We spent this cold, wintry day at the Cape Town Science Centre in Observatory, Cape Town. This place is edutainment on steroids and truly achieves what they set out to do – helping kids experience that science is fun! My nephew arrived saying ‘Science is boring’ and then had to be dragged out of there at the end of the day.
With more than 250 interactive science exhibits and mind-boggling puzzles, the Cape Town Science Centre is a world of discovery under one roof. In addition to the hands-on displays, the CTSC offers a daily holiday programme including science shows, free activities and some select paid for activities. I know there aren’t many days left of these school holidays but it’s definitely something to remember for the next holidays. I also saw posters advertising a Coding for Kids holiday programme that I’d be keen for Ilan to attend.
Entry tickets for the centre are subsidised at R65 each, pensioners pay just R30 (yay for grannies or grandpas able to join in on the fun) and there is a family package for 4 available for R240. They’re is open from 9am to 4.30pm on Mondays to Saturdays and 10am-4.30pm on Sundays and public holidays. We milked our day there and went to three holiday activities with plenty free play and a stop at the iCafe for lunch in between. The cafe sells very reasonably priced light meals (Toasted sandwiches from R30 and hot dogs for R17 off the kids menu) as well as decent coffee and slushies for kids.
Older, taller kids and adults can try the gyroscope for an additional R5 but my kids just loved the construction area in the middle of the centre; screeching down the friction slides; climbing inside the kaleidoscope and seeing their distorted reflections in a variety of mirrors. The Science Show was also a huge hit for us – the presenter put on such an informative, slick show of non-stop experiments full of colour, explosions and loud sounds. I was so impressed.
Scroll down for some photos of our day or take a look at my stories on Instagram saved under my ‘Out & About’ highlights:
Mom was brave and tried the gyroscope!
Thank you for a fun day out, Cape Town Science Centre!
*Our family was hosted by the Cape Town Science Centre for this experience.