami. Booking is through Computicket or at the gate. Phone 011&nbsp702-2103 and check the website.

Wild Waters

For school holiday fun and seven different slides, try Wild Waters in Boksburg. It's open weekends only for most of the year, but seven days a week - from 10am to 5pm - for the school holidays. Under 6's get in for free, and can splash about in a baby pool. You can also take your picnic basket and braai. Wild Waters is on Margaret Road, Berdene. Phone 011&nbsp826-6736.

Sci Bono Discovery Centre

Science doesn't always have to be about chemicals and formulas worked out in stuffy classrooms. It can be a truly exciting learning experience at Newtown's Sci Bono Discovery Centre. For more information call 011 832 3363 or log on to www.sci-bono.co.za.

 

For more information contact the Johannesburg Tourism Company on
tel: 011 214 0700 or fax: 011 214 0715 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it