6 Things to Do with Kids in Johannesburg

Johannesburg isn't just a playground for the biggest movers and shakers on the continent. It's also a playground for little movers and shakers. It's a city buzzing with infectious energy, and nowhere else in South Africa will you find such staggering variety of family entertainment. Toss breadcrumbs at the geese at Emmarentia Dam, put on a lab coat and be a scientist for the day at Sci-Bono, or set up tent on the grounds of the Johannesburg Zoo for a starlight picnic.

There's no doubt about it, for kids, you'll find the best things to do in Gauteng! A good base from which to explore the city is from The Maslow hotel in Sandton. Just tell the concierge where you'd like to go, and they'll arrange transport for you. Here are a few of our favourites:

1. Swing, swing, swing!

Within walking distance from the ooh-la-la Melrose Arch centre, you'll stumble on a forest adventure! The Johannesburg (ahem) branch of Acrobranch can be found beneath the tree canopies of the James and Ethel Gray Park. Let the kids clamber over obstacles, monkey bridges, swaying logs and speedy ziplines. It costs between R100 and R200, depending on which course you tackle.

Did you know? Acrobranch in Melrose has the longest zipline in Africa at 200m!

2. Stargazing in the city

While it's definitely in a need of an update, there's still something magical about sitting back in a darkened auditorium and taking a tour of the African night skies at the Wits Planetarium, which is in the heart of the Jozi CBD. R140 buys you entrance for a family of 4.

Good idea: grab a copy of the latest South Africa sky guide before you leave. It's a handy reference have on road trips and holidays.

3. Feed the ducks – quack, quack!

Officially called the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, but known to locals simply as "Emmarentia" (the name of the dam), you now have a something to do with all the half-eaten crusts your kids leave on their plates: feed the ducks and geese! Best of all, entrance is free.

PS: Go on a weekend; children love to watch the paddlers and canoes on the dam.

4. Go, go, gadget!

The Sci Bono Discovery Centre is housed in the old electric workshop in Newtown, which used to be the place to go to party in Joburg. Now there are different kinds of parties happen in this fascinating structure – science parties! Let your kids loose among the science, biology and physics exhibits. Tickets prices are R20 for kids during normal days, and R35 if they'd like to join the holiday programmes, where you'll do everything from building rocket ships to writing code for mobile apps.

Tip: phone ahead and find out what time the science show is on the day you visit. It's a 'magic' show that features live science experiments that are a thrill-a-minute for curious young minds.

5. Hop on a double decker bus

It's quite a novelty to be chauffeured around in n a giant red bus, London-style and the Red Bus City Tour does not disappoint. Even residents of Joburg hop onto the bus, and are astonished to find out so much about the city they call home. Ticket prices are between R80 (1 day pass, Joburg only) and R280 (2 day pass, Joburg and Soweto) for kids.

We love: there is a special sightseeing audio channel that kids can listen to on the Red Bus City Tour and they get a free activity book.

6. The best street art in Africa

Mom and dad – here's how you can boost your street cred. Take your teenagers on a graffiti tour in the inner city. Past Experiences is the best tour operator, and ticket prices vary, so email (past.experiences@hotmail.com) or phone ahead on 011 678 3905. Better yet, you might be lucky and they're hosting a graffiti workshop during your stay in the City of Gold.

Tip: (so you sound cool) the top graffiti artists in Johannesburg are Rasty and Faith47 and don't forget to name-drop Shepard Fairey (he's the artist behind the 'OBEY' movement) if you see his famous Nelson Mandela mural in Braamfontein. It's several stories high – you can't miss it.

What are some of your favourite family activities in Jozi?