If you are in Durban and the surrounding areas, there are heaps of activities to keep your children entertained and experience holiday fun over the spring break, which commenced on 3 October.
Learners return to school on 13 October.
If swimming and splashing around in the ocean is your thing, note that certain northern and southern beaches are currently closed due to poor water quality.
Get your holiday fun at beaches and water parks
Northern and southern beaches:
- Umdloti Main Beach, Umhlanga Main, and Bronze Beach
- Winkelspruit and Reunion beaches.
The central beaches, however, are available to beachgoers for fun under the sun.
The Ushaka Marine World Beach is free to the public. Entry to the theme park, however, requires a fee. The Splash into Spring promotion offers water lovers a range of fun activities.
These include:
- The Wet’n Wild slide park boasts Africa’s highest water slides.
- The Sea World, Africa’s largest aquarium.
- The Dangerous Creatures zone contains some of the most venomous snakes.
- Sea Animal Encounter Island allows guests to meet a dolphin, feed stingrays, walk with a shark, or swim with exotic fish.
- If you want to catch some sunshine without stepping on the beach, you may enjoy chilling at the Ushaka Promenade.
- If you want to do a spot of shopping, there’s the Village Walk shopping area.
- And to assuage your hunger, there’s a food court area with fast food chains and restaurants serving a range of cuisine.
Seek holiday fun at these outdoor spots
If you prefer the open grassy space ambiance surrounded by trees and plants, then there are several parks to visit. The Botanic Gardens, Japanese Gardens, the revamped People’s Park at Moses Mabhida Stadium, and Mitchell Park.
The parks offer wide spaces for picnics, parties, and braais. Mitchell Park Zoo is home to over 700 animals to view, including lama, black swans, tropical birds, peacocks, and the endangered blue crane.
Explore the diverse birdlife at the Umgeni River Bird Park.
The Phezulu Safari Park safari adventures would enthrall kids with its awesome animal life.
The Valley of a Thousand Hills comprises Zulu cultural visits, the Shongweni Farmers’ Market, the 1000 Hills Bird Park, and the 1000 Hills Arts and Craft Village, showcasing the work of local artists.
The Umgeni Choo-Choo Train departs from Kloof Station on the last Sunday of the month. The train travels through the Valley of 1000 Hills and stops at the Inchanga Station, where you may grab a spot of lunch.
If you are entertained by outdoor adventure activities, then explore nature trails and hikes at Assagay and Springside reserves or the Krantzkloof Gorge.
Rock climbing and paragliding are available at Inchanga and Monteseel.
Fuel your love for speed with mountain biking at the Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park.
The Flag Animal Farm in Ballito will wow kids with over 1000 furry and feathery animals. From ponies, bunnies, or goats, there’s bound to be an animal to entertain. A myriad of activities are available to explore – indoor play zones, outdoor jungle gyms, a water park, and a dino-themed adventure area. Kids may enjoy pony rides, while the entire family can hop on a tractor ride. Picnic spots and a coffee shop are available.
If you prefer indoor entertainment, there’s the Gateway Theatre of Shopping, the Pavilion, and Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World for its movies, kids zones, shopping, and eateries.
